Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2025-26: Welcome to the Darche Side

[The Real JT]

Can you name one player that Barzal made better by playing with him? Not one player has gotten a Barzal bump, not one.

Maybe it’s because those players simply suck and god himself can’t help them.

I think you’re both right to some extent. To keep it simple, we have a great goalie and a great young franchise defenseman. Hard stop.

Barzal and Horvat are very good players but if they are your best forwards and the remainder of your team has substantially less skill then you’re in big trouble if you think you’re competing for a Cup.

We are at best a few years away. Our prospect pool has improved substantially, but it’s not very deep. I am more than OK with making a hockey trade this off-season even if it means we take a step backwards to achieve the goal of being a legitimate contender in a few years from now.

 

[WangMustGo]

Hypothetically if we could get a package of O’Brien, Seattles first, and Catton I would take it. I’d expect any trade for Barzal to have that level of return.

 

[MJF]

Barzy has alotttt of haters. It’s ok though as most teams have a player the fans get on. It’s just comedy how anyone thinks that getting rid of Barzal makes the Isles better now or within the next 2-3 years for that matter. I would bet anything that if Montreal traded for Barzal he would have a career year next year and put up close to 100 points. You can tell by some of the trade proposals here who is and who isn’t watching the games.

We don't have the players who help Barzal get to 100 points. We never did. Where is Darche getting those players and when do they hit their stride?

 

[PK Cronin]

We don't have the players who help Barzal get to 100 points. We never did. Where is Darche getting those players and when do they hit their stride?

You just go out and get an all-star team first, duh.

 

[Throttle]

We don't have the players who help Barzal get to 100 points. We never did. Where is Darche getting those players and when do they hit their stride?

Well, the two times he was Mr. PPG player the isles just so happened to miss the playoffs…by a lot.

The argument he needs more help, kinda falls flat and doesn’t work with the team benefit.

 

[WangMustGo]

Well, the two times he was Mr. PPG player the isles just so happened to miss the playoffs.

The argument he needs more help, kinda falls flat and doesn’t work with the team benefit.

How many top 6 forwards does this team have? When is the last time prior to this season that the isles had a good PPQB?

Barzal is not Tavares and will never be a prime Tavares. Ideally Barzal is your second or third best forward on a true contender.

 

[Throttle]

How many top 6 forwards does this team have? When is the last time prior to this season that the isles had a good PPQB?

Barzal is not Tavares and will never be a prime Tavares. Ideally Barzal is your second or third best forward on a true contender.

A part of this is a roster construction issue. Lou took what Snow gave him and designed a team around what was available. He later used picks for the team to be competitive- a normal part of the process.

The isles just never had a prospect and or players rise to top 6 players. Horvat helped, but again, Horvat is the same on Isles and VCR, which says he doesn’t need a Barzal to be who he is and there’s no Horvat busting out 40Gs bc of Barzal.

They’ve become interchangeable parts across a team format. Oddly, it’s an environment where Barzal does play his best, but the fans felt that was boring. Turned the team over to him as the lead and it’s been downhill since.

 

[WangMustGo]

A part of this is a roster construction issue. Lou took what Snow gave him and designed a team around what was available. He later used picks for the team to be competitive- a normal part of the process.

The isles just never had a prospect and or players rise to top 6 players. Horvat helped, but again, Horvat is the same on Isles and VCR, which says he doesn’t need a Barzal to be who he is and there’s no Horvat busting out 40Gs bc of Barzal.

They’ve become interchangeable parts across a team format. Oddly, it’s an environment where Barzal does play his best, but the fans felt that was boring. Turned the team over to him as the lead and it’s been downhill since.

Horvats worst season he was last season. A year in which Barzal missed most of. Horvat and Barzal have good chemistry and complement each other well, but again these are guys that are ideally your 3rd best forwards.

The team began floundering when Lou continued to reinvest in an aging product that wasn’t working. You can’t blame Barzal for guys like Lee, Pulock, Mayfield, Cizikas all taking steps back. The offense isn’t there, outside of Schaefer the defense sucks (granted Pelech was very good this year), and we have a great goalie that kept us in many games we had no business being in.

