Speculation: The 2026-27 Roster Speculation Thread: Summer Edition - Throw in All The Oars, We're Trading for Battleships

[HogtownSabresfan]

Why can't we just bring back Ryan O'Reilly. He ticks a ton of boxes we need from face offs to a decent offence and ultimately wouldn't cost a bundle. Trade for him and extend him two years. He fills a great gap until younger guys mature. He never quit on Buffalo. It's a such a nonsense narrative based on comment about "losing his love of the game" pumped up by local media morons.

I would give up the 28th overall, sign and trade Tuch (try and get a second to give to Nashville) and add in prospect not name Mrtka, Ostlund, Helenius or Kulich.

I know it will never happen.

 

[Duddy]

No. It will look like much, but it won't be.
It never is that huge haul people expect, especially not for a guy who says I only want to go team x.

 

[Beerz]

Plus what? Norris isn't worth much at all given that he breaks if exposed to a stiff breeze.

Byram is only of any positive value to Detroit if he agrees to re-sign in Detroit. And that's HIGHLY debatable given the presence of do-it-all Seider and up-and-comer ASP to soak up any PP minutes that Seider doesn't get.

Even if Byram would re-sign there, I still think that package would need Ostlund included.

I think they would like a replacement for Larkin to play right away...

Byram being willing to re-sign will be needed of course. I have no idea if he would or wouldn't.

Maybe more is needed. I would hope it wouldn't require Ostlund.

 

[Chainshot]

It’ll take a package which includes Helenius, or Thompson. Going to be a hefty price.

Guy has destination control, those rarely demand that sort of weight. He'll pick a spot and the team will work something out that everyone loses their mind over because "our team could've beaten that!" when it is just one team in the running.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

Well here's hoping Dylan Larkin loves Buffalo.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Guy has destination control, those rarely demand that sort of weight. He'll pick a spot and the team will work something out that everyone loses their mind over because "our team could've beaten that!" when it is just one team in the running.

It'll depend on whether he gives Yzerman a few teams to work with, or one. Already seeing chatter about Vegas, so I'm going to assume he only wants Vegas until we learn otherwise.

 

[HaNotsri]

I ran in on puckpedia to see what happened and what possibilities opened up. I re-signed Benson, Kesselring, Krebs, and Malenstyn to their AFP contracts and traded Greenway for futures. Then I ran that Byram for Knies trade.

After it's done, the roster has $1.7M in space with this lineup (24 players and lines are for accounting only):

Knies - Norris - Thompson
Benson - Ostlund - Doan
Zucker - Helenius - Krebs
Malenstyn - McLeod - Carrick
x Kulich, Danforth, Kozak

Samuelsson - Dahlin
Power - Kesselring
Metsa - Timmins

UPL, Lyon, Ellis

If you drop Danforth to Rochester, you bring that total up to $3M. If you then drop Kozak or start Kulich in Rochester, then you're at $3.8M.

AFP defenseman in that range:
Connor Murphy
Nick Jensen
Jamie Oleksiak
Logan Stanley

So you could hedge bets against Kesselring returning to form with a smaller signing.

Looks like a pretty massive downgrade with Quinn gone as well as Byram.

 

[Sabre the Win]

You take Barzal or Larkin and call it a day.

Whatever one u can pry for the cheapest.

 

[Beerz]

You take Barzal or Larkin and call it a day.

Whatever one u can pry for the cheapest.

I think Barzal is about as much a Center as Tage.

 

[Fly Boy]

I think there's going to be a lot of USA Olympic guys posturing for Larkin. I imagine he's going to be getting calls from Tage, Quinn Hughes, Werenski, Eichel all telling him how great it is to be in xxx city. Its going to be a recruitment as much as price matching.

 

[Sabre the Win]

It'll depend on whether he gives Yzerman a few teams to work with, or one. Already seeing chatter about Vegas, so I'm going to assume he only wants Vegas until we learn otherwise.

Who is this chatter?

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Yzerman will probably want to ship Larkin out of division.

After seeing the Wild's center spine collapse in the playoffs with JEE injured, they seem like the best fit if they can conjure up the assets...

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Who is this chatter?

But honestly, didn't need an insider to say anything to believe Vegas would be in on it and that the player would want Vegas.

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Well here's hoping Dylan Larkin loves Buffalo.

I don't know, the trade demand has some loser energy about it. Then again, I'm in the definite minority concerning the quest for the 1C holy grail. I don't see the urgency.

 

[truthbluth]

Hallowed be thy name

 

[old kummelweck]

But honestly, didn't need an insider to say anything to believe Vegas would be in on it and that the player would want Vegas.

Good - get out of the conference.

 

[Beerz]

 

[CrazyWayne]

I would say buffalo will be rumored to be very interested just because of how deeply ingrained buffalo has become into USA hockey

 

[Jetskiis]

Tage and Larkin were great linemates for team USA. Of the possible teams Larkin would waive for, Buffalo probably has the best package that could be offered...

It's just up to Larkin really.


Vegas would have a very hard time making Larkin fit. between re-signing Dorofeyev and Andersson, there just isnt room.

 

[Zman5778]

Tage and Larkin were great linemates for team USA. Of the possible teams Larkin would waive for, Buffalo probably has the best package that could be offered...

I dunno. Minnesota could put together a pretty enticing package as well as Buffalo. Hell, so could the Isles (around Barzal) or the Devils (around Hischier, if Nico won't re-up in NJ and would in DET). Anaheim could put together a package around MacTavish. Vegas could put together a package around Dorfeyev and Hill.

I think saying that "Buffalo has the best package that could be offered" is more than a bit of homer-colored glasses.

 

[Jetskiis]

I dunno. Minnesota could put together a pretty enticing package as well as Buffalo. Hell, so could the Isles (around Barzal) or the Devils (around Hischier, if Nico won't re-up in NJ and would in DET). Anaheim could put together a package around MacTavish. Vegas could put together a package around Dorfeyev and Hill.

I think saying that "Buffalo has the best package that could be offered" is more than a bit of homer-colored glasses.

Vegas would be insane to include Dorfeyev in a Larkin deal.

Outside of not knowing who he will waive for, Buffalo would have a strong offer.

that better for u?

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

This could be the Norris move. Detroit cant take back futures in this deal unless they commit to a full build. There's a world where Norris could be the best top 6, veteran center they can afford and can get to waive.

If I'm detroit though I scrap the plan right now and commit to the rebuild.

 

[EmeraldCitySabre]

I th

Who is this chatter?

I think we can expect VGK to be in on every big name player that's made available. That's how they build their team, they don't give 2 f**ks about the draft or prospects, and they're about to win yet another Cup.

 

[old kummelweck]

I would say buffalo will be rumored to be very interested just because of how deeply ingrained buffalo has become into USA hockey

Western Canada allegiance is but a distant memory.

 

[Jetskiis]

If I'm detroit though I scrap the plan right now and commit to the rebuild.

That would require Yzerman to admit the Yzerplan failed.

I could see a scenario where Detroit bites on a package around Norris (or one similar to it, from min or nj) simply because of Yzerman's ego.

If he chooses to full rebuild, they could get a boatload of prospects and picks.

If he wants to stick to some sort of retool, I think the return would be worse