Around the NHL 2025-2026

[Em etah Eh]

Let’s all hold hands and sing kumbaya. 4th overall for Byrum LMAO

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

 

[taylord22]

Why not just let Reid fall to you if you're twitchy about your blue-line developing well short of the ceiling? Stenberg was never the right fit for them - way too big of a market. Davidson and co had to have known that after the scouting combine, so if they wanted a running mate for Bedard, he's had over a month to find a deal. And instead you spend your most valuable asset on a problematic top pair guy?

Bare minimum - this is A LOT of faith being put in Bedard and Knight. That's the only angle that makes sense - they think Bedard-Byram-Knight is a good enough center beam to 'go'.

 

[Fez Whatley]

Maybe Parayko is worth the 2nd pick after all

 

[sfvega]

And Chicago is rumored to be giving Byram 12.5 AAV??!?!?!

That's insane. I mean, they have no one else to give that money to. But god, what an overpay both in assets and cap hit.

 

[PJJJP]

And Chicago gave up a Crevier who did put up ok numbers as a defensemen. The trade keeps on getting funnier

​

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Oh my god Kyle Davidson baby what is you doin

 

[AyeBah]

This is the best day ever

 

[Memento]

Any chance we can offer sheet Bedard? Any at all?

 

[BadgersandBlues]

This kinda pisses me off even more about the Kyrou return. 4th overall for Byram? Big f***ing yikes Chicago. Only thing I can hope for is that now Buffalo still wants Parayko and puts this in play for him.

 

[TheOrganist]

This kinda pisses me off even more about the Kyrou return. 4th overall for Byram? Big f***ing yikes Chicago. Only thing I can hope for is that now Buffalo still wants Parayko and puts this in play for him.

Ignoring the "keep him" option, what exactly were you expecting considering Kyrou had full control of his destination? A second line versatile forward + a not insignificant first + a not insignificant prospect is hard to pan.

 

[PJJJP]

I do wonder what Buffalo plans to do on defense now that they have traded Kesserlring and Byram.

 

[Stealth JD]

The return for Kyrou was fine…UNTIL Chicago made one of the all-time head-scratchers of a trade, which suddenly made it seem like Kyrou should’ve returned #3OA and a handful of other picks. (Which pre-Byram would’ve been absurd to consider)

 

[Stealth JD]

I do wonder what Buffalo plans to do on defense now that they have traded Kesserlring and Byram.

You mean the team with Dahlin, Power, Samuelson, Mrtka, Crevier, Timmons and Carels/Reid? Im
Sure they’ll be fine. Even without Byram they’re comfortably in the top-third of the league defense-wise, with more talent coming.

 

[Fez Whatley]

The return for Kyrou was fine…UNTIL Chicago made one of the all-time head-scratchers of a trade, which suddenly made it seem like Kyrou should’ve returned #3OA and a handful of other picks. (Which pre-Byram would’ve been absurd to consider)

Probably could've had knies + 1oa in a post byram world

 

[PJJJP]

You mean the team with Dahlin, Power, Samuelson, Mrtka, Crevier, Timmons and Carels/Reid? Im
Sure they’ll be fine. Even without Byram they’re comfortably in the top-third of the league defense-wise, with talent more talent coming.

I mean Byram did play big minutes for them in the regular season and the playoffs. Mrtka is still fresh into the league. Crevier was good in his first season but don't know if he will be able to handle playing top 4 minutes. Timmins is meh. Carels/Reid/Verhoeff/Rudoplh will take a while to be ready. Their D will be set when Mrtka and/Carels/Reid/Verhoeff/Rudoplh have a couple season under their belt

 

[BadgersandBlues]

Ignoring the "keep him" option, what exactly were you expecting considering Kyrou had full control of his destination? I second line versatile forward + a not insignificant first + a not insignificant prospect is hard to pan.

I mean Byram got 4th overall and Brady got three firsts and a high second including 9th overall. I'd place Kyrou much closer to Brady's value thanks to his contract and well ahead of Byram - yet we basically downgraded from a top line Winger for a middle-six Winger who's career high of 55ish points came while playing with the two best forwards on his team, who's left handed, and who can't play Center except in a pinch. We also got a mid-first, and a guy who was taken with a high second.

As Taylord said, we traded imperfect octane for no octane. With other GMs seemingly making boneheaded trades, we found the one level-headed guy to trade Kyrou to.....a player that we didn't need to f***ing trade unless it was for an overpay. I know we can move up, but that's not what this deal should have been. We should have secured a top asset at the least for Kyrou and I'm sorry but McMichael simply doesn't f***ing wow me as the primary return when Washington's pool is as deep as it is. This was a poor return from Army, trying once again to straddle the f***ing line of being good but not good enough.

And don't talk to me about NTC's - Brady had one real team he was willing to waive for and they got way better value. I'd rather have Calum Richie and 13 from NYI then what we got.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I do wonder what Buffalo plans to do on defense now that they have traded Kesserlring and Byram.

