Jack Eichel. The man famously drafted in 2015, one pick behind 1st overall Connor McDavid. When Jack was drafted 2nd overall, he was seen as the saving grace for the Sabres franchise that would transcend their rebuild and move towards competitivity.
Fast forward six years, even after the signing of notable free agent Taylor Hall, we still find the Buffalo Sabres at the bottom of the NHL’s standings. It looks like some tough decisions are forthcoming for the already troubled franchise. The previously mentioned Jack Eichel has become a topic of discussion among hockey insiders, as well as NHL fans all over Twitter.
Should the Calgary Flames be interested in Jack Eichel, if the rumours are true and this superstar is indeed available this season or off-season? Lets get into it.
First, lets look at where the Flames are currently. On the day I am writing this, the Flames sit fifth in the Scotia North division, with a record of 10-11-2, for 22 points in 23 games. That is very underwhelming for a team that was viewed as a confirmed playoff team in most projections and fans predictions. Dom Luszczyszyn of the Athletic, currently has the Flames at a 43% chance of making the playoffs with a projected record of 27-23-6, for 60 points. That projection has the Flames remaining in fifth place, 4 points behind Winnipeg for the last playoff spot in the division.
More information can be found on The Athletic’s 2021 NHL season projections.
Looking at these projections, it probably doesn't make sense to trade a bunch of assets for Eichel, since he would have to quarantine for two weeks before joining the club.
However, if Eichel is still available in the off-season, like TSN’s Pierre LeBrun hinted at earlier today in a radio interview, I think it is something the team should explore.
I believe this Flames team needs three things to happen to be successful. Number 1 is a coaching, but that is a topic for another time. Number 2 and 3 are a core change and a true #1 center, respectively. Trading for Jack Eichel this off-season solves both numbers 2 and 3, and it is something that I believe this team desperately needs.
This Flames team has not had a true and tride #1 center since Joe Nieuwendyk. Trading for Jack Eichel, who has put up a whopping 352 points in 372 games with the struggling Sabres, for 0.95 PPG, solves this issue! Jack is also signed for another six years at a reasonable 10 million dollar cap hit. Six years of Eichel under contract means the Flames can remain competitive and have their #1C locked up long term.
Now lets talk about the potential package that the Flames could offer for Eichel this off-season. For starters, the most obvious piece going back to Buffalo would be Sean Monahan, one of the highest draft picks in Flames history and a guy that has been a respectable 30 goal, 30 assist guy so far in his career. While some view him as a first line center, I would lean towards Monahan being an average second line center, who has had most of his success riding shotgun to Johnny Gaudreau.
The next piece that would be included in a package would be one of Noah Hanifin or Juuso Valimaki. With the emergence of Valimaki on the left side, things have become crowded and is a big reason why Hanifin’s name has been mentioned in past trade rumours to New Jersey last deadline or Boston this past off-season. While Buffalo will most likely value Valimaki higher, so will the Flames brass, and will probably vote to move Hanifin over the youngster Valimaki. But if push comes to shove and including Valimaki over Hanifin pushes the deal through, I have no doubt the Flames would sign off.
So far, Buffalo gets back a 2nd line center and a young top 4 defensemen, but we are not done yet, as someone of Eichel’s stature will command a large return. The next piece included would be youngster Dillon Dube, a former second round pick who has trouble finding his fit on this Flames roster. Buffalo, a team with weak forward depth, would certainly look at the 22 year old Dube and find a way to plug him into the lineup.
After those three pieces, we shift to the recently drafted forward prospect Connor Zary, someone who projects to become a 2nd or 3rd line center, as someone who Buffalo will surely covet. After including Zary, a 2021 1st round pick, depending on draft position of course, probably puts this deal through.
So, the Flames would trade Sean Monahan, Noah Hanifin, Dillon Dube, prospect Connor Zary and a 2021 1st round pick to the Sabres in exchange for Jack Eichel.
Some have speculated Buffalo would want Johnny Gaudreau in any deal for Jack Eichel, and that can certainly be explored, but I would like the Flames to hang onto Gaudreau if they can, as a line of Gaudreau - Eichel - Tkachuk would become one of the NHL’s best lines league wide.
In summary, Jack Eichel is a player that the Flames should definitely consider trading for, as this team longs for a true number one center. But, due to the current Flames position in the standings and their bleak chances at the playoffs, it would be beneficial to look at a Jack Eichel trade in the off-season. You would have to give up a ton of assets, but Eichel would be worth it to propel this Flames team into finally becoming a true playoff contender.
Thanks for reading.
Have a Blasty day everyone!
-James Johnson (@JamesJohnsonYYC on Twitter)