Speculation: Roster Building Frenzy Part XX

[jay from jersey]

Honestly though--why are those "our only choices"? Why would not having either Zib or Eichel "end any chances to make some noise in the playoffs"? We made the SCF and multiple ECF with 55-point Derek Stepan as our 1C. The team went deep multiple times on depth, structure, defense, and goaltending. This team's depth is better and more talented (or at least has the potential to be). This team's defense has the potential to blow the SCF team's defense off the ice. The goaltending isn't quite as good, but still phenomenal, with the potential for more. This group looks to have better versions of almost every single thing those earlier teams had. Yet without dropping 10 large on Zib or Eichel, they won't go anywhere? If we get the right trio of centers (and I think Chytil is one of them. Zib could be depending on price and term), they just need to be complementary pieces.

To use an old NFL reference, we need a couple of Neil O'Donnell's-- a guy who will win a Super Bowl with the Steelers just by managing the game and not screwing up (because the rest of the team is so damn good), but if asked to carry a team will go down in flames (like when he played for the Jets).

Eichel and Zibby and 2 top 20 centers. The age range/ future favor Eichel, the fact that Zibby costs only cash and the fact that he has performed in New York before are in his favor.
Being a realist, with the way this team is currently constructed and the moves they have made this offseason, I’m quite confident when I say 1 of them will be here for the next 5 years or more. They aren’t going to let talent like that get away because they could possibly win with other centers. It’s the hardest position to fill. We got very lucky even trading for Zibby. Thank god brassards contract was structured the way it was and he was paid most of his money already at the time of the trade. Otherwise, Ottawa would have for sure looked elsewhere.
You need a premium center to perform in the regular season to get you to the playoffs. All playoff teams at least have a tweeter. Ones that win usually, but not always have excellent centers. You’re smart you know this, your post is saying what does it have to be Zibby or Eichel and all and in the next paragraph your like Zibby might be one??
Getting Eichel at this point in time could be a better situation then when we got Zibby at 24/25, because up to this point he’s got a higher pedigree and he’s more established then Zibby was at the same age. The injury is concerning yes, but like I’ve said many times, if the front office feels like he comes back in top shape, they aren’t going to hesitate to add a 25 yr old proven superstar at center. The cost just has to be what Drury feels comfortable giving up.
Not having either guy in the line up would make it harder to get to the playoffs first, and you’d be stripping a massive amount of talent off the PP and one of your top scoring lines. That’s not going to make it easier to produce goals in the playoffs. That’s why.
I’m all ears for alternatives, but at this point in time, there isn’t exactly a bunch of talent young or old that we can trade for in the top 20 range at C. Most teams would tell you to kick rocks unless the overpay was egregious. Trading for a player of Eichel’s ilk doesn’t happen every year, or even every 5 years. Not at that age, and not proven talent. He’s available more so because he’s disgruntled not just/ or only because of his injury. It just happens that the injury came at a bad time for Buffalo because it lowers the cost for other teams taking his surgery/ rehab / risks into consideration.

 

[Ruggs225]

Fact: No team that had Eichel in the lineup has won a playoff round.

THIS IS IN JEST

counterpoint:

no team with Eichel has ever lost a playoff round!

i will now provide you a broom and dustpan to help pick up your brain as your mind has been blown.

 

[Daves a mess]

Eichel and Zibby and 2 top 20 centers. The age range/ future favor Eichel, the fact that Zibby costs only cash and the fact that he has performed in New York before are in his favor.
Being a realist, with the way this team is currently constructed and the moves they have made this offseason, I’m quite confident when I say 1 of them will be here for the next 5 years or more. They aren’t going to let talent like that get away because they could possibly win with other centers. It’s the hardest position to fill. We got very lucky even trading for Zibby. Thank god brassards contract was structured the way it was and he was paid most of his money already at the time of the trade. Otherwise, Ottawa would have for sure looked elsewhere.
You need a premium center to perform in the regular season to get you to the playoffs. All playoff teams at least have a tweeter. Ones that win usually, but not always have excellent centers. You’re smart you know this, your post is saying what does it have to be Zibby or Eichel and all and in the next paragraph your like Zibby might be one??
Getting Eichel at this point in time could be a better situation then when we got Zibby at 24/25, because up to this point he’s got a higher pedigree and he’s more established then Zibby was at the same age. The injury is concerning yes, but like I’ve said many times, if the front office feels like he comes back in top shape, they aren’t going to hesitate to add a 25 yr old proven superstar at center. The cost just has to be what Drury feels comfortable giving up.
Not having either guy in the line up would make it harder to get to the playoffs first, and you’d be stripping a massive amount of talent off the PP and one of your top scoring lines. That’s not going to make it easier to produce goals in the playoffs. That’s why.

