Eichel is only four years older than Krebs, younger than Tuch and most likely much more impactful than Krebs or Tuch will ever become. He's big, fast, capable of scoring more goals than anyone we've ever had, a 1C, signed for five seasons, adds youth. Every box we need he checks.
Tuch, Krebs and two firsts/first and Hague or something is a package some team will need to work hard to beat. The only question is they need to have confidence his health can be okay.
I'm not disputing Eichel's greatness at all. He's actually my favorite player not on the Knights/Ducks. Given that I've read the Ducks have offered Comtois+3rd+++ I just don't think we can beat that. If I were Buffalo I definitely take that over Tuch+Krebs+Hague+late 1sts, but I would do that if Buffalo would. Like I said before I wouldn't trade Krebs for anyone BUT Eichel.
The other thing is Eichel wouldn't make us a team that scores more greasy goals. We'd still have a serious problem with forwards not going to the net with enough frequency to score the dirty goals it would take to win this time of year. I said the same thing last year and suggested Perry and Maroon. Front office didn't agree.
My personal offseason plan would be something like this assuming Eichel (or any legit 1C) is probably unrealistic:
New PP coach first and foremost.
More of an emphasis on long looks at the young forwards in Henderson. You've got to have some cap flexibility for that first though. You've got at least see what a Dugan or Elevenes or a Dorofeyev can do in what are all honesty meaningless regular season games.
Fleury through a 3rd team with retention to PIT for Desmith
Reaves to the Rangers for a conditional 7th to be a Wilson deterrent
Pacioretty to whichever team has the best offer and will take his full cap hit
If you really wanted to go crazy Smith or Marchessault would be next in line.
At that point you'd have 14.5m in cap space for forward upgrades plus a Martinez extension.
If Landeskog by some weird chance hit free agency I'd throw a 7x7 offer his way. Not likely but that's the style of forward I think we're lacking and it would have the added benefit of weakening our biggest competition. If not him then another top 6 gritty LW with skill. Maybe Killorn as a dump from Tampa. Maybe Hyman if he's not too pricey.
So up front something like
Marchessault-Stephenson-Stone
Killorn/Hyman/whoever-Karlsson-Smith
Krebs-Glass-Tuch
We'd have the same D. Lehner-Desmith/Thompson in net.
And then you'd have ample space for a full roster the entire year plus any big names that might be available at the deadline. Perhaps Hertl if San Jose can't get him signed?