I think it’s time to cash in on Barzal and trade him, but not because he isn’t a very good player. We simply aren’t winning a cup with him in his prime. Cash in and build a young core around Schaefer.

 

[MJF]

I think it’s time to cash in on Barzal and trade him, but not because he isn’t a very good player. We simply aren’t winning a cup with him in his prime. Cash in and build a young core around Schaefer.

This right here. And if it will make people feel better, it’s not because Barzal is a fyckyp. And if you want to move on from Bo Horvat, that’s fine with me. The return for Horvat, who scores more and makes less than Barzal, should be just as good.

 

[Rehabguy]

I think it’s time to cash in on Barzal and trade him, but not because he isn’t a very good player. We simply aren’t winning a cup with him in his prime. Cash in and build a young core around Schaefer.

I appreciate the idea that any player is on the table if it makes the team better. But in my mind you have to make the smart moves at the right time. An overrated Dobson asking for far too much and trading him for 2 first rounders and Heineman is a smart move at the right time. Trading a 34 year old Brock Nelson for Avalanches top prospect Ritchie and a first rounder is a smart move at the right time. Trading a Matthew Barzal in his prime for a number of magic beans unless its say for McKenna I think is not a smart move and in my opinion at the wrong time. Not when we have older vets that we need to unload first. First see what they bring and what is shaping up before you let go of your best points getter. Besides if Brock Nelson brought us what he did I can only imagine we can do better still trading a 33 yo Barzal a few years later while still enjoying what he can do today with a number of our talented prospects graduating from the AHL. Barzal's skating ability makes him a valuable asset for many years to come. He's far too valuable to make a rash decision before all our ducks are lined up.

 

[Rehabguy]

This right here. And if it will make people feel better, it’s not because Barzal is a fyckyp. And if you want to move on from Bo Horvat, that’s fine with me. The return for Horvat, who scores more and makes less than Barzal, should be just as good.

Horvat might be smarter move at the right time but not before we move some of the players older than him.

 

[doublechili]

All this Barzal for Hagens+ talk makes me think the deal would give the marketing department enough positive material to survive at least a year or two of missing the playoffs during a retool. A side benefit. How many Hagens jerseys would they need to sell to make up for 2 home playoff games?

 

[TeamKidd]

I would be very surprised to see Darche trade one or more of our best players - he specifically brought in more vets to compete this past year....it's hard to image he's going to go back on that especially after hiring Deboer.
If we can get good return im interested, but, what are the chances our GM is?

 

[Glorydays22]

All this Barzal for Hagens+ talk makes me think the deal would give the marketing department enough positive material to survive at least a year or two of missing the playoffs during a retool. A side benefit. How many Hagens jerseys would they need to sell to make up for 2 home playoff games?

That is not a good enough reason to trade Barzal to Boston.....period.
Hagens and their 1st (27th) in my eyes is NOT good enough and Boston's prospect pool is one of the worst in the league. So I don't see a match.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

I would be very surprised to see Darche trade one or more of our best players - he specifically brought in more vets to compete this past year....it's hard to image he's going to go back on that especially after hiring Deboer.
If we can get good return im interested, but, what are the chances our GM is?

What if I spun this into, he acquired more vets from outside because he knew he was going to move on from a bunch of Snow/Lou's vets that he has no connection to in an effort to get younger?

 

[doublechili]

That is not a good enough reason to trade Barzal to Boston.....period.
Hagens and their 1st (27th) in my eyes is NOT good enough and Boston's prospect pool is one of the worst in the league. So I don't see a match.

Sure, if they traded Barzal to BOS in the hopes of selling Hagens jerseys that would be pretty bad.

But a deal could be made with BOS for a legit return for sure. As someone else mentioned, in addition to their 2026 1st (and 2nd), they have three 1st round picks in 2028. Hagens and the 2026 1st and a 1st in 2028 would be a lot. Or the deal could be fleshed out with a younger D with upside like Lohrei or Jokiharju. BOS might want to include Middlestadt to make the money work - he's got 1 year left and could either be extended or dealt at the TDL.

Anyway, a deal could certainly be made with BOS.

