As the inevitability of a Jack Eichel trade looms, what would the Minnesota Wild have to give up to get him?
Recently, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams talked about the future of the team without mentioning Jack Eichel. With a lingering disagreement over the handling of his neck injury, which he has not had surgery for yet by the way, Eichel will be traded and it may happen soon.
With a clear need for a top-line offensive center to pair with Rookie of the Year Kirill Kaprizov, the Minnesota Wild are easy to tie to interest in Eichel. Of course they aren’t alone, as the Sabres maintain a high asking price.
The Wild don’t have a lot of cap space, and after getting Joel Eriksson Ek signed long-term a new deal for Kaprizov is the top priority. Winger Kevin Fiala is a restricted free agent, and he’s lined up for a new multi-year contract too.
Jack Eichel trade rumors: What would the Wild have to give up?
The Wild have an extra first-round pick this year, which is helpful to any trade offer for Eichel. After that there are some pieces they could include, from established players (Matt Dumba , Jordan Greenway, Victor Rask) to younger prospect-types (Matt Boldy, Kaapo Kahkonen, Marco Rossi).
Judd Zulgad of SKOR North raised the possibility that Fiala will be traded, though without specific speculative mention of being included in an Eichel deal.
https://twitter.com/SKORNorth/status/1412506917545644033?s=20
If Fiala was to be included in any trade, it would come with him having signed a contract in a sign-and-trade move so he counts for something against the salary cap. As I confirmed via a spin with Cap Friendly’s trade machine, absorbing Eichel’s contract is a potential issue for the Wild.
That said, here’s an offer that could work to bring Eichel to Minnesota.
Fiala, Boldy, Rask and Greenway are possible pieces of a trade offer for Eichel too, if Wild general manager Bill Guerin wants to entertain those options. If it comes to that, it would be a small price to pay for the Wild to add one the best young centers in hockey.
But one of their two first-round picks, one of Rossi or Boldy, either Fiala or Kahkonen and one of Zuccarello, Greenway and Rask would be an offer Buffalo would have to pay attention to.