u/athleticwonder

Pierre LeBrun reported that Zacha's name surfaced when Boston inquired about Kirill Marchenko before Columbus ultimately traded him to Toronto.

That doesn't mean a formal Zacha trade offer was confirmed, but it raises an interesting question about where Boston sees him fitting long-term.

Zacha just produced 30 goals and 65 points, has a $4.75M cap hit, and is eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027.

I can see the argument for extending him. Reliable centres aren't easy to replace. But I'd also be concerned about committing too much money and term to a player entering his 30s.

What would you consider a fair extension for Zacha?

Dreger's report about Edmonton's mystery trade target got me looking at players who actually fit the description instead of just throwing big names around.

Matt Poitras is interesting.

He's 22, right-handed, plays C/RW, has a $850K cap hit and is an RFA after this season. He also has 27 points in 70 NHL games and put up 44 points in Providence last season.

Friedman previously pointed out that Edmonton lacked right-shot centers and more recently said the Oilers had explored a lateral defenceman-for-forward trade.

That doesn't mean Poitras is the guy, Dreger specifically didn't identify the player.

But I'd argue the profile fits unusually well.

From Edmonton's side, something around one of their surplus depth defencemen would also be much more appealing to me than spending another premium draft pick.

Would Boston even be interested, and what do Bruins fans think a fair hockey trade would look like?

With Elliotte Friedman linking Philadelphia to Simon Edvinsson, I'm curious where Flyers fans would actually draw the line.

He's 23, 6-foot-6, averaged 22:21 last season, and remains unsigned with Detroit. Philadelphia clearly needs help on the back end, but Edvinsson would cost substantially more than a normal early-season defensive addition.

My view is Detroit should be looking for an established young NHL player plus another premium asset rather than a picks-only return.

What would your best realistic offer be, and what player would be untouchable?

Dreger reportedly said Edmonton has been involved for weeks in talks involving an unnamed young Eastern Conference center with upside and something left to prove.

Obviously, he didn't identify the player.

What makes Kirby Dach interesting is the previous reporting: Seravalli has already said Edmonton's interest in Dach is extremely strong, while Friedman has said the Oilers are looking for a right-shot center and specifically connected that need to Dach.

Dach is also 25, right-handed, 6'4", on a one-year $3.6M contract and fits the “upside but still has something to prove” description.

But if you're Edmonton, would you actually want him? And what NHL-ready piece would Montreal realistically want back?

Ryan O’Reilly is back in the trade conversation after Elliotte Friedman said two NHL executives independently brought up his situation when asked what storyline isn't getting enough attention.

He's entering the final year of his Nashville contract at a $4.5M cap hit and just put up 25 goals and 74 points in 81 games.

I looked into the Montreal angle because the fit is pretty interesting, although there is currently no report of active Canadiens–Predators negotiations.

The biggest question for me is price.

O’Reilly could give Montreal another legitimate two-way center, but at 35 and UFA-eligible next summer, I wouldn't want the Canadiens moving one of their premium prospects to get him.

What would you realistically give Nashville for O’Reilly, and where would you draw the line?

Friedman mentioned today that Edmonton has no right-shot centres and said that's why there's been a lot of Kirby Dach chatter.

I thought the interesting part was the cap situation. Edmonton currently has only around $303K in projected room while Dach carries a $3.6M hit, so this isn't as simple as Edmonton sending Montreal a pick or prospect.

Montreal also just lost out on Marchenko after apparently pushing hard all summer, which raises the question of whether Hughes still wants to make another significant roster move.

Curious what Oilers and Habs fans think. Is there actually a hockey trade here, or is Dach more valuable to Montreal if they simply let him play out the season?

Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts had an interesting combination of details:

Carolina is currently the most motivated Hellebuyck pursuer, Nikishin apparently isn't willing to sign in Winnipeg, Carolina has allowed teams to speak with Nikishin, and St. Louis has been a consistent Nikishin pursuer.

