You gotta pay more to get Reinhart. VAN will probably do whatever they can to keep Motte around too.
Your FA signings are all too low.

I have to think Buffalo says no. That's a pretty poor return.

Even a good 4th liner like Motte isn’t the difference between Reinhart and that 1st round pick.

Motte does hold value. But only in certain markets. He falls under the Nick Paul / Goodrow umbrella where the team won't move him unless its a steep overpay. I could easily see a contender going big on him.... but no way does he mean anything in a trade of this type to a rebuilder.

The issue isn't the value of the player, it's the type of value. It makes no sense for the Sabres.

But if Motte holds value like you say then they could flip him at the deadline to a contender for good value...

Buffalo would be a black hole to his value. He would hardly sustain his strengths there and his value would plummet. They want guaranteed value.

These two step ideas are bogus and not realistic.

Every team wants guaranteed value. Ultimately, I don't think half a season on Buffalo would turn teams away from acquiring Motte. He still has those bottom-six checking skills that playoff teams are eager to acquire like a Goodrow as you mentioned. Reinhart's value is an interesting one to consider because he also doesn't have a contract so Buffalo doesn't have a lot of leverage in the situation. A top 10 pick, a top 9 forward, and a C prospect is a competitive offer.

Aggresive, do you mean you are pulling a gun on Yzerman to take Ericksson for a 2nd. Sure, but he declines. Cap room is at a premium and not giving it away.

The Wings aren't dolling out millions of bucks to Loui Eriksson so he can sit in the press box all year and handing the Nucks 6M in cap space for a freaking 2nd rd pick that has like a 10% chance of amounting to anything