Quoting: oneX
I really have believed for a while that Buffalo is not going to get the kind of return they want for Eichel and it really just has to do with teams just not wanting to gut their roster to get him.
How would Eichel be in a better situation if a team has to gut it's roster to aquire him? The short answer is he wouldn't be.
This is why I believe that if Eichel gets traded, it won't be for the ransom of players some people think Buffalo will get.
I agree and disagree.
At the same time I think you're right, the return will not become one of the top hauls ever paid in hockey business like some BUF fans tend to think.
But at the same token, I don't necessarily think that NYR or LA offering one of their top prospects which they have multiple of, a replacement center, some other prospects and some picks would
gut that roster as you put it.
My personal gut feeling is that should NYR make a trade for Eichel, it'd look something like this
Jack Eichel
Tage Thompson
2021 3rd round pick
Kaapo Kakko
Ryan Strome
Nils Lundkvist
2021 1st round pick
2022 2nd round pick
I originally thought that NYR should've included Chytil as well in the exchange instead of that 2nd - but after Strome playing yet another good season, I'm starting buy him as an actual top-6 center with some good value.
But in all honesty, such offer wouldn't break that roster. Eichel would literally fill the hole Strome leaves, and NYR already has a surplus of wingers and RHDs they can use fill the holes moving Kakko and Lundkvist would create long-term.