To be clear, Friedman did not say St. Louis is officially involved in Hellebuyck talks.

But I looked at whether the structure could make sense: Hellebuyck to Carolina, Nikishin to St. Louis, and assets Winnipeg actually wants coming back from CAR/STL.

The cap situation is particularly interesting because Carolina is only slightly short of fitting Hellebuyck's $8.5M cap hit before any outgoing salary.

What would Winnipeg have to receive for you to consider it worthwhile?

Toronto and Columbus are reportedly deep in discussions on a trade involving Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Knies, and the Leafs have also reportedly received permission to discuss a contract extension with Marchenko.

That makes this a lot more interesting than a normal rumor.

Marchenko had 27 goals and 67 points last season and currently carries a $3.85M cap hit. Knies is younger, had 66 points, and is already signed long term.

From Columbus’ perspective, Knies would give them the established NHL player they’ve reportedly wanted in a Marchenko deal.

From Toronto’s perspective, the question becomes whether Marchenko is enough of an upgrade to justify moving one of their best young forwards.

Would you do Marchenko for Knies straight up?

Elliotte Friedman said today that the “tires have been kicked” on a possible Hellebuyck/Sharks fit.

I initially thought San Jose was a strange destination, but after digging into it, there are a few things that make it interesting.

The Sharks went 39-35-8 last season, Celebrini had 115 points, and the team appears much closer to competing than it did even a year ago.

The biggest problems are the cap and Yaroslav Askarov.

Hellebuyck carries an $8.5M cap hit while San Jose currently has roughly $3.34M in space, so salary has to move somewhere. And if Askarov really is their future No. 1, does spending major assets on a 33-year-old Hellebuyck make sense?

Curious what Sharks/Jets fans think. Would you pursue Hellebuyck, and what would you actually be comfortable giving Winnipeg?

There have been two pretty different pieces of information floating around about Connor Hellebuyck.

Steve Simmons reported that Hellebuyck would report if traded to Montreal or Edmonton.

Now James Murphy/The Sick Podcast is reporting, citing an NHL source, that Montreal hasn't inquired about Hellebuyck or had trade talks with Winnipeg.

Those aren't necessarily contradictory. Hellebuyck can be willing to play in Montreal while Kent Hughes has no interest in paying Winnipeg's asking price.

I also looked at the cap side. Montreal currently has about $2.78M in projected room versus Hellebuyck's $8.5M cap hit. Even if Montembeault's $3.15M were moved as part of the roster reshuffling, Montreal would still have additional money to clear.

Curious what Habs fans think: does acquiring Hellebuyck make sense at the likely acquisition cost, or should Montreal stay with its younger goalies?

The Alexis Lafrenière trade chatter is getting interesting again.

The latest insider discussion isn’t saying the Rangers are actively shopping him right now, but the bigger question is what happens if New York gets off to a rough start and Chris Drury decides the roster needs another major shakeup.

That’s where Lafrenière becomes fascinating.

He’s still only 24, coming off a 24-goal, 57-point season, and he’s under contract long term at a $7.45M cap hit. On the other hand, that also makes him one of the Rangers’ most valuable trade chips if they ever decide they need to make a significant change.

Personally, I think moving him just to create cap space would be a mistake. If the Rangers ever trade Lafrenière, the return would have to be something that materially improves the roster, not just futures or a salary dump.

Curious what Rangers fans think:

Would you trade Lafrenière if the right top-six centre or impact player became available, or is he someone New York should keep and continue developing?

A new report says the Dallas Stars had a trade framework in place involving Jason Robertson, but the deal fell apart and he ended up signing a one-year contract.

What this means for the Stars? Is this just a short-term pause?

Would you keep Robertson long term if you were Dallas, or does this feel like a problem that’s only been delayed?

The interesting part of the Kucherov situation isn't a trade rumor, there's currently no indication Tampa is shopping him or that he wants out.

