[News] Eichel: Sabres wouldn't let me get surgery on herniated disk in neck

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I fully agree with this. The problem I see is if Buffalo would want to take on Tkachuk and his qualifying offer? They are headed for a huge rebuild and I doubt Tkachuk would want to sign long term with them. With the Pegulas having an enter all cap they are going to want cost controlled players . Surely rangers will offer kakko and LA has a huge mix of elc players that they could pick from. All of these players will have far more value than any prospect /elc players the flames have to offer. Basically if Buffalo doesn’t want Tkachuk then flames have no chance.

Tkachuk is only 23 (and only turned that age in December). He's only 2 years older than Dahlin. He can be part of a rebuild, if they want. However, I'm not sure they are going to burn it all down to the ground anyway.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Not in the US, currently not a playoff team, and with a core that is currently playing quite poorly. Prospect rankings in the bottom third of the league.

Eichel was a former teammate of both Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk in 2013-14... Americans who play in Canada. His draftmates McDavid, Hanifin, and Marner all play in Canada. His Hobey Baker predecessor, and World Cup teammate John Gaudreau plays in Canada. The City of Buffalo is literally ten minutes from the Canadian Border, and Massechussetts where he's from is pretty far North as well. He's not exactly living in southern California right now.

The Flames are currently not a playoff team... were the 2017-18 St. Louis Blues a playoff team when Buffalo shipped Eichel's teammate Ryan O'Rielly there? Fact is, the Flames have made the playoffs four our of the last seven years. The last time we missed the playoffs, we followed that season up by placing 1st in the conference.

The core is playing poorly? Gaudreau in a down year has 42 pts in 52 games. Giordano even at his advanced age is a better two way defenseman than anyone Buffalo has employed in Eichel's career, likewise Tanev, Hanifin, and Andersson. Contrast that with the miserable pair of seasons Dahlin has had on the Sabres' backend. Lindholm's had a strong season, albeit overmatched as a number one center. Tkachuk and Monahan? The former is due for a bounceback year and the latter is probably part of any Eichel trade.

Prospect rankings? Do you think there's a player in the NHL who follows or considers prospect rankings? The Sabres have consistently had some of the best prospect rankings and seen, for various reasons, huge name prospects like Sam Reinhart, Alex Nylander, Casey Middlestadt, and Rasmus Dahlin virtually flop. The Flames have turned prospects like Mangiapane and Andersson into respectable NHLers over the same period. And yes I am aware the Sabres have played better hockey since the coaching change and some of those names might still live up to predraft expectations... but Jack Eichel hasn't played for the post-Kreuger Sabres and may not care.

Overall, I think you're looking at this whole thing from the perspective of a jaded Flames fan, not a player looking for a change of scenery. The Flames have plenty of appealing aspects.

They have a three time cup winning head coach.
Most of their core is all in their mid-twenties.
They have a Norris winning defenseman along with more age appropriate blueliners.
They have a 99 point left winger who excels in the deft, delicate, deadly game.
They have another ppg left winger who excels in the netfront game.
Their GM has never missed playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Their biggest hole is at number one center... which is what he is.
Their other biggest hole is right handed shot goal scoring forwards... which he is.
They have multiple elite two way centers who can both play middle six.
They have an on-paper starting goaltender locked up to term.
They have leader types like Lucic and Backlund on their bottom six.
They annually spend to the cap, and players generally consider them a classy organization.

A team that should likely blow it up and rebuild.

That's like, your opinion, man.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jg13

Why are so many posters acting like Eichel has a full NTC?

I think everyone knows he can be traded anywhere. But no one wants a guy who really doesn't want to be with their team. Columbus found that out with Carter, who managed to get traded away less than a year after they acquired him.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Hailey Salvian has an article at The Athletic about what it might take to land Eichel. https://theathletic.com/2579404/2021...e-sabres-star/

I'd argue Lindholm has more value as a trade piece than Chucky, given contract status and production. That said, I'd rather trade Tkatchuk than Lindholm. I don't think either gets you Eichel. But I'm also not willing to gut the team for Eichel either.

The trade proposal this morning on the Fan was way more than I' d be willing to pay. Tkatchuk, Lindholm, Zary, and a 1st? So they gut the team to bring in a guy who's production is maybe 20 goals (if generous) more than what Lindholm can give you?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I can not think of a team Eichel would less want to come to, especially considering the assets that would be required to acquire him.

We basically become the least talented team in the league + Eichel.

Isn't he already playing on the US version of the Flames !

I wouldn’t say that. If he came and played with Johnny that would be the most talented winger he has ever had. Eichel then would push Lindholm down to 2nd line center . That’s a great one ,two punch at center. I would presume Tkachuk would be gone in trade , so they would have to find some rws . I know people are down on Mony but would be surprised if they could get a top 6 Rw for him. The d needs a bit of tweaking. Markstrom is a #1 goalie, something Eichel hasn’t had. I’m not saying Calgary would be the top of his list , but he could do far worse. His nice doesn’t kick in to next year .

