I feel like that’s throwing him to the wolves. Hopefully he floats and doesn’t sink. I want him to do well.

Send the 2nd to Dallas for Holtby.

Buffalo accept

They accept, then giggle and run away

We may all be surprised by the return for Eakin.
Many teams who need help on the face off will be looking for help at the TDL .
The Caps, Panthers, Knights, Avs and Rangers as a team only win 45.6, 46.2, 46.9, 47.2 and 47.7 percent of their face offs respectively.
I would never presume the return would be this good, nor would I expect the Oilers to one of the teams bidding, but if a cap dump was included a second is possible.
Who thought the return for Ristolainen would be better than what was given for Reinhart?
If Laviolette (Kuznetsov wins less the 43%) told MacLellan he needed Eakin to win the cup, then with a cap dump who knows.
If I were to predict, I could see the Knights needing help with the FO and PK 77.3% wanting a face off center at the TDL.

EDIT:
Remember Mike Weber returned a third at 2016 TDL, then never played another game in the NHL.
Who knows why GM's make decisions.
Maybe Weber always played well against Ovechkin?
It could be the same with Eakin.

It's not just Eakin, they're trade Koskinen's contract, and that's worth pick.

I think I made that point
"but if a cap dump was included a second is possible."
"If Laviolette (Kuznetsov wins less the 43%) told MacLellan he needed Eakin to win the cup, then with a cap dump who knows."

Don't pay attention, my bad

I'm not a Sabres guy what do you think Eakin's value is with the cap dump?

Looking only at his production of 8 pts in 34 games a fifth would be great.
Factoring in his ability to win face offs, a fourth to nearly any team.
A team that is struggling to win face offs, a third.
With a over price player going to Buffalo until the end of the year, a second would be the best possible return.
That is what I was trying to explain to the other Sabre fans, it all depends upon the market, the other teams needs, and the GM's desperation to appear to be making an improvement.
As I pointed out above there are several teams that may be very interested to acquire Cody's ability to win face offs and if he could do this while the scouts are watching.
I know I am giving you weasel answers, to be candid your offer is not out of the realm of possibilities, just not from the Oilers.
Their FO record is good, other teams would me more interested.