I posted this in the Staal thread but I'll post it here too. My reasoning for why the Sabres should explore a Eichel trade. If you disagree please refute what I say, instead of just saying trading a 24 year old star center is stupid, which seems to be the extent of thinking abilities that some on this board are limited by.
This is my original post in the Staal thread:
This team isn't going to the playoffs anytime soon. Eichel wants to play for a cup contender, not a playoff contender. Skinner's contract, among other challenges makes it extremely unlikely that this team will contend for a cup under Eichel's current deal. By the time we are able to do something about Skinner's contract, Eichel will be looking for the door and even if we do make the playoffs a couple of times, it won't make a difference to Eichel.
The Sabres have 5 seasons of Eichel after this one. How far away are we from the playoffs let alone the cup? Do you think there is any chance Eichel is hanging around if we are not serious Stanley Cup contenders at the end of that contract? He may want to leave even if we are. IMO, we f***ed up the timline so bad with terrible trades and contracts, that the most likey way for the Sabres to have sustained future success, is to rebuild with an Eichel trade as the signiture move.