Completely disagree here. That would be very shortsighted for a rebuilding team IMO. Maybe that's how Dorion makes his deals after all, just looks at "name recognition" without forecasting any regression or decline, so maybe that's why he pays so much to acquire Derick Brassard, Alex Burrows or Derek Stepan.
Unless you think we become a serious playoffs contender right away just by swapping Stutzle with Eichel? This season is already lost as the gap might be too big to climb in a 56 games season, particularly in the very competitive North division.
Do you think we make the playoffs next year? Could we start winning rounds? Yes we'd have Eichel, Tkachuk, Chabot, etc but some other very important pieces with low NHL experience like Norris, Pinto, Batherson, Sanderson, Formenton, even Zub, etc. We probably don't even have the right coaching staff in place, who can optimize a roster.
Eichel turns 25 y/o at the beginning of next season, and has 5 years left on his contract. So you're talking about a 5 years window that might not even pay off in first 2 years (too many players still young/unexperienced?). He also makes 10 M$ per season, which is a lot more than Stutzle.
The questions would be :
- how many REAL contending years?
- Would Eichel re-signs here after the 5 years?
- He's going to be 30 y/o then, how much money and term will it require?
- Could he be primed for a quick decline ala Healtey/Spezza/Karlsson, depending on injuries? We'd be stuck with that contract then
IMO, better keep the recent 3rd OA pick, that could easily be 1st OA worthy, that will grow with the rest of the team and if they have success, could even take 2 long term contracts here taking him to his mid 30 's instead of 30 y/o
That's the kind of move that doesn't make sense for a rebuilding team, a bit in the mold of Zibanejad for Brassard even though we were not even rebuilding at that time.
UNLESS, you think that Stutzle won't even be as close as good as Eichel, then I can understand, but then why would Buffalo do it?
