One of the more reasonable ACGMs I have seen from Sabres

I’d add three minor edits

(1) Add a conditional pick coming back for Eichel. (If he plays x games, turns into y pick). As protection on injury risk.
(2) Retain part of Zibanejad salary going to Vegas
(3) Change Miles Wood to Andreas Johnsson

Thanks other ACGM, trying to keep it reasonable. I know money would have to come back in the Vegas move but I don’t know enough about them to guess who they would send back. Maybe a Vegas fan can enlighten me.

I was thinking Boston’s second round pick should not be in the trade at all. If they are retaining on Zibanejad Vegas should be expected to pay more. And the point of the New Jersey deal is Buffalo wants Miles Wood, without him there is no point.

Wood is the type of player Buffalo needs. I’d throw in another late pick to sweeten it, if that helped.

The deal is at very least tilted in New Jersey’s favor already, unless Miles Wood were to agree to a new contract when the deal goes through.

Agree on Boston 2nd (didn’t see it earlier).
I would just add that one conditional pick (maybe a 2023 or 2024 pick that is late rounder if Eichel misses time over next season or two, rises up to 1st rounder if he plays two full seasons).

Vegas would add whatever going rate for $2.675 million would be (3rd round pick maybe).

If Sabres want Miles Wood, I’d think Jokiharju or Borgen and pick. NJD want young d-men. Maybe there is some scenario where Wood+ for Reinhart, but I don’t see it.

I would think just swap another young d-man in there instead of Risto

The only way Miles Wood is worth either Jokiharju or Borgen in the trade is with a long-term contract in place already, At less than fair market value at that. Jokiharju is poised to be Rasmus Dahlin‘s long-term defense partner. Borgen is a young physical right hand shooting defenseman, and the league is clamoring for more right hand shooting defenseman right now. Everybody seems to need one, and only left-handed shooting defenseman seem to be available. Wood Is worth basically what’s offered here, it’s very fair for both sides.

It is not though. Wood has versatility and a scoring touch, 25 goal pace last season on 4th line minutes and is under team control for the foreseeable future. Risto on the other hand routinely gets caved in, drags his teammates down whenever he's on the ice, and is UFA after next season. He has neither the eye test nor analytics going for him. This is a very roundabout way of telling you that he's a replacement level defender and Buffalo are ripping the Devils of here.

Honestly I’m not sure where Wood fits in Buffalo’s lineup. If he’s been relegated to fourth line minutes he can’t be that valuable. I don’t see him as a fourth line player, but is he really a top six Forward either? What do your advanced analytics say he would produce in Buffalo? Personally I see him as a 15 goal guy who should crack 30 points.

Honestly, there isn't much difference in my mind between Eichel and Zibanejad. Thats a massive overpay for Eichel.

Eichel > Zibanejad

In potential yes.... probably.
But not as of now.
Dont see why NY would make this deal.
Zib PLUS equivalent of 3 1sts.
IMO....easy pass.
Eichel has talent, but has not shown hes a leader/winner.
Plus he already has the HUGE cap hit with the added bonus of a neck injury, yeaaa!!!
Should he be better than Zibanejad, yes.
Is he?? Sadly not at this point.

He pails in comparison in just effort alone.

I’m not saying Eichel is worth what Buffalo is asking. But saying zib is that much better than Eichel is the response I’d expect from a rangers homer. Say the rags put out they want to trade zib, their not getting anything close to the return Eichel gets. Sorry dude take that rangers bias on somewhere else.