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by fleury

I think it would be interesting to see who Kevyn Adams has ties to in today’s NHL game. Even though Carolina has a roll four lines model more or less, if they don’t make it deep I could see them making a push for him too. Florida as well. The American teams would give up a lot I’d think, to get a marketable skilled American born player to headline their lineup. As for the Flames, unless it’s Monahan and a 1st, I’d be out. The Flames are in no position to give up too many futures at this point.

Both the Canes and Panthers landed on the “not an option” list. Here is what was said about each.

Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes have their guys down the middle in Sebastian Aho, Vincent Trocheck and Jordan Staal. They have no need for help at center, nothing to offer that would make sense, and virtually no cap space with looming contracts to take care of. As great a player Eichel is, his $10 million cap hit is impossible for the Canes — especially when they’re just fine at center right now. -Sara Civian

Florida Panthers: Eichel just doesn’t fit a Panthers team that’s already deep down the middle with close to $70 million in cap space committed for next season. Sure, you could move some pieces around and maybe create enough room for Eichel’s $10 million cap hit but, really, why bother? Such a move would seem entirely counterintuitive to the work done by rookie GM Bill Zito in redefining the organization’s culture. Just don’t see it happening. -Scott Burnside

[bdubbs]

Trade for Eichel, and if he has to miss a season due to surgery, oh well, we'll take that as a down year and then have a chance at drafting Wright heading into the 2023 season! If they suck that year too because chemistry isn't there, we could even draft Bedard!

I'd rather that than whatever this mess the current edition of the Flames is. I want to care. Make me care, Flames.

[Roof-Daddy]

If Eichel was picking his spot IMO there is no way in hell he would ever pick Calgary or the Flames.

He's not picking his spot though, and if the Flames traded for him I imagine he'd be fine coming here just for a change and a hope that he might be the missing piece here. I think he'd especially be OK coming to the Flames if they still had Johnny, as Gaudreau would easily be the most talented winger he'd have ever played with in his career.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If Eichel was picking his spot IMO there is no way in hell he would ever pick Calgary or the Flames.

He's not picking his spot though, and if the Flames traded for him I imagine he'd be fine coming here just for a change and a hope that he might be the missing piece here. I think he'd especially be OK coming to the Flames if they still had Johnny, as Gaudreau would easily be the most talented winger he'd have ever played with in his career.

Plus, if he really does have that competitive edge, you don't think he'd be extra motivated to not be constantly outshone by McDavid and Matthews in the Canadian media? I think if we actually landed Eichel, he'd play hard for the Flames.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think everyone knows he can be traded anywhere. But no one wants a guy who really doesn't want to be with their team. Columbus found that out with Carter, who managed to get traded away less than a year after they acquired him.

If you take away the half season Carter played in Ohio the deal was

Voracek+Coutirier+Cousins
For
Johnson+Dano

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If you take away the half season Carter played in Ohio the deal was

Voracek+Coutirier+Cousins
For
Johnson+Dano

And of course then Carter goes and lights it up and wins a couple cups.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

Trade for Eichel, and if he has to miss a season due to surgery, oh well, we'll take that as a down year and then have a chance at drafting Wright heading into the 2023 season! If they suck that year too because chemistry isn't there, we could even draft Bedard!

I'd rather that than whatever this mess the current edition of the Flames is. I want to care. Make me care, Flames.

This is important though. If Eichel needs the surgery how long is he lost for? Half a season? He's young and so presumably will recover well but that's a concern as well. Would you get the same guy after his surgery?

There's a lot of red flags with Eichel but if I'm Treliving, I take a big swing and try to land him.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I'd argue Lindholm has more value as a trade piece than Chucky, given contract status and production. That said, I'd rather trade Tkatchuk than Lindholm. I don't think either gets you Eichel. But I'm also not willing to gut the team for Eichel either.

The trade proposal this morning on the Fan was way more than I' d be willing to pay. Tkatchuk, Lindholm, Zary, and a 1st? So they gut the team to bring in a guy who's production is maybe 20 goals (if generous) more than what Lindholm can give you?

I don’t think Lindholm makes any sense for the Sabres. Lindholm makes perfect sense for a team like the Oilers where he would be a bigger, cheaper, younger, better version of RNH.

The guys on the morning show on the FAN literally make the worse proposals and consider all Flames assets worth pennies on the dollar. I think they said it would be at least Lindholm+Hanifin+ to get Dubois earlier in the year.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Eichel was a former teammate of both Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk in 2013-14... Americans who play in Canada. His draftmates McDavid, Hanifin, and Marner all play in Canada. His Hobey Baker predecessor, and World Cup teammate John Gaudreau plays in Canada. The City of Buffalo is literally ten minutes from the Canadian Border, and Massechussetts where he's from is pretty far North as well. He's not exactly living in southern California right now.

The Flames are currently not a playoff team... were the 2017-18 St. Louis Blues a playoff team when Buffalo shipped Eichel's teammate Ryan O'Rielly there? Fact is, the Flames have made the playoffs four our of the last seven years. The last time we missed the playoffs, we followed that season up by placing 1st in the conference.

