[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Eichel was a former teammate of both Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk in 2013-14... Americans who play in Canada. His draftmates McDavid, Hanifin, and Marner all play in Canada. His Hobey Baker predecessor, and World Cup teammate John Gaudreau plays in Canada. The City of Buffalo is literally ten minutes from the Canadian Border, and Massechussetts where he's from is pretty far North as well. He's not exactly living in southern California right now.

The Flames are currently not a playoff team... were the 2017-18 St. Louis Blues a playoff team when Buffalo shipped Eichel's teammate Ryan O'Rielly there? Fact is, the Flames have made the playoffs four our of the last seven years. The last time we missed the playoffs, we followed that season up by placing 1st in the conference.

The core is playing poorly? Gaudreau in a down year has 42 pts in 52 games. Giordano even at his advanced age is a better two way defenseman than anyone Buffalo has employed in Eichel's career, likewise Tanev, Hanifin, and Andersson. Contrast that with the miserable pair of seasons Dahlin has had on the Sabres' backend. Lindholm's had a strong season, albeit overmatched as a number one center. Tkachuk and Monahan? The former is due for a bounceback year and the latter is probably part of any Eichel trade.

Prospect rankings? Do you think there's a player in the NHL who follows or considers prospect rankings? The Sabres have consistently had some of the best prospect rankings and seen, for various reasons, huge name prospects like Sam Reinhart, Alex Nylander, Casey Middlestadt, and Rasmus Dahlin virtually flop. The Flames have turned prospects like Mangiapane and Andersson into respectable NHLers over the same period. And yes I am aware the Sabres have played better hockey since the coaching change and some of those names might still live up to predraft expectations... but Jack Eichel hasn't played for the post-Kreuger Sabres and may not care.

Overall, I think you're looking at this whole thing from the perspective of a jaded Flames fan, not a player looking for a change of scenery. The Flames have plenty of appealing aspects.

They have a three time cup winning head coach.
Most of their core is all in their mid-twenties.
They have a Norris winning defenseman along with more age appropriate blueliners.
They have a 99 point left winger who excels in the deft, delicate, deadly game.
They have another ppg left winger who excels in the netfront game.
Their GM has never missed playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Their biggest hole is at number one center... which is what he is.
Their other biggest hole is right handed shot goal scoring forwards... which he is.
They have multiple elite two way centers who can both play middle six.
They have an on-paper starting goaltender locked up to term.
They have leader types like Lucic and Backlund on their bottom six.
They annually spend to the cap, and players generally consider them a classy organization.




That's like, your opinion, man.

Solid post even though we would lose some of those pieces you mention to acquire him.

Hopefully something around Monahan, Pelletier, 1st and (unfortunately) one of our young dmen could land him.