Ottawa has much better assets than that, and a lot of them.

They aren't going to give them up if they don't have to. If Buff doesn't sell him now at that price they will get much less when he publicly demands out

Yup they could throw a big package if they wanted to but i think it would set them back. Even just parting with Batherson and a top 6 pick would be painful

Do you not think Ottawa would do it if all it took was a top 6 pick and Batherson? Eichel rapidly speeds up the rebuild and will bring in money for Melnyk. As well being locked in at 10mill for a long time with the cap set to rise with a new TV deal isn't a bad contract at all

Problem is, Melnyk won't spend that much right away. Specially after this pandemic situation. He's lost so much money so the thought of paying a guy 10 million... and mostly in Bonus money... big oof. Two guys on entry level is only 2 million (bonus withstanding).

No

Unless they end up with Byfield. Sabres would probably ask Norris and Brown or Batherson at least though, which again, Ottawa just takes Byfield then and they end up with Eichel Byfield.

I think at the very least youre talking about Brannstrom or Norris + Batherson and a top 5 pick

You think Eichel is unhappy in BUF, trade him to OTT who's in the middle of a full on rebuild with a cheap owner and you'll see a new kind of unhappy from Captain Jack
OTT should stay away IMO, maintain the course

I would do Brannstrom and Brown + picks, IMO neither of them really seem to be panning out how expected and we should sell high on them before its to late

It will be Tkachuk+

They are 21. I think all the B-Sens (Brown, Batherson, Balcers and Brannstrom) are going to surprise people this year. Give them a shot in the top 6 and they may actually pan out. You just don't want to throw them to the wolves right away.

I think all will but Brannstrom, i've watched him lots in Belleville and he has never dominated at that level. I think with the NA physicality of the game is going to hold him back from being a great defenceman

Yeah his size won't win him any battles but Karlsson was never that physically dominate either. He learned to have a quick stick and foot speed to help him get out of tricky situations (Karl will have to rely more on having a quick stick now that his natural acceleration has taken a bit of a hit). That and hockey sense. Once Brannstrom grows a bit into his body and becomes a man, we might see more physicality out of him. Give him time. Not playing for 10 months won't help either...

I also think we need to temper expectations, just a tad. We attach him to the fact we was traded for Stone. I don't think he'll be that top 2 elite level D that he all want him to be. He'll be put in more offensive situations and learn to hold his own in the D-zone. I think of him more of a Torey Krug or Alex Goligoski. At best, he'll be a Quinn Hughes archetype.