Eichel from Hawks POV

Linus Ullmark (negotiating rights)

Buffalo will obviously want Dach as the centerpiece. I can see them being very interested in re-acquiring Nikita Zadorov to add a veteran physical defense presence and a defensive defenseman to the backend.

Buffalo will probably also ask for a top six forward as Kevyn Adams is likely going to want to try to build for the future and win now. He’s gonna want to try and do Both. While it seems steep to add Kubalik as well, he is only two years away from unrestricted free agency.

I think the veteran piece that would be included would come down to Kubalik vs Dylan Strome. With Strome, you get more years, and probably has more upside, and can play center and wing which helps fill the Jack Eichel void.

I can also see Brandon Hagel being of interest to the Sabres as his grit and tenacity would almost certainly be of interest to Buffalo.

Why Chicago does this? They do this if they think Eichel makes them a contender and it’s very likely a healthy Eichel does this for Chicago as a Kane and Eichel combination would be filthy and lethal and would probably transform Chicago into a top five or ten offensive team easily.

Chicago would still need to dive into free agency and look at a veteran defenseman and a possibly veteran goaltender with experience.

I can see Linus Ullmark being heavily of interest here considering. Stan Bowman had success with another big Swedish goaltender from Buffalo, Robin Lehner.

I can see Chicago eyeballing Ullmark in free agency or trading for his negotiating rights, which here is actually what I have the Hawks doing, sending Colin Delia to Buffalo to be the number two goaltender after they swing a trade for a guy like Elvis Merzilikins or Darcy Keumper.