Kesselring was already being scratched. I don't think they really need to add much to the group with Samuelsson upping his game.

 

[Stealth JD]

Ok NHL - ready for the next blockbuster…don’t keep us waiting.

 

[BluesSK]

I mean Byram got 4th overall and Brady got three firsts and a high second including 9th overall. I'd place Kyrou much closer to Brady's value thanks to his contract and well ahead of Byram - yet we basically downgraded from a top line Winger for a middle-six Winger who's career high of 55ish points came while playing with the two best forwards on his team, who's left handed, and who can't play Center except in a pinch. We also got a mid-first, and a guy who was taken with a high second.

As Taylord said, we traded imperfect octane for no octane. With other GMs seemingly making boneheaded trades, we found the one level-headed guy to trade Kyrou to.....a player that we didn't need to f***ing trade unless it was for an overpay. I know we can move up, but that's not what this deal should have been. We should have secured a top asset at the least for Kyrou and I'm sorry but McMichael simply doesn't f***ing wow me as the primary return when Washington's pool is as deep as it is. This was a poor return from Army, trying once again to straddle the f***ing line of being good but not good enough.

And don't talk to me about NTC's - Brady had one real team he was willing to waive for and they got way better value. I'd rather have Calum Richie and 13 from NYI then what we got.

I tend to agree with you but what can you do when the player can dictate where he goes?

That 16th pick better be converted into something that wows us, whether it's packaged for another higher pick or we use some of those picks to make a big trade.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

I tend to agree with you but what can you do when the player can dictate where he goes?

That 16th pick better be converted into something that wows us, whether it's packaged for another higher pick or we use some of those picks to make a big trade.

Again - we didn't need to trade him. There was no reason other then Army's f***ing ego to move him. If anything, another season where he puts up 35 goals would increase his return. It's f***ing maddening that the primary return for our best trade chip is an inferior player that plays the same position, and nothing that solves the largest hole we have on the roster in the short to medium to possibly even long term.

 

[TheOrganist]

I mean Byram got 4th overall and Brady got three firsts and a high second including 9th overall. I'd place Kyrou much closer to Brady's value thanks to his contract and well ahead of Byram - yet we basically downgraded from a top line Winger for a middle-six Winger who's career high of 55ish points came while playing with the two best forwards on his team, who's left handed, and who can't play Center except in a pinch. We also got a mid-first, and a guy who was taken with a high second.

As Taylord said, we traded imperfect octane for no octane. With other GMs seemingly making boneheaded trades, we found the one level-headed guy to trade Kyrou to.....a player that we didn't need to f***ing trade unless it was for an overpay. I know we can move up, but that's not what this deal should have been. We should have secured a top asset at the least for Kyrou and I'm sorry but McMichael simply doesn't f***ing wow me as the primary return when Washington's pool is as deep as it is. This was a poor return from Army, trying once again to straddle the f***ing line of being good but not good enough.

And don't talk to me about NTC's - Brady had one real team he was willing to waive for and they got way better value. I'd rather have Calum Richie and 13 from NYI then what we got.

There's no one on the Blues roster whom the Blues had a better pulse of his market than Kyrou. The dude has been actively shopped every single offseason and multiple trade deadlines. It's illogical to correlate the Byram to trade to the Kyrou trade. And it's illogical to think teams value a player like Brady Tkachuk on the same tier as Kyrou, fair or not. I truly believe Army exhausted every possible scenario as it relates to Kyrou to maximize the return. If I blindly told you that a GM turned a supposed high scoring winger who notched 46 points in 72 games and who possesses zero intangibles that enable you to win hockey games into a trio of legit assets I think you'd be pleased with that outcome.

And for all we know, Kyrou quietly asked out. As we've discussed ad nauseum, it has become clear over time that Kyrou is not viewed as a core piece by management and has become expendable with a lot of wing talent at the NHL level and in the system. I think you're really overrating how coveted Kyrou was leaguewide. And now with 4 first rounders the offseason story is far from over. To label what management is doing because of one trade in the 2nd inning of the offseason as "straddling the line" is very premature. We dumped a polarizing piece to change some of the culture in the room and on the ice and it can be easily defended. Now we're armed with the most draft capital in the league to keep adding.

 

[Fez Whatley]

Again - we didn't need to trade him. There was no reason other then Army's f***ing ego to move him. If anything, another season where he puts up 35 goals would increase his return. It's f***ing maddening that the primary return for our best trade chip is an inferior player that plays the same position, and nothing that solves the largest hole we have on the roster in the short to medium to possibly even long term.

How on earth did the hurricanes hope to compete after trading away Skinner for peanuts in 18?

 

[BluesSK]

Yes, that's true. I really thought Kyrou would start the season with the Blues and be moved at the trade deadline.

The old adage is whoever gets the best player wins the trade. I can't help but feel we got inferior players to the one we gave up.

 

[aceoutdoor]

And for all we know, Kyrou quietly asked out.

Highly likely. For that reason I will have peace with the return and hope for the best.