Quote:
Originally Posted by Macindoc
With the Flames’ fortunes, I can just imagine the disastrous scenarios that could emerge from trading for Eichel. Just envision a trade of Tkachuk, Coronato, and the next two unprotected firsts for Eichel. He has his surgery but sustains some nerve damage affecting the dexterity of his hands. He’s healthy enough to play and is no longer a sniper but instead a $10M bottom 6 player. Without Tkachuk or any top 6 RW on the club, and other teams totally keying on Lindholm and Gaudreau, the Flames finish bottom 3 and win the draft lottery, giving the first overall pick to Buffalo. Flames can’t make any off-season deals due to being in salary cap hell, and end up winning the next draft lottery as well, giving Buffalo its second first overall in two years. With only Zary, Pelletier, and maybe Wolf having any chance of making the NHL, once they have made the jump, the prospect pipeline is dry for three years and the team spends another three years being in the bottom five, and can’t even start a rebuild until Eichel’s contract is up.
I know, it all sounds unlikely, but it’s the Flames we’re discussing, and if any team could have a misfortune such as this, it’s the Flames.
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There’s not much point in trying to catastrophize this.
First of all, I doubt Buffalo has much interest in Tkachuk. I’m sure they like him as a player, but they’re not dumb. They know his contract status and I would be surprised if they don’t see him as a significant flight risk in about a years time.
The question for me is, can the Flamrs do this without giving up one of Dube or Mangiapane? I suspect no, but that might be what it is going to take.