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

[MJF]

That I don't think Florida can pull off..but I think a very cheap route would be getting Gibson from Detroit or Markstrom from the Devils.

Gibson is a few years past his prime and Markstrom is overrated. Given a choice of those two, I’d opt for John Gibson.

 

[seabass45]

I would do if Barzal and Seattle were willing

for 7th pick overall and Shane Wright

Then Turn around and trade

13th pick, Wright, Engvall and Duclair(assuming we can't trade him otherwise) to the Canucks for EP40 and San Jose's 2nd rounder 2026

That 7th pick almost guarantees us one of Verhoeff or Viggio

We also gain some capspace by getting rid of Engvall and Duclair even when factoring in Barzals and EP40s contracts

Overrating Wrights value IMO.

EDIT: i’ll add to that, also overrating Petterssons value.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

I would do if Barzal and Seattle were willing

for 7th pick overall and Shane Wright

Then Turn around and trade

13th pick, Wright, Engvall and Duclair(assuming we can't trade him otherwise) to the Canucks for EP40 and San Jose's 2nd rounder 2026

That 7th pick almost guarantees us one of Verhoeff or Viggio

We also gain some capspace by getting rid of Engvall and Duclair even when factoring in Barzals and EP40s contracts

Shane Wright stinks. He's a dime-a-dozen bottom-6 forward. Essentially zero trade value.

So you're effectively proposing Barzal for the 7th. I'd want more.

 

[miscs75]

I would do if Barzal and Seattle were willing

for 7th pick overall and Shane Wright

Then Turn around and trade

13th pick, Wright, Engvall and Duclair(assuming we can't trade him otherwise) to the Canucks for EP40 and San Jose's 2nd rounder 2026

That 7th pick almost guarantees us one of Verhoeff or Viggio

We also gain some capspace by getting rid of Engvall and Duclair even when factoring in Barzals and EP40s contracts

Wright, 7th and a player is equal to what we sent to Vancouver for Horvat. That’s abysmal.

 

[NYI365]

I would do if Barzal and Seattle were willing

for 7th pick overall and Shane Wright

Then Turn around and trade

13th pick, Wright, Engvall and Duclair(assuming we can't trade him otherwise) to the Canucks for EP40 and San Jose's 2nd rounder 2026

That 7th pick almost guarantees us one of Verhoeff or Viggio

We also gain some capspace by getting rid of Engvall and Duclair even when factoring in Barzals and EP40s contracts

Please God no EP40. The absolute least player I'd want to move Barzal+ for

 

[boredmale]

Overrating Wrights value IMO.

EDIT: i’ll add to that, also overrating Petterssons value.

You could be ight, I have Wrights value say at like a late first. As for Petersson's value I am guessing Vancouver will want that of at least a 60-70 point center, while yes I know he didn't do that last year, I would expect somewhat a bounceback for EP40 in anew situation

 

[boredmale]

Wright, 7th and a player is equal to what we sent to Vancouver for Horvat. That’s abysmal.

We didn't send the 7th pick to Vancouver, from memory it was somewhere in the 20s

 

[miscs75]

We didn't send the 7th pick to Vancouver, from memory it was somewhere in the 20s

I know it was a later 1st but just stating Wright isn’t any better than Raty. Thats a panic move if they send him to Seattle.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

We didn't send the 7th pick to Vancouver, from memory it was somewhere in the 20s

You aren't wrong, but we shouldn't be comparing it to the Horvat trade. Vancouver management is dumb.

We need fair value for Barzal.

7th + Wright is not even close.

 

[SRBisles]

Flip Barzal for futures ASAP. There's no way we're coming out of the east for the next 5 years. Not that we were before this, but still.

 

[boredmale]

I know it was a later 1st but just stating Wright isn’t any better than Raty. Thats a panic move if they send him to Seattle.

For the sake of argument i looked it up, 17. We must have just squeaked into the playoffs that year

Fair enough about wright but all I know is if we can somehow come out of the draft with Verheoff(who I believe would make for the ultimate D combo with Schaefer, while switching Barzal for EP40 and dumping a couple bad contracts, that is a win in my books. I get the reason to be scared of EP40 but as I said I am banking he bounces back a bit in a new environment

If Wright doesn't work, We could ask for Tampa's (top 10 protected) 2027 first which Seattle owns then give that to Vancouver.

 

[periferal]

We gotta re-sign Anders now to compete with Florida

Exactly.

Again yet another aspect of the Schenn deal that is so frustrating is...Did Darche think that 2 more years of Schenn was going to allow the Isles to compete anywhere near the level of teams like Florida given the talent they have? Given that it's like Darche just threw away a 1st and 3rd for nothing.

I would have much rather done the deal Seattle just did for Samoskevich. At least he'll be playing in the league for the next 10+ years.

 

[Taswell]

Moritz Seider just followed Schaefer on instagram, Seider to the Isles E5

 

[periferal]

You get the best you can get and just move on, at this point. If fans think Barzal is going to command a similar package as Tkachuk, then lmao. He ain’t.

So wish you could have an objective conversation about Barzal, but alas...Here we are.

 

[seabass45]

Can I interest you in more middle six wingers in the 5-7 mil AAV range?

 

[periferal]

Sorry Periferal....we agree on the direction....When I posted this, I was actually thinking of Throttle. LOL

Throttle, you are in my head LOL

Ha....

What's funny is when I read the post I couldn't believe you thought it was the first time we were on the same page about something.

