View Single Post
Old 07-11-2021, 04:43 PM   #15246
Eric Vail
First Line Centre
 
Eric Vail's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TOfan View Post
To me, the Eichel situation, and his perceived faults, feel similar to the perception of Joe Thornton when he was traded to SJ. All kinds of character issues being raised by people from the outside. Where are these criticisms coming from? Eichel is a young man, is he unable to grow and mature? He certainly wouldn’t be the first NHLer to mature during the course of his career.

The ‘he’s not a winner/leader/whatever’ comments are pretty hollow in my mind. The Flames should be more than mildly interested, but not at any price. The Tkachuk contract would scare me, for the same reasons it should of concern to the Flames, if I’m Buffalo, so I think it’s very unlikely to happen as the Flames don’t appear to have the assets otherwise. That said, Buffalo could flip Tkachuk for other assets that fit their needs.
Thorton was never able to raise his level of play in the playoffs to get an excellent San Jose team to win the Stanley Cup. Even in the Olympics and other tourneys, he was never a leader. His regular seasons are a dream to Eichel, but if he followed in Thorton's play for when it mattered most, that would be brutal for him.
Eric Vail is offline