Mika is also one elbow or face plant into the glass from MSG darling to a beachbum in Fiji..

Great life either way.

 

[Blais to Win]

He has had better regular season stats in one season lol. Eichel outscored Zibanejad as an 18 year old, a 19 year old, a 20 year old, and a 21 year old - all on abysmal Buffalo teams. And these were during Zib's 22-26 year old years where he should've been outproducing Eichel

And Eichel has a higher goals per game average in his career. So half of your statement is blatantly incorrect - can't argue numbers

Nobody on my side of the screen is talking career numbers. Eichel came out of the gate faster, that’s certain. Too bad we’re not having this conversation in 2016.

Now, and since 2018, they’re basically statistical clones. Zibanejad has an edge in goal scoring for the past three or four seasons, he has both averaged more ice time and played more games than Eichel, has had a season with vastly higher G/60 than Eichel ever had….and again, because folks just can’t seem to get it, you take in the cost to acquire him and find Eichel ain’t worth it vs. Zib.

 

[jay from jersey]

Mika is also one elbow or face plant into the glass from MSG darling to a beachbum in Fiji..

Great life either way.

Tell me about it. I’d trade, lol

 

[smoneil]

Eichel and Zibby and 2 top 20 centers. The age range/ future favor Eichel, the fact that Zibby costs only cash and the fact that he has performed in New York before are in his favor.
Being a realist, with the way this team is currently constructed and the moves they have made this offseason, I’m quite confident when I say 1 of them will be here for the next 5 years or more. They aren’t going to let talent like that get away because they could possibly win with other centers. It’s the hardest position to fill. We got very lucky even trading for Zibby. Thank god brassards contract was structured the way it was and he was paid most of his money already at the time of the trade. Otherwise, Ottawa would have for sure looked elsewhere.
You need a premium center to perform in the regular season to get you to the playoffs. All playoff teams at least have a tweeter. Ones that win usually, but not always have excellent centers. You’re smart you know this, your post is saying what does it have to be Zibby or Eichel and all and in the next paragraph your like Zibby might be one??
Getting Eichel at this point in time could be a better situation then when we got Zibby at 24/25, because up to this point he’s got a higher pedigree and he’s more established then Zibby was at the same age. The injury is concerning yes, but like I’ve said many times, if the front office feels like he comes back in top shape, they aren’t going to hesitate to add a 25 yr old proven superstar at center. The cost just has to be what Drury feels comfortable giving up.
Not having either guy in the line up would make it harder to get to the playoffs first, and you’d be stripping a massive amount of talent off the PP and one of your top scoring lines. That’s not going to make it easier to produce goals in the playoffs. That’s why.

I said it might be Zib because he could fit if his ask (particularly the term) comes down. And again, you repeat the notion that we NEED top top centers. That teams don't make the playoffs without one. We won 11 playoff rounds in the last 15 years without one. Went to the ECF three times without one. Went to the SCF without one. And the depth on THIS team looks to be significantly better/more elite than those earlier teams. Particularly with the flat cap, teams can't afford to be elite at goal, defense, wings, AND center. We're already locked in on the first three. I just don't see how we can afford to be elite at center without losing key pieces from the rest of the roster. And, as this team's own history has shown, you don't need to have elite centers to contend for a Cup.

 

[jay from jersey]

I pass. Go for someone healthy if your paying a premium like that.

I hear you. But there’s really no one available. And the cost your going to have to pay to get them interested isn’t much more then you’d pay for Eichel. Who probably is head and shoulders ( no pun intended) above them talent wise. That’s why is a unique situation

 

[Edge]

I hear you. But there’s really no one available. And the cost your going to have to pay to get them interested isn’t much more then you’d pay for Eichel. Who probably is head and shoulders ( no pun intended) above them talent wise. That’s why is a unique situation

I think if Eichel were a Free Agent it would be enough to sway some votes.

I think it's the health, on top of the cost to acquire, and then having to ship out backup plans to accommodate the salary that creates an uneasy situation for many people.

Any one of those things can give pause. You stack them on top of each other and it starts to become a little daunting.