 

[WangMustGo]

I appreciate the idea that any player is on the table if it makes the team better. But in my mind you have to make the smart moves at the right time. An overrated Dobson asking for far too much and trading him for 2 first rounders and Heineman is a smart move at the right time. Trading a 34 year old Brock Nelson for Avalanches top prospect Ritchie and a first rounder is a smart move at the right time. Trading a Matthew Barzal in his prime for a number of magic beans unless its say for McKenna I think is not a smart move and in my opinion at the wrong time. Not when we have older vets that we need to unload first. First see what they bring and what is shaping up before you let go of your best points getter. Besides if Brock Nelson brought us what he did I can only imagine we can do better still trading a 33 yo Barzal a few years later while still enjoying what he can do today with a number of our talented prospects graduating from the AHL. Barzal's skating ability makes him a valuable asset for many years to come. He's far too valuable to make a rash decision before all our ducks are lined up.

I don’t want to be trading for picks and prospects in 3-4 years. I want to have a team of young guns making deep playoff runs. I want to be the team that has the assets to trade for a 29 year old Barzal type to put us over the top. If that means moving Barzal to acquire those “magic beans” so be it. We have to trust our scouting department and management to make moves for the right kids and draft the right kids. Otherwise we are screwed anyway.

I’m a huge Barzal fan I hope we can get a great return for him and I hope he goes on to have great success and wins a cup. But in my opinion it’s time to move on.

 

[TeamKidd]

What if I spun this into, he acquired more vets from outside because he knew he was going to move on from a bunch of Snow/Lou's vets that he has no connection to in an effort to get younger?

I mean i hope so, but that isn't what he said really at the deadline and at the end of the season.

 

[TeamKidd]

Sure, if they traded Barzal to BOS in the hopes of selling Hagens jerseys that would be pretty bad.

But a deal could be made with BOS for a legit return for sure. As someone else mentioned, in addition to their 2026 1st (and 2nd), they have three 1st round picks in 2028. Hagens and the 2026 1st and a 1st in 2028 would be a lot. Or the deal could be fleshed out with a younger D with upside like Lohrei or Jokiharju. BOS might want to include Middlestadt to make the money work - he's got 1 year left and could either be extended or dealt at the TDL.

Anyway, a deal could certainly be made with BOS.

Objectively it's a really nice return, but i have little interest in a 2028 1st - i'ts too far away for me. i'd rather get a 'heinemann' type addition maybe on D (you mentioned Lohrei)

 

[Glorydays22]

Sure, if they traded Barzal to BOS in the hopes of selling Hagens jerseys that would be pretty bad.

But a deal could be made with BOS for a legit return for sure. As someone else mentioned, in addition to their 2026 1st (and 2nd), they have three 1st round picks in 2028. Hagens and the 2026 1st and a 1st in 2028 would be a lot. Or the deal could be fleshed out with a younger D with upside like Lohrei or Jokiharju. BOS might want to include Middlestadt to make the money work - he's got 1 year left and could either be extended or dealt at the TDL.

Anyway, a deal could certainly be made with BOS.

I don't want a 2028 pick which is too far away and it will be a bottom pick if Barzy is playing with guys like Pasta, McAvoy, Geekie Swayman and Zacha.

Lohrei is a LD which we don't need Jokiharju is nothing....hate Middlestadt...he's another 3C guy which isn't an upgrade.

If Boston want Barzal, they need a 3rd team involved IMO

 

[isles55]

I don’t see Darche moving Barzal or anyone of note only a few months after bringing in DeBoer. Deboer is a win now coach. They’re not trading their best forward.

 

[iggy]

I don’t see Darche moving Barzal or anyone of note only a few months after bringing in DeBoer. Deboer is a win now coach. They’re not trading their best forward.

Deboer is not going to win now with the same team coming back. He would love to go to war with Hagens, Hage, Eklund, Ritchie, Eiserman, Holmstrom, And whatever players we draft this year.

 

[SI90]

 

[Glorydays22]

let's not start the Larkin for Brazy....not interested.

 

[SI90]

let's not start the Larkin for Brazy....not interested.

Not interested in a center that wins faceoffs scored 5 straight 30 goal seasons, is also a great skater and is better defensively and makes slightly less money than Barzal? Ok

I was just posting it BtW. Didn’t even bring up “Brazy”