Almost none of those people have been or ever will be on the same level as Jack. Brent Burns wasn’t Brent Burns when he was traded and Erik Karlsson wasn’t 23 and still entering the prime of his career. The truth is that San Jose has nothing to offer Buffalo for Jack Eichel. Fair value has nothing to do with it. It’s about the fact that San Jose doesn’t have the pieces to make a compelling offer. Jack is a top 5 center in the NHL.

I saw what you said. It’s not a conversation starter. If you have to add more pieces, it’s because you don’t have the right ones.

Why would Buffalo trade an elite center for that package? It makes no sense. The fact is that any team would need to blow the Sabres away with an offer for them to even consider it. This isn’t close. Facts

I’m sorry, you’re just spewing garbage. Do your research. The Sabres have talent. It’s their depth that’s the issue.

What do you feel is an ideal destination and return for him?

There is no package they’d consider and I’ll explain. Buffalo tanked to get him. He’s the captain, the face of the franchise, and their most talented player since Pat LaFontaine. The fan base is sick of losing and is demanding better from the franchise. Ownership is feeling pressure and knows they need to make the playoffs. The Sabres have good pieces, they just need more depth. That’s easier to obtain than trying to replace Jack Eichel. Buffalo needs a 2C, a couple of 3rd liners, and probably a solid dman. Goaltending would be great, but honestly, I think you can make the playoffs with Ullmark if you’re better up front. Jack and Rasmus Dahlin are the Sabres best chance at getting into the playoffs, and unless Edmonton wants to swap stars, which they obviously don’t, a trade isn’t happening. Buffalo isn’t starting over. They’re not rebuilding again. They can’t.

I agree. I hope they spend to the cap but sounds like they don't want to.

I’m hoping that’s a COVID related thing and not the new norm. I hear a lot teams are instituting an internal salary cap due to COVID.

Buffalo easily declines

@JumboFett

Couture yup would be Buffalo's top line center good piece,
Merkley, Ryan great D prospect
Sörensen, Marcus LW Buffalo does not need
2020 1st round pick (TBL) Really and early 2nd, but it is a first.
2020 2nd round pick (SJS) only three picks behind the TBL so I guess one could say it is a very late first.
2021 1st round pick (SJS) Who knows where this pick will be, could be top 5 as was this years.
2022 2nd round pick (SJS) Same, who knows.

My counter offer:
Couture
Merkley
Labanc
Ferraro
2020 1st round pick (TBL)
2020 2nd round pick (SJS)
2020 2nd round pick (COL)
2021 2nd round pick (SJS)
Buffalo gets a top line Center, four second round picks (I know one is the 31st OA this year), a 2nd line RW (4 Sabre LW had more goals than Sörensen), young LHD and a top defenseman prospect.
This trade does not cripple the Sharks, they get a younger center and they get to keep their first round pick for next year.
This fills 3 holes for the Sabres. RW, LHD, prospects.

I guess that's closer to being fair, but tbh, I started this post to just see what our lineup would like with Eichel replacing Cooch. I named it what I did because I knew no matter what I put in the trade some East Coast garbage monster was going to err their grievances all over the comments. Even the Sharks fans couldn't be troubled to recognize how effin stacked that lineup would be.

Realtalk... I don't really want Eichel if it means losing everything to get him, and I certainly don't want to trade Cooch for any reason.

The sad part about this forum is how serious people take these fantasy trades, and what offensive bummers they become in pursuit of feeling heard rather than just ignoring a post they disagree with.
I mean, how many garbage offers for Hertl or Timo has the SJ fanbase had to witness?! Should we address them all and devolve into bummers ourselves, or is it easier to forget about it and move on to a thread which offers a bit more realism? I don't know why it still does, but it surprises me how willing so many are to go out of their way to kill fun.

I didnt say this package was good. Someone said it started with Meier, Hertl and 3 firsts. That is a bogus statement. No single trade in this league is getting that return in todays league. Facts. Particularly when the player youre acquiring has never played in the playoffs, never led the league In any category, never won any major trophy. Again, facts.

The point is that you need to understand where Buffalo is coming from. They’re not trading Eichel and def not trading him for 2 good players and 3 1’s. That doesn’t make them better. They’re trying to make the playoffs, not start over.

And to talk about what he hasn’t won or led the league in says to me that you need to watch him play. He’s a top 5 center. If you disagree, I’ll recommend again that you watch more tape.

I hope I came across as this, but I try to find positives in every trade.
That is why I first dissected your trade, than made a counter offer.
But I agree with you, this is all for fun.
Too many people choose to insult instead of offering a critique.
I also recognize that when a trade is made, no one wants to gut a team.
I thought your trade was close and offered an alternative that I thought would fit the Sabres a better but still be about the same value as yours.