HUGE DISCLAIMER: I believe the only way this can happen is if WPG wins the lottery and has the first overall pick.
From what I've seen and how I view Eichel's talents, any return for him needs to have: one young star forward, another established young player, 2-3 prospects with at least one being a blue-chipper, and multiple high picks. This return conditionally offers that.
Picks: two firsts and a second, including (in this scenario) a first overall.
Prospects: The blue-chipper here is Ville Heinola, a young defense man who already has NHL experience and has WPG fans hyped for his offensive skills and smart play style. He could be a great addition to a young Buffalo d-core that has an opening with Pilut flying off to Russia. He projects as a high end number 3, with the ceiling of a number 2 defender.
Other prospects include Kristian Vesalainen, a good winger with definite middle-six potential, Nathan Smith, a centre who's scored at a near PPG pace in the USHL and NCAA, and Skyler Mckenzie, a lower-tier C prospect.
NHL talent: Perrault is only in this trade for cap reasons. It's only a one year contract, but it has to happen to make it work. Roslovic has experience as a C, but plays fine on the wing as well. He has the ability to be a good second line player, he's just stuck behind some good players in Winnipeg. Sami Niku needs a change of scenery, and he can get that in Buffalo.
The Star: So this is where it all depends on luck. Laf is a stud, and can help change the fortunes of any NHL team he goes to. However, on WPG, he'd be a luxury on a team that already has two top line LW who have established chemistry and are signed long-term. The Jets are one of the few teams in the league that wants, not needs, Laf, which could make the 1OA expendable if they get it. There's no way to get Eichel without a young star going back, and Laf is that. It helps that he'd come in on an ELC. The Sabres can use their other first to draft a stud C to form a deadly 1-2 punch with Cozens.
Buffalo can’t take on 6 contracts unless there’s an expanded number they can carry. It’s a very reasonable package, the only issue for me is no center and the number of contracts. Buffalo would need to make a couple corresponding moves. Not terrible though
No no no no no no no no no. Why? I don’t get it, why wouldn’t you just build a package around Ehlers, Roslovic, Heinola and 2 1sts like @csick mentioned? I do agree it only makes sense if the Jets win laff lottery, but I’d rather have laff over ehlers lol. Makes more sense to just do the package mentioned.
The problem I see for WPG here and lots of teams for that matter in an Eichel trade is a young blue chip center needs to be coming back to BUF. The other thing future 1st rd picks in theory lose their value because Eichel is going to make them better and they become later picks. Unfortunately for WPG they don’t have the right types of prospects to make it work. But that’s my opinion.
They’re not rebuilding, they’re trying to build (bad drafts and bad trades have killed them). A rebuild would involve tearing down the core and I can assure you that Eichel and Dahlin aren’t going anywhere.
Why so much for Eichel? Because he’s irreplaceable. You don’t just replace 23yo elite centers with 6 years remaining on their contract. There’s no trade than can justify trading him. It would need to be a blockbuster, but that’s not happening. I’ve been waiting to find a realistic offer, but haven’t seen one yet.
They’re not rebuilding, they’re trying to build (bad drafts and bad trades have killed them). A rebuild would involve tearing down the core and I can assure you that Eichel and Dahlin aren’t going anywhere.
Why so much for Eichel? Because he’s irreplaceable. You don’t just replace 23yo elite centers with 6 years remaining on their contract. There’s no trade than can justify trading him. It would need to be a blockbuster, but that’s not happening. I’ve been waiting to find a realistic offer, but haven’t seen one yet.
Also, I think it would be a mistake for Winnipeg to trade the 1 pick if they won it. Lafreniere is a big time talent on an entry level deal. Take advantage of that.
I know Eichel is a really good player and a center, but Laff is supposed to be as good if not better than a player like him. You don't trade a guy like him on an entry level deal and then our best defensive prospect, our best forward prospect, and the player in our system most likely to fill the 2c role at the moment and another first. As good as Eichel is this is an overpay in my eyes.