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Originally Posted by ComixZone
If the Flames were ever going to do anything whacky/bold, I’d be okay with a wild payment for Eichel.
To BUF: Hanifin, Bennett, Ryan, Pelletier, 2021 1st, 2022 1st, 2023 1st
To CGY: Eichel, Mittelstadt
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No way does Buffalo make that deal. Bennett and Ryan are worthless in a trade, probably negative value at this point, so there is no use trying to include them. That means you're trading Eichel for Hanifin and a bunch of magic beans. Do you honestly think any team is taking magic beans for their franchise player? Even if those picks turn into lottery picks that trade is a long term commitment to yet another rebuild for the Sabres. Why would they do that? They are going to demand a reasonable return that keeps them competitive. I would think the demand is going to be a two first line players (preferably a center and a winger), a top four defenseman, and a 1st. All players would have to come with term and good contracts. If I were Buffalo that would be my demand and I would hold out for it. Draft picks mean nothing to me.
That deal is also brutal for Calgary. The development system already has a huge hole in it and that would just make matters worse. Good teams have a steady stream of good young cost controlled talent coming into the pipeline to support the big salaries. Trading away three years of 1sts would cripple an already lacking system. There would be next to nothing on the farm and even less to develop the depth needed to win.
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Re-sign Gaudreau, and committ to the top six of Gaudreau, Eichel, Mangiapane, Tkachuk, Monahan and Lindholm.
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So how do you do this? How are you going to sign all of these players and keep them happy? Eichel is a $10M player. Tkachuk will be a $9M player. Based on performance and production Gaudreau will be demanding as much as Tkachuk. Monahan will be looking for a bump on his salary as well. Mangiapane will be looking for at worst the same as Lindholm. Salary cap says hello.
Could the Flames go after Eichel? Sure. They could put a very competitive package together of Monahan, Lindholm, Hanifin, and a 1st. Would alleviate the salary structure pressure and still give the team the resources to build toward a future. Not sure I see the value in it though. I think the Flames are better off with the players they are trading away. Eichel comes here and has to play under Ward and the fans are up his ass in a month. You have to consider what is left of the team and whether it would be competitive or not. Personally I would make Tkachuk the centerpiece in a trade for Eichel, but I'm not sure what value he holds around the league. Would it be enough to where you could keep an extra player in the deal or move a lesser asset? I don't know. Buffalo would tell you. I think they know they need a center back, I'm not sure we have the center they would ultimately want.