How can Blues ever afford this though?

Make it a 2nd and it would be tempting honestly. Losing Thomas would hurt. He’s gonna be a superstar, possibly in the same stratosphere as even Eichel. I think if we could substitute Thomas with Blais then keep the pick a 1st would be less painful. I think the value may not be as much as Thomas and a 2nd, but it would be close along with the rest of your package there.

So Dunn, Blais, Kostin and a 1st would be more palatable , especially since Eichel would be requesting the trade in this hypothetical.

What are you talking about lmao this package is nothing for Eichel, Blues take that and run away. Eichel is in another league than Thomas, Thomas is very good but not even close than Eichel

Good grief

1- Eichel is not being traded
2- this package wouldn’t even be close

Thomas is 20 years old to Eichel’s 23. Eichel was not Eichel today at 20 if I’m not mistaken. Thomas in 3 years will be in the same league as Eichel, imo. If not, pretty darn close. Thomas’ 2 more years of ELC sure is nice too as opposed to a 10M AAV when that would obviously mean Pietrangelo is no longer a Blue. Obviously Eichel is an MVP type player and the original trade is pretty fair but considering Thomas’ potential is what makes it difficult is all I’m saying on top of the likelihood of losing Captain Pietrangelo. Even with all that, even I admit it would nice consolation.

Eichel is a top5 center in the league, Thomas top50 maybe

Blues dont do it .Dont have the cap and Thomas will be a 70-80 point scorer.

I think if this is the package St Louis has to make the trade and sort their cap out later, notably moving Steen and maybe Faulk for example. I know this trade is purely hypothetical, but passing on Eichel on the assumption that Thomas will emerge as a consistent 70 point player would be a colossal mistake for the Blues. Eichel is on pace for 40+ goals, 90-100 point, top-10 scorer in the league as a 23 year old big-bodied top line centre on a bad team with no offensive support. But on the other hand the Blues are the defending champs so its not like they can,t win on their own so there is that ...

Lets look back 3 years for Eichel then. (and I am not saying anything negative about Thomas, just addressing this... comparison) Thomas' second year obviously not over yet, hence the per/82 to level it off.

Thomas @ 20, 2 years in the league: 119gp 18-46-64; 12.4g/82gms, 44.1pts/82gms
Eichel @20, 2 years in the league: 142gp 48-65-113; 27.7g/82, 65.3pts/82gms

12g 44pts vs 28g 65pts... Seems basically equal.

That package isn't even close for Jack Eichel, And the St Louis Blues are the last team that can afford a $10 million Centerman long term.

Nothing against Robert Thomas but have some respect for Jack Eichel. Eichel came in with Mcdavid so he didn't get nearly as much hype but he's a franchise player, Thomas isn't even close to being that. Thomas is a good piece on a very good team.

LOL.. Eichel is a top 5 player in the league and a franchise centre. Thomas will be a second liner. Be lucky to even be mentioned in a trade talk with the name Eichel in it let alone same league. Smh.

If Eichel requests a trade... you DON'T deal with St. Louis. Haven't you learned anything?

if eichel requests a trade, the sabers have to do a full blown rebuild. from the management to the trainers. i dont think its really a personnel issue in buffalo, its a environmental issue. krueger helps, but he's not the solution. just my 2 cents

LMAOO

Virtually any team that would trade for 10m would have to send a similar cap to the Sabres, which really might not help the Sabres on the ice or their cap. Sabres problem is they have too much cap invested in poor valued players, untradeable players. Sabres have to let those contract expire before they have a hope of getting better.

Meh. Best move sabres could make would be hiring a competent gm.

This boils down to the Blues operating a successful hockey team and the Sabres trying to steal it because they hit the jackpot in one draft. Eichel is the best player in the trade by far, but the Blues can't afford to poke a bunch of holes in their roster (and cap structure) to land a superstar when their m.o. is to win as a team.