 

[jay from jersey]

I said it might be Zib because he could fit if his ask (particularly the term) comes down. And again, you repeat the notion that we NEED top top centers. That teams don't make the playoffs without one. We won 11 playoff rounds in the last 15 years without one. Went to the ECF three times without one. Went to the SCF without one. And the depth on THIS team looks to be significantly better/more elite than those earlier teams. Particularly with the flat cap, teams can't afford to be elite at goal, defense, wings, AND center. We're already locked in on the first three. I just don't see how we can afford to be elite at center without losing key pieces from the rest of the roster. And, as this team's own history has shown, you don't need to have elite centers to contend for a Cup.

Yes and on all those playoff rounds we more then not got superhuman goaltending. I’m not going to argue it takes a good amount of luck as well. But more often the. Not we lost to better teams who were stronger up the middle. All those years in the playoffs and all those games and we had 1 SCF appearance. We’re we were handled in 5 games.
If you don’t see what a Barzal, Or a Point, Or a Barkov or an Aho, can go down the list, mean to you come playoff time, I can’t help you.

 

[Fitzy]

I feel like the possibility that Zibanejad might get a career ending injury halfway into his next contract would actually make people less concerned about the duration, but what do I know.

 

[jay from jersey]

I think if Eichel were a Free Agent it would be enough to sway some votes.

I think it's the health, on top of the cost to acquire, and then having to ship out backup plans to accommodate the salary that creates an uneasy situation for many people.

Any one of those things can give pause. You stack them on top of each other and it starts to become a little daunting.

And I get that, and I’m not even advocating getting him. If you they don’t like the cost to acquire, or don’t think he’ll be his old self after surgery fine. But some of the other arguments of why they wouldn’t want to add him are wild.

if management feels they can get him at their price and he makes a full recovery, it’s kind of hard to believe he wouldn’t be an ideal switch for Zibby. Based on Eichel’s age/ talent and Zibbys contract demands.
There’s also no shot in hell where I see any situation where they let Zibby walk and don’t trade for Eichel.
With the way that this team is currently constructed that’s just not going to happen. But that’s the latest argument. It’s just not realistic. More likely then not they are going to resign Zibby for 9-10 mill a year.

 

[duhmetreE]

If I were Florida, my top priority would have been to lock up Barkov. Wonder what's going on over there.

 

[jay from jersey]

Sharks' Tomas Hertl 'finally back' on ice after January knee injury

He had surgery in 2020

he’s another one, solid player. Both knees blown out. Still awesome, still going to cost about 9 mill a year on a new deal. And he’s not that young anymore

 

[smoneil]

Yes and on all those playoff rounds we more then not got superhuman goaltending. I’m not going to argue it takes a good amount of luck as well. But more often the. Not we lost to better teams who were stronger up the middle. All those years in the playoffs and all those games and we had 1 SCF appearance. We’re we were handled in 5 games.
If you don’t see what a Barzal, Or a Point, Or a Barkov or an Aho, can go down the list, mean to you come playoff time, I can’t help you.

I do see those things, and I do agree that Shesterkin is unlikely to replicate what Henrik did in the playoffs. But at the same time, those earlier teams didn't have a single forward on the level of Panarin (and we have two other wingers in Laf and Kakko who have the potential to be better than any winger we had on those teams). Add Kravtsov and Kreider to that mix? Plus some of the grind that we've picked up? The biggest difference is on defense. Aside from McDonagh, we have four defensemen who would be better than anyone on those earlier rosters with more on the way. We also have a #1 in Fox who is even better than McD. We have three guys minimum who can put up more points than the guys on those teams. The wings and the defense are not only better at the top, but are miles deeper as well.

So yeah, it would be great to have a Barzal or a Point or a Barkov or an Aho (I note you listed guys with no health problems...). But I would rather have a trio from a list like: Chytil, Danault, Cirelli, Larkin, Barron, Couturier and retain our depth on the wings and D than cut into that depth to stack one or two big lines. Two line teams are generally too damned tired by the time the playoffs roll around to do more than go 4 and out.

 

[jay from jersey]

If I were Florida, my top priority would have been to lock up Barkov. Wonder what's going on over there.

They’ll lock him up soon I’m sure of it. Maybe Carp will start writing he’s intent on going UFA... then you know he’ll clearly sign a day or 2 after

 

[duhmetreE]

I think if Eichel were a Free Agent it would be enough to sway some votes.

I think it's the health, on top of the cost to acquire, and then having to ship out backup plans to accommodate the salary that creates an uneasy situation for many people.

Any one of those things can give pause. You stack them on top of each other and it starts to become a little daunting.

It's all that and that we have Mika, Strome and Chytil already. He has a higher ceiling but how much better is he actually making us?

