Speculation: Armchair GM - 2026 CBJ Offseason Roster Moves, Rumors, and Discussion

[Forepar]

I know Marchenko is likely not going to be moved, but what sort of overpay would Jacket’s fans hope for if he were to be? What are the biggest needs for the team?

The biggest need is 2 or 3 Marchenkos (preferably the first 50 game Marchenko).
So unless 2 or 3 Marchenkos are coming back in the overpay, why would CBJ give up the one Marchenko that they already have?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Those two statements can co-exist peacefully and without contradicting one another

The first statement was trying to quiet the noise and ease the base. The second is not

 

[Monk]

Video of an answer. He seems miffed.

Why would he discuss a contract with Werenski, who's practically already been traded?

 

[Monk]

The first statement was trying to quiet the noise and ease the base. The second is not

I think you're assuming way too much strategy here. He's being asked questions and he's answering them.

 

[Indy18]

Video of an answer. He seems miffed.

Oh he pissed

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

A model franchise of consistency

Never bad enough to draft elite talent, never good enough to win.

Just middle of the road all the way through and through.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Video of an answer. He seems miffed.

Is he miffed that he even has to answer it because there's nothing to all the speculation or is he miffed because he' got a player seemingly trying to call the shots?

 

[Longtime Local]

Would it kill Waddell to go into an offseason with any kind of plan? He seems to think if he just makes the first round pick available, teams will just line up to give us offers to improve the roster. Maybe he should try to think one or two moves ahead instead of reacting to everything.

 

[Ice9]

Oh he pissed

I’ve never thought him a dynamic guy…

Notice I didn’t say, “juiceless”?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I think you're assuming way too much strategy here. He's being asked questions and he's answering them.

I will say Waddell has been pretty open and honest in his tenure here. Wanted a top 9 forward at the deadline, said so, and got Garland. Wanted veteran help his first summer, brought in Monahan (and eventually JVR).

He's been pretty honest in saying we're not moving KJ despite his struggles.

His tone shift regarding Z is noteworthy. IMO

 

[Indy18]

Would it kill Waddell to go into an offseason with any kind of plan? He seems to think if he just makes the first round pick available, teams will just line up to give us offers to improve the roster. Maybe he should try to think one or two moves ahead instead of reacting to everything.

Trust me as someone who gets this type of comment everyday on twitter with my own job.

That's really not fair to say about someone saying that they don't have a plan because you can't see the internal discussion.

Just a heads up on that

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Trust me as someone who gets this type of comment everyday on twitter with my own job.

That's really not fair to say about someone saying that they don't have a plan because you can't see the internal discussion.

Just a heads up on that

don waddell surely has a plan — a great plan, probably! — but that doesn’t matter if he is incapable of executing it, or if the plan was improperly forecasted in the first place.

 

[SC Cannon]

Heres my new read.

Z is Z. Nothing much has changed. Just won the Norris. Just had his first kid. He's enjoying summer.

Don goes to his agent to try and gauge if he's going to be here long term. If you're trying to splash on trades or free agency you'd probably be right to ask. Maybe Z and his agent say eh, not sure yet. Too early to tell. Not going to commit to anything.

Would that not trigger all the events that have happened this far? If that's the case I don't think anybody is in the wrong here....

 

[Napoli]

Waddell sounds like someone pissed in his cereal in that presser.

If Z doesn't want to resign, he should be dealt at the draft imo.

 

[BigBoss614]

Would it kill Waddell to go into an offseason with any kind of plan? He seems to think if he just makes the first round pick available, teams will just line up to give us offers to improve the roster. Maybe he should try to think one or two moves ahead instead of reacting to everything.

Do you really think that's all that he's doing?! Dudes been in the NHL for what 20-30 years?! Do you really think he and his staff don't have a plan and a contingency plan in place already?!

But what good are those plans if the core piece of said plans let's you know that he wants out?!

 

[Indy18]

Heres my new read.

Z is Z. Nothing much has changed. Just won the Norris. Just had his first kid. He's enjoying summer.

Don goes to his agent to try and gauge if he's going to be here long term. If you're trying to splash on trades or free agency you'd probably be right to ask. Maybe Z and his agent say eh, not sure yet. Too early to tell. Not going to commit to anything.

Would that not trigger all the events that have happened this far? If that's the case I don't think anybody is in the wrong here....

Real talk...this is probably what happened.

You can't make a super splash if we need a 2-3 year retool to get Fantilli and Mateychuk up to their primes at 25 years old when those splashes today will no longer be 29-30 but 33-34

 

[Indy18]

don waddell surely has a plan — a great plan, probably! — but that doesn’t matter if he is incapable of executing it, or if the plan was improperly forecasted in the first place.

I know this issue way too well that I can't get into with breaking a forum policy

 

[Banana duck]

I will say Waddell has been pretty open and honest in his tenure here. Wanted a top 9 forward at the deadline, said so, and got Garland. Wanted veteran help his first summer, brought in Monahan (and eventually JVR).

He's been pretty honest in saying we're not moving KJ despite his struggles.

His tone shift regarding Z is noteworthy. IMO

I don’t really blame him. He’s made moves, fired coaches and has actively improved the team. We’ve made a 25 point improvement since he’s been here and have competed for playoffs until the final games both years he’s been here.

Zach was part of the collapse this season.

If he’s asking out because he “wants to win” after Waddell has signed Coyle and fired Evason and brought in players and brought back Bones - I would be furious.

 

[AnonCommentary]

 

[DarkandStormy]

Would it kill Waddell to go into an offseason with any kind of plan? He seems to think if he just makes the first round pick available, teams will just line up to give us offers to improve the roster. Maybe he should try to think one or two moves ahead instead of reacting to everything.

He traded for Coyle and Wood last year.

And then had to massively overpay Provorov when he whiffed on Dobson.

 

[MissADD]

He traded for Coyle and Wood last year.

And then had to massively overpay Provorov when he whiffed on Dobson.

There is a difference between losing a bidding war and whiffing. I remember a lot of us were happy he didn't pay both 1sts last year and Voronkov for Dobson

 

[Cheddarcheese]

Well that sounds like nothing major is happening to the roster? also doesn't sound promising that Z with be happy with no major moves.

 

[SC Cannon]

I don’t really blame him. He’s made moves, fired coaches and has actively improved the team. We’ve made a 25 point improvement since he’s been here and have competed for playoffs until the final games both years he’s been here.

That takes....

Wait for it....

Juice.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[Jaxs]

Heres my new read.

Z is Z. Nothing much has changed. Just won the Norris. Just had his first kid. He's enjoying summer.

Don goes to his agent to try and gauge if he's going to be here long term. If you're trying to splash on trades or free agency you'd probably be right to ask. Maybe Z and his agent say eh, not sure yet. Too early to tell. Not going to commit to anything.

Would that not trigger all the events that have happened this far? If that's the case I don't think anybody is in the wrong here....

This is where I am also. Z hasn't said one way or the other. Don is showing some frustration to not have answers, but also to have this play out in the media. No escaping the hotseat in todays instant media and online coverage, but the shoe hasn't dropped yet.

Everybody knows what the score is. Which is from ZW's perspective- make the team better so we can have ultimate sucess. DW is thinking, hopefully with a plan that many think he's incapable of implementing, of trade scenarios or FA signings. So the speculation and assumptions will continue until something is definitive.

My gut feeling is that ZW will not ask out before the deadline, I think that's just what he thinks would be appropriate, if thing go south this season.