What caught my attention is that Julien BriseBois acknowledged both sides would have preferred to have a contract completed already.

Kucherov is entering the final year of his $9.5M AAV deal after putting up 130 points in 76 games.

He also has 395 points over the past three seasons.

Meanwhile, the NHL's new CBA means Tampa can now offer a maximum of seven years instead of eight, and the cap is scheduled to rise to $113.5M in 2027-28.

Curious what Lightning fans think: what term and AAV would you be comfortable giving Kucherov?

With Don Waddell reportedly being in Montreal this week and his comments about listening on Marchenko, I took a closer look at what a Habs/Blue Jackets deal would actually require.

Marchenko had 27G, 40A and 67 points last season with a $3.85M cap hit. Waddell's recent comments suggest Columbus doesn't simply want picks/prospects, they want an NHL player who can replace some of that production immediately.

That's where I think a Montreal deal becomes difficult. The hockey fit is obvious, but which roster player would Montreal realistically move that Columbus would value enough?

Curious what people think a realistic package would look like.

The interesting part of the Hellebuyck situation to me isn't just the possibility that he skips camp.

It's Winnipeg's leverage.

He has five years left at $8.5M, a no-movement clause this season, and reports suggest teams haven't been offering the type of return you'd expect for a goalie with his résumé.

My question for Jets fans: do you hold out for full value even if this reaches the regular season, or does a prolonged absence eventually hurt the return?

This is becoming one of the more interesting trade possibilities heading into camp.

Hellebuyck has publicly requested a trade from Winnipeg, while Carolina still has Alexander Nikishin unsigned and enough cap flexibility that making an $8.5M Hellebuyck contract work wouldn't require a massive roster teardown.

From Winnipeg's perspective, I think Nikishin is much more interesting than a futures-heavy package because he's already NHL-ready and could become part of their next core.

From Carolina's perspective, though, you're giving up a 25-year-old All-Rookie defenseman for a 33-year-old goalie.

Would Nikishin + another significant asset be too much, too little or about right?

Friedman mentioned that Nashville has been “kicking around” Alexander Nikishin, which got me looking deeper at whether the fit actually makes sense.

Nashville has about $9.7M in projected cap space and picked up another 2028 first and second in the Evangelista trade. Nikishin just put up 11G/33P as a rookie and remains an unsigned RFA.

The difficult part for me is Carolina's incentive. They're trying to win now, so futures alone probably aren't especially attractive.

Preds fans: what's the maximum package you'd move?

Friedman has now mentioned both Montreal and the Islanders around Kirill Marchenko.

The interesting part for me is Columbus' position. Marchenko had 27G/40A/67P last season, put up 74 points the year before and costs only $3.85M this season.

Waddell has basically said he can't just remove that production without getting something back that helps Columbus now.

Montreal has much more cap room than NYI, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has the better trade package.

Curious what people here think is a realistic package, not the usual “mid prospect + second-round pick” offer.

Anaheim putting Kreider on unconditional waivers caught me off guard considering he still had 22 goals and 50 points last season.

If he clears and becomes a UFA, I think Montreal at least has to investigate it.

PuckPedia currently has the Canadiens at about $9.78M in projected cap space, so a one-year deal around $3M–$4M wouldn't require a major cap move.

The positives for me:

• still scored 22 last year
• net-front/power-play ability
• lots of playoff experience
• familiarity with St. Louis/Gorton
• no draft pick or prospect going the other way

The obvious concern is that he's 35, so I wouldn't want term.

Curious where everyone lands on this. 1 × $4M: yes or no?

One of the more interesting NHL storylines right now is Alex DeBrincat’s place in Detroit. He says he wants to stay, but he’s entering the final year of his contract while the Red Wings are still dealing with front-office uncertainty. Add in the Larkin situation and Kane leaving, and it feels like this could become a huge talking point all season.