How would everyone feel about this kind of deal?
To Calgary:
Eichel ($1 million retained)
To Buffalo:
Coronato/Zary
Pelletier
2022 1st round pick (lottery protected)
2023 1st round pick (conditional)
Zadorov
Conditions on the 2023 1st round pick are dependent on Eichel’s performance and health. If he puts up 70+ points in 2022-2023, it’s a first round pick. If not, it’s a 2nd round pick + 3rd round pick.
This deal puts limited protection on the 2022 pick - if the flames season went off the rails it could be a pick between 4 and 10. That’s enticing for Buffalo. Furthermore, the 2023 pick is only tied to Eichel’s performance and not the performance of the flames. There would be the potential for eichel to put up 70 points and the flames still miss the playoffs just like Buffalo always has with eichel scoring like a top centre… especially if the flames lost players like Gaudreau and/or tkachuk in the offseason.
To me, this is a huge haul for eichel. Maybe even too much (I think it would be hard to Vegas to beat this offer). But it gets him without gutting the flames’ roster as it is now mid-season. The flames would also be getting some salary retention so that inflates the price a bit as well. In the offseason, one of Gaudreau or tkachuk will likely have to go to make room for eichel and for mangiapane’s raise. Likely tkachuk would be the one to go. He could be traded to recoup some assets.
If eichel is ready before the playoffs this year, the flames may have a player or two that is nursing injuries that could be put on LTIR to make room for him under the cap. If not, the flames could be forced to trade a player like Monahan near the TDL. At which point his value would be higher than it is right now even if he does not produce like he used to. Big centres usually have an inflated price tag by the TDL. If Monahan does not need to be traded this year, it can wait till the offseason.
The ideal line up come playoffs (lines are a total guess)
Gaudreau-Eichel-Lindholm/Monahan
Tkachuk-Monahan/Lindholm-coleman
Mangiapane-Dube-Lucic
Pitlick-Backlund-Lewis
Too many centres, I know, but is that really a bad thing?
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