Eichel leaves with Dahlin the next year

Markstrom isn't leaving Vancouver for 6 million a year on a 4 year deal. Vancouver will offer him similar money, so i would imagine buffalo having to offer closer to 7 million to make him leave.

The secret to making Eichel happy... Make the playoffs, give him some real linemates or at least stop wasting your draft picks...

Doubt Markstrom is back with VAN unless they give him an NMC, he knows they will protect Demko instead of him

I can't see Vancouver protecting Demko, the trust isn't there to run with a unproven goalie in Demko, especially when this team is trying to win now. From what I've heard, management believes in DiPietro a bit more, which would give the team flexibility going into the expansion draft.

I think they'd be operating under the assumption that if they protect Demko, Seattle wouldn't choose Markstrom due to his age and the amount of money and term that would be involved in a potentially five or six year contract. Where if they protect Markstrom there's a good chance Seattle takes the cheaper, cost controlled, and still good Demko. Protecting Demko gives them the chance to keep both and maybe even shed a low-term contract somewhere else.

Alec Martinez is a right D and Nate Schmidt has been playing right D the majority of his career even though he is a left shot

I like your reasoning, but if Seattle thinks they can be the next "Las Vegas Golden Knights" then they will need solid goal tending right away, leaving them really tempted to pick up JM. I don't see a situation were the Canucks don't lose a good player