It is curious to see this drag out. No legitimate rumours or updates for weeks now. I was anticipating a move at a few of the off-season's pinch-points like the draft or free agency.
It is fair to asses this situation like buying a used car that needs a major repair before you can even drive it (Imagine buying an Aston Martin at full-cost with a mechanical issue - Not gonna happen right?). GMs are not going to forgo assets without knowing:
A) What is the medical history of the player
B) How will this player rehab and perform post-surgery (Whichever surgery he needs or gets)
It is still unclear how this situation resolves itself because the Eichel/Buffalo bridge is scorched earth at this point. Buffalo seems to be holding things up because the ask/return outweighs the risk for other GM's in the league.
If it means getting Eichel in Calgary by tomorrow, I would be pulling the trigger on a move like this.
Buffalo:
Eichel
Calgary:
Dube (RFA Rights)
Zary
2022 1st
Conditional picks based on performance/games played. That's what.. 3 1st round equivalencies and the 4th can be factored in once Eichel has returned to play.
Let it be said that 'forecasting' is now equally just as important as 'prior performance' for GM's these days.
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