Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbull8
I have heard it from a source close to management (if you don't want to believe me, all good) that the 3 teams still seriously in on Eichel are Anaheim, Vegas, and Calgary.
As well, there is a serious rift between Tkachuk and the team. He has not been training with any of the flames this summer, and has made it very clear he wants to go to the states (ideally St. Louis).
Last year after the Muzzin incident, closed door meeting for the players, but then Tkachuk met with management and was told "we will help you fight your battles, but we're not going to fight all of them every night".
From that point on, he was described as acting "pouty" for the rest of the season (which seems obvious now given how he was playing).
The Flames are looking to move him as part of the Eichel package, since there is almost 0% chance he re-signs here next summer, but Buffalo is not that interested in him. Likely because they know he isn't signing there either.
This seems to be the hold up on the Eichel deal. If a 3rd team got involved, Tkachuk would likely end up there with more futures going to Buffalo.
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Assuming all this is factual, then IMO we should be looking at separate trades for Eichel (one in involving Monahan) and Tkachuk (one involving a speedier top six winger and some futures returning) rather than a 3-way deal. Of course those added futures could be flipped for Eichel.
I want the Flames to be a skilled, high IQ team, but also a much faster team than what's been on the ice the last six or seven years. Monahan and Tkachuk have been the two slowest elements in our top six so replacing them with, for instance Jack Eichel and Chris Kreider, would be outstanding.
I'd our chances with roughly this forward group
Gaudreau - Eichel - Coleman
Kreider - Lindholm - Mangiapane
Dube - Backlund - Pitlick
Lucic - Ruzicka - Phillips
Maybe it's a piece short at 1RW, but plenty of playoff teams are a piece short, that's what deadline deals, or maybe even a Caufield-style Coronato signing, are for.