I'd honestly prefer Mika @ 5 years 10M and the kept assets

 

[duhmetreE]

The next big ticket UFA will be Matthews. I do not see him staying in Toronto. At what point do the Maple Leafs decide to cross that road?

The bittersweet irony if they lose Matthews for nothing.... Like Tavares and the fishsticks.

 

[jay from jersey]

I do see those things, and I do agree that Shesterkin is unlikely to replicate what Henrik did in the playoffs. But at the same time, those earlier teams didn't have a single forward on the level of Panarin (and we have two other wingers in Laf and Kakko who have the potential to be better than any winger we had on those teams). Add Kravtsov and Kreider to that mix? Plus some of the grind that we've picked up? The biggest difference is on defense. Aside from McDonagh, we have four defensemen who would be better than anyone on those earlier rosters with more on the way. We also have a #1 in Fox who is even better than McD. We have three guys minimum who can put up more points than the guys on those teams. The wings and the defense are not only better at the top, but are miles deeper as well.

So yeah, it would be great to have a Barzal or a Point or a Barkov or an Aho (I note you listed guys with no health problems...). But I would rather have a trio from a list like: Chytil, Danault, Cirelli, Larkin, Barron, Couturier and retain our depth on the wings and D than cut into that depth to stack one or two big lines. Two line teams are generally too damned tired by the time the playoffs roll around to do more than go 4 and out.

None of those guys are available. Except chytil. I have a feeling Barron will still likely be your 3C
He’s a different list with all injured Centers. Eichel still better then most, and they’ll all cost almost the same in a year.
McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Hertl, Seguin etc

any option we can think of Is going to make 9-10 mill a year in the next year or so. So it’s either full steam ahead with him or try to trade for an eventual replacement.
Hertl
Couturier
Larkin ( 2 years left) prob not available
Cirelli not available
Barkov - I wish
All these guys are going to cost 9 mill or more

 

[jay from jersey]

The next big ticket UFA will be Matthews. I do not see him staying in Toronto. At what point do the Maple Leafs decide to cross that road?

The bittersweet irony if they lose Matthews for nothing.... Like Tavares and the fishsticks.

They might have to take that risk. He would be a marketing wet dream in SoCal or Arizona. But who knows if he wants to go home or not

 

[smoneil]

And I get that, and I’m not even advocating getting him. If you they don’t like the cost to acquire, or don’t think he’ll be his old self after surgery fine. But some of the other arguments of why they wouldn’t want to add him are wild.

if management feels they can get him at their price and he makes a full recovery, it’s kind of hard to believe he wouldn’t be an ideal switch for Zibby. Based on Eichel’s age/ talent and Zibbys contract demands.
There’s also no shot in hell where I see any situation where they let Zibby walk and don’t trade for Eichel.
With the way that this team is currently constructed that’s just not going to happen. But that’s the latest argument. It’s just not realistic. More likely then not they are going to resign Zibby for 9-10 mill a year.

Re: Bolded #1--I don't understand your logic at all. The second we won those two lotteries, it was decided for us that this team would be constructed to live and die with the play of the wingers. That is where the elite talent is on this roster. The team--not on purpose, mind you, as I'm sure they had planned on looking at centers in those drafts--is literally built in such a way that we have no money for massive contracts at center. If they get creative, they can MAYBE spend close to 10 mil on one guy. But even that is on the hopes that the cap goes up sooner rather than later.

Re: Bolded #2--Instead of acting all indignant like you are the only person with valid ideas, feel free to look through my posting history. I've literally been making the argument for months that the team needs to go with bargain centers who can facilitate the elite talent on the wings. It's not the "latest" anything. And financially speaking, it's the most realistic option. Will Sather/Drury go that way? No, I'm sure they won't, we'll wind up in cap hell, trade off players who will go on to be stars elsewhere (Marc Savard 2.0) and then wind up back at square one, wondering why we can never have nice things.

After what happened to Gorts and JD, this team will never rebuild again in our lifetimes. It took this long for them to try it once. This is the one shot we have to see a multi-Cup potential era for the NY Rangers. And it baffles me as to how so many of you are ready and willing to risk it all on a huge gamble that could stop the whole thing before it gets a chance to get started.

I'd rather sign Malkin (one option among many) next summer to an affordable two year deal and run with Malkin, Chytil, Barron, Rooney down the middle than sign Zibanejad to a long, expensive contract or trade the moon for the broken superstar who never produces up to his reputation. Can you imagine Malkin between Panarin and Kakko? A second line of Laf Chytil and Krav? A third line of Kreider Barron and Goodrow? The cap exists. Injuries exist. Too many people ignore one or both of those realities.