The core is playing poorly? Gaudreau in a down year has 42 pts in 52 games. Giordano even at his advanced age is a better two way defenseman than anyone Buffalo has employed in Eichel's career, likewise Tanev, Hanifin, and Andersson. Contrast that with the miserable pair of seasons Dahlin has had on the Sabres' backend. Lindholm's had a strong season, albeit overmatched as a number one center. Tkachuk and Monahan? The former is due for a bounceback year and the latter is probably part of any Eichel trade.

Prospect rankings? Do you think there's a player in the NHL who follows or considers prospect rankings? The Sabres have consistently had some of the best prospect rankings and seen, for various reasons, huge name prospects like Sam Reinhart, Alex Nylander, Casey Middlestadt, and Rasmus Dahlin virtually flop. The Flames have turned prospects like Mangiapane and Andersson into respectable NHLers over the same period. And yes I am aware the Sabres have played better hockey since the coaching change and some of those names might still live up to predraft expectations... but Jack Eichel hasn't played for the post-Kreuger Sabres and may not care.

Overall, I think you're looking at this whole thing from the perspective of a jaded Flames fan, not a player looking for a change of scenery. The Flames have plenty of appealing aspects.

They have a three time cup winning head coach.
Most of their core is all in their mid-twenties.
They have a Norris winning defenseman along with more age appropriate blueliners.
They have a 99 point left winger who excels in the deft, delicate, deadly game.
They have another ppg left winger who excels in the netfront game.
Their GM has never missed playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Their biggest hole is at number one center... which is what he is.
Their other biggest hole is right handed shot goal scoring forwards... which he is.
They have multiple elite two way centers who can both play middle six.
They have an on-paper starting goaltender locked up to term.
They have leader types like Lucic and Backlund on their bottom six.
They annually spend to the cap, and players generally consider them a classy organization.




That's like, your opinion, man.

Solid post even though we would lose some of those pieces you mention to acquire him.

Hopefully something around Monahan, Pelletier, 1st and (unfortunately) one of our young dmen could land him.

[bdubbs]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

This is important though. If Eichel needs the surgery how long is he lost for? Half a season? He's young and so presumably will recover well but that's a concern as well. Would you get the same guy after his surgery?

There's a lot of red flags with Eichel but if I'm Treliving, I take a big swing and try to land him.

My post is based on an earlier post about a similar timeframe around 50~ games or so? If the Flames make the trade and he's out for that long, I'd be able to stomach it, personally.

I hate not caring when Flames games are on, but unfortunately that's where I am right now. I'm sure many others are in the same spot.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Solid post even though we would lose some of those pieces you mention to acquire him.

Hopefully something around Monahan, Pelletier, 1st and (unfortunately) one of our young dmen could land him.

If that's all that it takes.

[Gaskal]

So far the feel from the Athletic staff is that Calgary is amongst the group that would definitely be testing the market and would have assets to make it too:

https://theathletic.com/2579407/2021...e-sabres-star/

Also some anonymous GM quotes from the below article.

https://theathletic.com/2580694/2021...l-sweepstakes/

The Sabres need to get a couple of established, quality players in return as well. I could see this being a 5-7 piece deal depending on what is coming back in return.

Probably a first and then another mid-round pick plus a good young roster player, with some bad money going the other way.

Has to start with a first-round pick, a player and a prospect I would think but again this is not an easy situation for anyone. When it gets this public leverage gets diminished.

Have to assume they’d be looking for a center back, plus plus. Unless it’s more of a Johansen-Jones type one-for-one… could get interesting.

Not sure Buffalo can look only at draft picks and prospects because it puts them even more behind in their quest to be competitive. They need to get players that can keep the rebuild going forward.

So the general structure of a Buffalo-Calgary trade if we go from the above assessments, appears to be:

A 1st round pick (check, plus it has the potential to be top 10)
A mid-round pick (check, we have our 2nd and two 3rds)
Talented young roster player (check, we can give them Tkachuk or Monahan)

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Hopefully something around Monahan, Pelletier, 1st and (unfortunately) one of our young dmen could land him.

I'm totally fine with that. I'd prefer to trade a LHD over Andersson though, just based on the organizational depth.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Eichel would at least be something different around these parts. A true superstar to build around that can be matched up against the other team and on many nights, would still be the best player on the ice.
What's the worst? That it doesn't work? Well what this franchise has been doing ain't working either.

Tkachuk+1st+2nd is a no brainer.

[Vinny01]

I think this is likely the strongest offer the Flames could put forward.

Tkachuk- takes over the C from Eichel and they say and do everything to sell him that this will be his team.
Valimaki- struggled under Sutter but still a lot of potential
Dube - struggled a little under Sutter but definitely has top 6 upside and could be shifted back to center where he played junior
1st- likely 10-12th pick

To me that is an extremely competitive offer and it could be too much.

Where I like it for the Flames they keep the rest of their core Gaudreau, Lindholm, Monahan, Mangiapane, Zary and Pelletier in addition to Hanifin, Tanev, Andersson and Markstrom.

For Buffalo they get 4 pieces that can help almost immediately. A high pick and 3 players that are already contributors with potential long term upside for Buffalo.