One way I see this from an optics perspective makes me look back at the Bennett trade.
Flames didn’t want to trade Bennett but they basically had to. Public trade request and likely expansion issue has him as a guy they had to move out. What some people thought could happen came true and Bennett has exploded on a new team.
Now imagine the Flames traded Bennett to the Leafs or Habs like it was rumored? We would never stop hearing about him or how we screwed it up and how he is a savior for the new team. Imagine he was on the Leafs having the same impact?
When I look at Buffalo I see Vegas as a comparable to Toronto/Montreal in this scenario. Vegas has had an unreal start to their franchise and while not the biggest market they attract a lot of attention due to how good they have been and how great the atmosphere has been in the building. Sending him to a market like this will keep him in the mind of Sabres fans.
I see Calgary like Florida in this situation. Bennett is killing it in Florida and we all know but he is still in Florida. Great team but that market is fairly irrelevant to Calgary until we ply them 2 times a year or we see a deep playoff run. Sending Eichel to Calgary not only sends him across the country but sends him out of the country. Sabres fans will keep tabs but it will take a lot for the Flames to be the biggest story in US hockey.
|