 

[Glorydays22]

Seriously...Do we have to consider a full rebuild now with this Florida trade? Florida, Montreal, Carolina, maybe Buffalo are going to dominate the East for the foreseeable....

Maybe it's time to maximize our top vet talent. Move either Barzal or Horvat this year. The other one next offseason....obviously sell off guys like Pelech, Schenn, Pulock and Parms. Then their's Sorokin, wonder in the next year or two what value can we get with him. If it's a tear down and we move these guys, I don't necessarity think it would be a long rebuild either.

 

[Taswell]

Can I interest you in more middle six wingers in the 5-7 mil AAV range?

I mean, he brings an element we are lacking…but yeah, it’s just more 3rd line bodies at some point. Plus, he doesn’t have a habit of staying healthy.

 

[periferal]

Flip Barzal for futures ASAP. There's no way we're coming out of the east for the next 5 years. Not that we were before this, but still.

This is the most compelling reason to trade Barzal.

Because even if we kept him, name any players we could trade for or sign in the next year that could have us competing alongside the Hurricanes, Panthers, Canadiens, etc in the East....Before we even discuss the Knights, Wild, Stars, Avs, etc in the West.

It's just not possible for the Isles to win a Cup in the next few seasons. Wish all fans, but especially Malkin/Darche, would accept this and build the team for when Schaefer is in his young/mid 20's.

 

[periferal]

From the first list:
Florida - nothing left
Tampa - nothing left
Carolina - Nadeau+ isn’t going to cut it
Minnesota - no idea what they even have left
Dallas - they’re not moving Wyatt who I want in return
Colorado - nothing left
Vegas - nothing left

2nd list:
Utah - needs to start with Desnoyers/Iginla/Simashev and no garbage fillers
Montreal - needs to start with Hage and no garbage fillers
Buffalo - needs to start with Helenius/Mrtka and no garbage fillers
Chicago - needs to start with Frondell and no garbage fillers
San Jose - needs to start with Misa/Chernysov and no garbage fillers
Boston - needs to start with Frondell and no garbage fillers
Ottawa - no idea if they have any worthwhile prospects left and Pinto really isn’t moving the needle as a 3C

Respect the post. Nice work.

That said I'll go out on a limb and assume you meant "needs to start with HAGENS" for Boston...

 

[miscs75]

For the sake of argument i looked it up, 17. We must have just squeaked into the playoffs that year

Fair enough about wright but all I know is if we can somehow come out of the draft with Verheoff(who I believe would make for the ultimate D combo with Schaefer, while switching Barzal for EP40 and dumping a couple bad contracts, that is a win in my books. I get the reason to be scared of EP40 but as I said I am banking he bounces back a bit in a new environment

If Wright doesn't work, We could ask for Tampa's (top 10 protected) 2027 first which Seattle owns then give that to Vancouver.

EP40 is another one I want nothing to do with. That contract is Palat with term level bad. Too soft of a player in terms of his ego. Imagine having an expensive Engvall to go along with Engvall himself? Yeah, I’m aborting as fast as possible. Only way it’s somewhat interesting is if Vancouver takes back Palat, Engvall, Duclair, Mayfield and Schenn in return. Offset his acquisition with cleaning out multiple contracts that this team needs to move on from.

 

[Glorydays22]

This is the most compelling reason to trade Barzal.

Because even if we kept him, name any players we could trade for or sign in the next year that could have us competing alongside the Hurricanes, Panthers, Canadiens, etc in the East....Before we even discuss the Knights, Wild, Stars, Avs, etc in the West.

It's just not possible for the Isles to win a Cup in the next few seasons. Wish all fans, but especially Malkin/Darche, would accept this and build the team for when Schaefer is in his young/mid 20's.

you read my mind...just posted something similar

 

[periferal]

And this is just Florida's core below...

Enough acquiring 30+ year old players (much less via a trade). It's such a waste of time as the Isles cannot compete for a Cup against rosters like this below for years. Makes more sense to have as much cap space available in case you can leverage it in a trade, and/or a true difference maker in their 20's comes to market.

 

[seabass45]

Seriously...Do we have to consider a full rebuild now with this Florida trade? Florida, Montreal, Carolina, maybe Buffalo are going to dominate the East for the foreseeable....

Maybe it's time to maximize our top vet talent. Move either Barzal or Horvat this year. The other one next offseason....obviously sell off guys like Pelech, Schenn, Pulock and Parms. Then their's Sorokin, wonder in the next year or two what value can we get with him. If it's a tear down and we move these guys, I don't necessarity think it would be a long rebuild either.

I don’t think so. We all know Darche screwed up the deadline, we should have two first rounders at the very least, possibly another if Lee or Pageau were traded. In theory you can get that first back for Schenn as long as his play holds up enough, maybe try to do that before this draft (lol)?

You still proceed with an open mind moving forward. Pelech should be made available and could potentially be traded if the return makes sense. Next offseason you do the same with Pulock and Mayfield. I think they’re listening on Barzal but they’re not just going to dump him.

You can’t just gut the team to the point that it’ll take five years for Schaefer to see the playoffs though.

 

[Glorydays22]

And this is just Florida's core below...

Enough acquiring 30+ year old players (much less via a trade). It's such a waste of time as the Isles cannot compete for a Cup against rosters like this below for years. Makes more sense to have as much cap space available in case you can leverage it in a trade, and/or a true difference maker in their 20's comes to market.

They will be cup contenders/Favorites for a while...all these guys are in their prime.
This is not good for teams like us. To me this forces us to truly consider a rebuild