 

[smoneil]

None of those guys are available. Except chytil. I have a feeling Barron will still likely be your 3C
He’s a different list with all injured Centers. Eichel still better then most, and they’ll all cost almost the same in a year.
McDavid, Crosby, Malkin, Hertl, Seguin etc

any option we can think of Is going to make 9-10 mill a year in the next year or so. So it’s either full steam ahead with him or try to trade for an eventual replacement.
Hertl
Couturier
Larkin ( 2 years left) prob not available
Cirelli not available
Barkov - I wish

Couts is a UFA next summer. Larkin was apparently the subject of trade discussions for a while (per Edge). Tampa will need to move more cap when Point's extension kicks in. Danault (and the others, for that matter) was just an example of the kind of player we could target. If the top two lines each have 2nd line centers with a pair of first line wingers, those are going to be phenomenal lines. We don't need, and can't afford two lines with high end first line centers and those wingers and our amazing group of defensemen. Salary Cap.

 

[jay from jersey]

Re: Bolded #1--I don't understand your logic at all. The second we won those two lotteries, it was decided for us that this team would be constructed to live and die with the play of the wingers. That is where the elite talent is on this roster. The team--not on purpose, mind you, as I'm sure they had planned on looking at centers in those drafts--is literally built in such a way that we have no money for massive contracts at center. If they get creative, they can MAYBE spend close to 10 mil on one guy. But even that is on the hopes that the cap goes up sooner rather than later.

Re: Bolded #2--Instead of acting all indignant like you are the only person with valid ideas, feel free to look through my posting history. I've literally been making the argument for months that the team needs to go with bargain centers who can facilitate the elite talent on the wings. It's not the "latest" anything. And financially speaking, it's the most realistic option. Will Sather/Drury go that way? No, I'm sure they won't, we'll wind up in cap hell, trade off players who will go on to be stars elsewhere (Marc Savard 2.0) and then wind up back at square one, wondering why we can never have nice things.

After what happened to Gorts and JD, this team will never rebuild again in our lifetimes. It took this long for them to try it once. This is the one shot we have to see a multi-Cup potential era for the NY Rangers. And it baffles me as to how so many of you are ready and willing to risk it all on a huge gamble that could stop the whole thing before it gets a chance to get started.

I'd rather sign Malkin (one option among many) next summer to an affordable two year deal and run with Malkin, Chytil, Barron, Rooney down the middle than sign Zibanejad to a long, expensive contract or trade the moon for the broken superstar who never produces up to his reputation. Can you imagine Malkin between Panarin and Kakko? A second line of Laf Chytil and Krav? A third line of Kreider Barron and Goodrow? The cap exists. Injuries exist. Too many people ignore one or both of those realities.

That’s great that you would do that. And it would be no guarantee that Malkin would accept a 2 year deal here, so your taking an awfully big chance by letting Zibby walk to sign Malkin.
I’m trying to look at it from a realistic approach. Not what you would do playing GM on NHL 21.
This team is build to compete for the next 5-8 years. For the next 4 we have panarin playing the best of his career. In all likelihood drury is going to resign Zibby to 9-10 mill a season. He’s not going to walk away from a sure top 20 center cause he’s 30 unless he gets a younger top 10 one for the cost he feels doesn’t hurt the team to bad.
As of now, his options are resigning Zibby or dealing for Eichel and ultimately trading Zibby, letting him walk, or trying to resign and go ahead with both( which could be problematic)

 

[jay from jersey]

Couts is a UFA next summer. Larkin was apparently the subject of trade discussions for a while (per Edge). Tampa will need to move more cap when Point's extension kicks in. Danault (and the others, for that matter) was just an example of the kind of player we could target. If the top two lines each have 2nd line centers with a pair of first line wingers, those are going to be phenomenal lines. We don't need, and can't afford two lines with high end first line centers and those wingers and our amazing group of defensemen. Salary Cap.

Couts is a UFA next summer. Larkin was apparently the subject of trade discussions for a while (per Edge). Tampa will need to move more cap when Point's extension kicks in. Danault (and the others, for that matter) was just an example of the kind of player we could target. If the top two lines each have 2nd line centers with a pair of first line wingers, those are going to be phenomenal lines. We don't need, and can't afford two lines with high end first line centers and those wingers and our amazing group of defensemen. Salary Cap.

