I have learned that you cannot do conditional picks in the new CBA so there's that. Also with all the young talent on OTT, there's no way they don't want an NHL roster player in the deal. Sub Josh Norris for Pinto and they may do it. If you include a 2023 1st rounder, it's a done deal because any picks that could possibly turn into Bedard or Michkov are golden.

You can make picks conditional, just not conditional on players signing extensions.

Also I'm sure Buffalo does want a guy like Josh Norris, but they aren't getting a guy of that calibre. Based on all the reports we've seen, nobody is offering that level of guy for Eichel. The biggest names I've seen linked to Eichel are guys like Krebs and Kravstsov. I really don't think there's gonna be a blow you away name going to Buffalo, but getting Pinto AND Brannstrom would be two very nice pieces for Buffalo to build a deal around.

They want a deal that has some nice pieces but replaces what they're losing. That's why Krebs is the piece they want from Vegas, there needs to be a center coming in for the center going out.

Shane Pinto would be that. He’s NHL ready too. I think he starts as the 2nd or 3rd line centre in Ottawa this upcoming year

Pinto is a C with top six offensive upside and elite defensive upside. He's had an insane development trajectory considering he was gonna play baseball until he switched to hockey at 15. His year over year growth has been pretty incredible. 6'3 200ish lbs who can skate and has a big shot and great vision. Fills a similar mold as Brock Nelson.

Also maybe I'm off base here, but I don't see Krebs as a regular C in the NHL. A lot of upside there for sure, I've just looked at him as more of a winger. Granted, I've not followed him much since his draft year, but that was definitely the impression I got at the time.

I'm not trying to say Pinto is better than Krebs or anything, but I'd argue he's in roughly the same tier of prospect, though probably a lower offensive ceiling, and stronger off puck game. I think where Ottawa is the better partner than Vegas is in the quality of pieces Ottawa can offer in the rest of the package. Brannstrom as the 2nd piece is better than anything Vegas could offer up (arguably more valuable than Krebs or Pinto), the pick will be much higher (though if I'm Ottawa there's definitely gonna be some protection on it. Eichel isn't worth potentially losing Shane Wright or Brad Lambert), and they have prospect depth at just about every position to fill the deal out. If Buffalo is looking to fill up with multiple really good prospects because they aren’t getting an elite one, Ottawa is a much better bet.

OTT
Eichel, Jack
BUF
Brännström, Erik
Pinto, Shane
Søgaard, Mads
2022 1st round pick (OTT)
2023 2nd round pick (OTT)
Additional Details:
Top 3 protected

2nd becomes 1st if Ottawa reaches the conference finals in either 2022 or 2023

=====

It's a good offer, IMO

What I like best about this offer is the inclusion of a goalie prospect, but I wouldn't include Sogaard though. Buffalo picked up Levi last week, and have two decent prospects playing in the NCAA next season. Luukkonen hasn't played well except in the ECHL the last two seasons, and needs a lot more time. Anderson, Dell, and Tokarski are all on expiring contracts, so they could use a young tweener goalie, like Gustavsson. Sogaard is 1-2 years behind Gustavsson. Eichel is worth including Gustavsson, and the team can survive losing him.

Meriläinen continues to impress, and is headed to Kingston. Sogaard will be the main guy in Belleville, and Mandolese can head to the ECHL. I'd ask for one of Anderson, Dell, or Tokarski back to replace some of Gustavsson's starts.

BTW, @TSNSimmer tweeted out that Don Granato liked Colin White, maybe some inside information, I can't find the specific tweet, but it basically stated, "DG likes White". It took me a few minutes to figure out who DG was, since Kevyn Adams is the GM.

DG loves White. Eichel health is the multi million dollar question. https://t.co/qdgMP7C2GR

— Shawn Simpson (@TSNSimmer) July 23, 2021

So I continue to suggest White and Brannstrom, and now I include Gustavsson, the 2022 1st (lottery protected), and I'd be willing to give one more piece if it closed the deal, a 2nd or maybe Jarventie (B prospect). That's three 1sts, a quality goalie, and a 2nd.

I like Gustavsson, and was happy when the team acquired him, and have high hopes for him, but I'm higher on Sogaard.

Interesting don’t know much about Sogard yet . Have to see him in NA but I’m very high on Gus

I added the Simmer tweet to my previous post

Who is Granato? The assistant?

Don Granato

He is the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres

Didn’t even know he was the coach lol

This is why I start with White and Brannstrom, Owen Power is a couple years away. Adding the goalie, the first, and then a B prospect or 2nd, and it's a good offer Ottawa can afford. Gus also carries a higher value in a trade than Sogaard, but doesn't have Sogaards ceiling, and he fits their goalie timelines better than Sogaard. Win win for Ottawa.

White
Brannstrom
Gustavsson
Jarventie
2022 1st (lottery protected)

Was quite impressive as a 20 y/o goalie in the AHL. Saw 5 of his 7 AHL games and came away impressed, even though I was aready extremely high on the kid. Seriously, this guy has Pekka Rinne potential, a 6'8 athletic monster? Yes please

So I agree with "sensibleguy", and Gustavsson would have more value in the trade so Gus instead of Sogaard in the package

Also have to leave the 1st "unprotected", adds more value to the package

This is my final offer :

1st round pick in 2022 (unprotected)
Erik Brannstrom
Filip Gustavsson
Roby Jarventie
Logan Brown
2nd round pick in 2022