Any trade that involves Jack Eichel has to include Sean Monahan in my opinion. An expensive offense first center for another expensive offense first center. Then you throw in some additional pieces to get the trade done. I don’t think trading Gaudreau who will be a 1 year rental after this season will be enough of a centerpiece. I barely think Monahan’s 2 years left is a centerpiece either, but with all the extras, it might pique the interest of the Sabres brass.
From a Flames perspective, Elias Lindholm can probably move back to wing to help do some heavy lifting for Jack Eichel and Mikael Backlund can play a second fiddle, shutdown role. Or I guess the Flames can try Eichel-Lindholm-Backlund up the middle which looks menacing. Both options look good to me, but it ultimately comes down to what Buffalo wants to do. If they want to rebuild and trade Eichel for say a Quinton Byfield, then the Flames are SOL.
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