2019/2020 Trade Speculation and Rumors 2.0

[Toonage]

I love the people that want to get Eichel out of Buffalo, and then recreate Buffalo for him here.

[MrMike]

That is because teams don’t trade that type of young player.

[Scroopy Noopers]

It’s almost a weird spot where the trade makes absolutely no sense for either team.

[TheScorpion]

I have no qualms about how valuable the Flames' guys are as players. I don't think the disconnect between the production and skill of Eichel and Gaudreau is that substantial. I just think their respective contract situations make the move impossible to justify from Buffalo's perspective. When Boston traded Seguin for Reilly Smith and Loui Eriksson et al, both of those guys were gone within three years. Gaudreau is much better than Smith and Monahan is a bit better than Eriksson was as a Star and Bruin, but I think the outcome could be the same here.

I don't think either of those guys would still be Buffalo Sabres within three years. And that's why Buffalo doesn't do it, if you ask me.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Not nearly dramatic enough in my estimation. 2/3rds of your top line AND a pick for the exact same situation Eichel has in Buffalo. But it'll be different this time in Calgary right?

Whoever thinks you need better a better Center than Monahan ONLY, is out to lunch. You need two quality centers like Monahan. Push Backlund to the 3rd line C. Depth, not less... my god.

What do you mean exact same situation Eichel has in Buffalo? Who are the Tkachuk, Lindholm and Backlund on the Sabres. Flames sign Hall and they have just improved 2/3 of their top line and went from 2 and 3 years team control to 7 and 6 years.

Eichel is 23 and has 78pts in 68 games. 2 straight years of over ppg. Ideally you add a better center than Monahan and better depth to the team but that isn’t easy.

But instead let’s keep Monahan and the pick and trade Johnny for the 25th pick in the draft and a guy that hasn’t played in over a year and has 2 30pt seasons under his belt.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Monahan is a bit better than Loui Eriksson??? At least I can calm down now cause I’ve confirmed you guys are just jerking us around for fun.

[TheScorpion]

Well I said Monahan is a bit better than Loui Eriksson was as a Star and Bruin, which I think is fair. He was a tremendous two-way player before he went to Vancouver. Routinely in the end-of-season All-Star team discussions.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

McDavid was McDavid when the Oilers were still as atrocious as the Buffalo Sabres. Eichel is not McDavid (now you're making me pump McDavid's tires, disgusting).

Even if you suggest Eichel is greater than he is, proposals like Gaudreau/Monahan/1st for Eichel just show a complete lack of respect for the quality of the Flames players, or their value, or a complete lack of understanding of how trades work in the NHL.

No single player outside Eric Lindros has ever, in the history of the NHL, been traded for such an enormously valuable package.

When do 23 year old centers with 2 seasons better than point per game and 6 years left on their course react get traded? They don’t and as much as we talk about it potentially happening with Eichel I see zero chance the Flames move him

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Not nearly dramatic enough in my estimation. 2/3rds of your top line AND a pick for the exact same situation Eichel has in Buffalo. But it'll be different this time in Calgary right?

Whoever thinks you need better a better Center than Monahan ONLY, is out to lunch. You need two quality centers like Monahan. Push Backlund to the 3rd line C. Depth, not less... my god.

Buffalo doesn't have anyone on a supporting cast level of Tkachuk-Lindholm-Backlund-Gio-Andersson. If we also sign Hall there is literally no comparison at all to his situation in buffalo.

Definitely over dramatic.

Also Monahan is much, much better than Eriksson. But Seguin was not as good as Eichel when he was traded.

[TheScorpion]

Monahan has never received a vote for an end-of-season all-star team. Just saying. Eriksson finished top-5 and top-10 multiple times as a Star and Bruin... I actually think he might have had a higher peak. Multiple consecutive 70-point seasons as a great defensive winger. But I think Monahan will have a longer tenure of relevance.

Either way that's not the point I was making... the point is, why would Buffalo trade a franchise C for two players who could be gone in a couple years? Doesn't make any sense.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Well I said Monahan is a bit better than Loui Eriksson was as a Star and Bruin, which I think is fair. He was a tremendous two-way player before he went to Vancouver. Routinely in the end-of-season All-Star team discussions.

Yeah no I understand, I’m comparing him at the time of the trade.

LW - 27yrs - 3years @ $4.25mil with 16 team NTC - 150 G - 207 A - 138 hits

C - 25yrs - 3years @ $6.35mil with 10 team NTC - 194 G - 217 A - 289 hits

So, cap hits close to a wash, younger centre who is more offensive and more physical.

[TheScorpion]

Still that's a bargain cap hit for Eriksson at that point. Lindholm-esque. I always liked him before he went to Van. Very underrated and effective player. He seemed like such a natural fit for the Sedins, too... but he has been just an awful fit for the Canucks.

I don't think the Flames would be prepared to give up Tkachuk or Lindholm in a deal for Eichel and I don't think the Sabres have interest in anyone else. Ultimately I don't think the teams make any sense as trade partners unless Buffalo goes crazy and does a repeat of the ROR trade.

[Vinny01]

I don’t think the Sabres are even entertaining moving Eichel. This offseason they will be aggressive in improving the team around him. I think they are more likely moving their RFA’s or picks and prospects to behold a better team around Jack.

Teams don’t trade franchise centers before they are 25 but if he publicly demands to be moved all bets are off.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying this fun discussion much more than the past couple months.

But maybe let’s get back to talking about multiple pieces coming in for Gaudreau, and not the other way around.

[TheScorpion]

Time for some actual rumors!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1281698093281542146

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Wha? Not sure why they’d trade him, he’s a great young player. I’m obviously missing something here.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Time for some actual rumors!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1281698093281542146

Would be a good target for Buffalo. I suspect the Canucks looking for picks and prospects to get cap relief.

[TheScorpion]

Pretty sure Vancouver is close to cap jail, largely because Jim Benning has handed out more than a few overpriced UFA contracts.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think the Sabres are even entertaining moving Eichel

Good. From Buffalo I want Reinhart, Cozens and a 1st. I'll let them keep Eichel.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Good. From Buffalo I want Reinhart, Cozens and a 1st. I'll let them keep Eichel.

But there you run into more issues. Does Buffalo want two years of Gaudreau so badly that they're willing to give up as many as eight years of Reinhart, ten years of Cozens, and a first on top of that?

It's a really hard trade to evaluate. IMO for the trade to make sense for both teams:

a) Gaudreau has to be a clear, sizable upgrade on the best player Calgary receives in the deal, in terms of asset quality, player quality, and likely both
b) the pieces Calgary receives have to come from an area of depth for the team receiving Gaudreau

Gaudreau is clearly a large upgrade on Reinhart as a player. But as an asset? I think they're roughly similar. Two years until UFA versus unsigned RFA status is a big difference.

And, even worse, Buffalo has an absolutely pitiful forward prospect pipeline. It might be the worst in the league. Cozens is easily their best prospect and Reinhart is one of about four above-average forwards on that team. It's not good.

So does it make sense for Buffalo? I would say no.