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Originally Posted by bax
If the Flames end up making the move, I'm certain their medical staff will be confident is Eichel's ability to return at an elite level.
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They better be. This is a $50M decision.
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Eichel doesn't need to have a greater impact than he had in Buffalo. He just needs to be part of the team and play like a first line center.
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He needs to be a hell of a lot better than he was in Buffalo. He has to learn to play both sides of the puck or Sutter will kill him. If he brings his Buffalo performance with him, we'll be Buffalo West.
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Since Eichel joined the league the Sabers have consistently iced one of the worst rosters in the league with poor coaches running the bench.
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That's a great narrative, but not true. Buffalo has made plenty of moves to improve the team and they have iced some good talent. Why that talent hasn't turned into something, especially with a supposed superstar like Jack Eichel on the team, is a concern. Coaching plays a big part in that, as we've seen in Calgary and Edmonton. But the larger problem still lands directly on the players and not coming together to play like a team.
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As long as Eichel can come back and play at a high level I would have high expectations for a Sutter team with Eichel, Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Lindholm, Markstrom, etc.
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As would I. It would be division champion or bust, then at least the second or third round of the playoffs. The problem is, our salary structure and lack of organizational depth may not make either of expectations a possibility. You need depth to go anywhere in the playoffs. Depth would still be our biggest problem.