If the flyers can’t resign couts long term- he’s getting dealt at the TDL for a massive package
Edge did say larkin could be available at the draft. But Detroit also didn’t make any trades. From everything From Stevie Y and Detroit fans say a big long term extension is coming down the pike for Larkin

I have been championing Them to get Dvorak as a 2C for like a month and a half.

the whole discussion was about Eichel/ Zibby

 

[smoneil]

That’s great that you would do that. And it would be no guarantee that Malkin would accept a 2 year deal here, so your taking an awfully big chance by letting Zibby walk to sign Malkin.
I’m trying to look at it from a realistic approach. Not what you would do playing GM on NHL 21.
This team is build to compete for the next 5-8 years. For the next 4 we have panarin playing the best of his career. In all likelihood drury is going to resign Zibby to 9-10 mill a season. He’s not going to walk away from a sure top 20 center cause he’s 30 unless he gets a younger top 10 one for the cost he feels doesn’t hurt the team to bad.
As of now, his options are resigning Zibby or dealing for Eichel and ultimately trading Zibby, letting him walk, or trying to resign and go ahead with both( which could be problematic)

I wouldn't let Zibanejad walk. I'd move him at the deadline at 50% to pick up another 1st in one of the next two stacked drafts. And as I said, Malkin is just one of many examples. If Chytil doesn't take a step, that could change things, but we'd know what we need to know by the trade deadline.

And cut the snide comments. I don't even OWN NHL 21 (my "newest" gaming system is a Playstation two. Other than that, I only have a Sega Genesis). It's not about video games. It's literally about being realistic. You talk about a competition window of 5-8 years. But as you have done in just about every post in this thread, you ignore the salary cap. The money won't last for 5-8 years. It runs out in two. Then we start losing important depth players. Say goodbye to Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, etc etc. Because at that point, we'd be forced to choose between them and Fox and Laf. If Zib is willing to sign for five or fewer years at or below 8M AAV? Great. It's stretching the finances, but it might be feasible with a lot of bridging. Anything more? We don't have a choice. A top 20 C is a luxury on this roster. If it's not coming on a bargain, it isn't worth it, and the team does NOT need one (or more) of them to compete.

I also have no idea why you think Malkin would balk at a two year deal. Panarin and Kakko/Kravtsov would instantly be the best set of wingers he's ever had on a line, and it would give him a chance to pull a Messier and show that he can get the job done outside of the NHL face's shadow.

 

[LannyMcdonald]

Eichel and Zibby and 2 top 20 centers. The age range/ future favor Eichel, the fact that Zibby costs only cash and the fact that he has performed in New York before are in his favor.
Being a realist, with the way this team is currently constructed and the moves they have made this offseason, I’m quite confident when I say 1 of them will be here for the next 5 years or more. They aren’t going to let talent like that get away because they could possibly win with other centers. It’s the hardest position to fill. We got very lucky even trading for Zibby. Thank god brassards contract was structured the way it was and he was paid most of his money already at the time of the trade. Otherwise, Ottawa would have for sure looked elsewhere.
You need a premium center to perform in the regular season to get you to the playoffs. All playoff teams at least have a tweeter. Ones that win usually, but not always have excellent centers. You’re smart you know this, your post is saying what does it have to be Zibby or Eichel and all and in the next paragraph your like Zibby might be one??
Getting Eichel at this point in time could be a better situation then when we got Zibby at 24/25, because up to this point he’s got a higher pedigree and he’s more established then Zibby was at the same age. The injury is concerning yes, but like I’ve said many times, if the front office feels like he comes back in top shape, they aren’t going to hesitate to add a 25 yr old proven superstar at center. The cost just has to be what Drury feels comfortable giving up.
Not having either guy in the line up would make it harder to get to the playoffs first, and you’d be stripping a massive amount of talent off the PP and one of your top scoring lines. That’s not going to make it easier to produce goals in the playoffs. That’s why.
I’m all ears for alternatives, but at this point in time, there isn’t exactly a bunch of talent young or old that we can trade for in the top 20 range at C. Most teams would tell you to kick rocks unless the overpay was egregious. Trading for a player of Eichel’s ilk doesn’t happen every year, or even every 5 years. Not at that age, and not proven talent. He’s available more so because he’s disgruntled not just/ or only because of his injury. It just happens that the injury came at a bad time for Buffalo because it lowers the cost for other teams taking his surgery/ rehab / risks into consideration.

That might be the most rational post in 210 pages. Even if I don't necessarily agree with the conclusion.