Kurtis MacDermid is really the deal-breaker for me. I can see the Kings parting ways with the other parts of the deal, but not MacDermid.

Is this a joke 😂

I've asked this in nearly every Eichel to LA thread, and never have received a decent response, why do the Kings need Eichel? They have the best center prospect pool in the league with Byfield, Turcotte, and Vilardi leading the pack. If they move one of them, I would imagine they would address the areas management has publically indicated they are looking for: top-line defense or a high-scoring winger.

Not arguing what you say but it's a known fact ( or so some of the insiders say) that LA has called the Sabres on Eichel. Star power in the biggest city in the west.

That might have been the case before they selected Byfield (I believe that was when they asked about Eichel), but since then Eichel put up 2 goals in 20 games, both Skinner and Hall looked awful with him, and to top it off he had the season-ending injury. The Sabres would not be trading Eichel from a position of strength, and a partner like the Kings hold all the cards as they are: not desperate at the position, know Buffalo is on a timeline to get it done, and know they are one of the few teams to have the assets and cap space to get it done. He's staying in Buffalo, and that's a good thing, the Sabres would be fleeced if they moved him after this season.

Personally if the return is right I hope he gets traded...Sabres are a long ways off and I hate to see his talent wasted year after year. Let the guy enjoy the prime years of his career. Eichel put up 2 goals bc he came into training camp injured and played injured to the point he couldn't play that way (last year he had 36 in 68 gams). You could see he wasn't skating hard. Skinner hasn't seen Eichel much once Krueger took over. Hall looked awful all season no matter who he played with. He took the 8 mil and ran.
As for Eichel staying that remains to be seen, where there is smoke there's fire...just been to much trade talk not to think it isn't a good possibility. If Adams does another off season like last Eichel won't want to be part of it and who could blame him...it's hard as a fan let alone a player.

Can't disagree with you there, it's a difficult time for the Sabres and the Hall trade must burn like no other, but Eichel needs to come back and rip it up to bring back his value to it's highest return. I still believe the Rangers will be the team to give up the players of most value (Kakko +). I seriously would be confused if the Kings did this trade, not to say Kopitar, Eichel, Byfield up the middle isn't insane, just that it doesn't address finding Doughty his partner or a long-term top-line winger, which has long been the Kings area of deficit.

The good thing is with Eichel LA can give Byfield the needed time to develop and by that time Kopitar's skills would make him a candidate as the 3C. As for Kakko I really don't want any part of him, he was a 2nd OA pick as was Reinhart and there is no comparison in my eyes. NY can keep him. The other part small as it is, is the Sabres would only see Jack 2x a year if he is out west.
Also, Jacks NMC kicks in after next season which will put the Sabres in the same situation as they were in with Hall...it weakens their position with both player and teams they can deal with. Lebrun said there was a better deal on the table for Hall from a team out west but Hall wanted Boston and the Sabres had no choice but to take the lesser return. Can't make that mistake with Jack, have to maximize the return for the sake of the team getting better
It's a given Jack would probably OK Boston or NY if he gets that advantage.