Jack Eichel remains the biggest name on the trade market and will remain as such until he is dealt. Or not dealt? The Athletic’s John Vogl spoke to both sides and found that GM Kevyn Adams and Eichel’s agent had a long, productive meeting on Wednesday. Eichel’s camp believes that the situation is “heading toward a resolution.” Read into that what you will, but the language at least hints at a possible reconciliation between the two sides. This report comes on the heels of TSN’s Darren Dreger reporting that the Sabres’ asking price of “the equivalent of four first-round picks” has depressed the market. If the Sabres are not willing to drop the price of this franchise-altering trade, they could instead try to make amends with their superstar. Then again, Vogl also notes that the Sabres have not changed their opinion on Eichel’s proposed controversial neck surgery, a line in the sand that could still split the two sides. “Resolution” could still mean that the team and the player are working toward finding a trade.
- One team in on Eichel are the Chicago Blackhawks. Don’t mistake their openness to trading iconic defenseman Duncan Keith as transitioning into a rebuild. Dreger notes that they are big game hunting this summer and have talked to Buffalo about the star center. However, Dreger does not believe that adding Eichel to a roster that already has two top-tier forward contracts in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews is feasible from a cap perspective, even if Keith is moved. Instead, he believes that Chicago has a far better chance of landing one of their other two rumored targets: defensemen Seth Jones and Dougie Hamilton.
- The equivalent of four first-round picks is a mighty big ask, but it won’t slow down the Los Angeles Kings if they want to add Eichel. L.A. has long been a rumored landing spot for Eichel and it seems there is mutual interest in a trade. As Vogl notes, the Kings’ ability to part with the pieces needed to land Eichel hasn’t changed with today’s deal for Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson. L.A. parted with two valuable draft picks, but not a first-round pick nor any of their top-flight first-round prospects like Quinton Byfield, Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Turcotte, Rasmus Kupari, or Tobias Bjornfot. If Eichel remains on the market, the Kings will definitely be in play.
Trade = Resolution. Anaheim or LA. Bye Felicia!
NYR
I think he’s going to LA for a package that doesn’t include Byfield. I fear, as a fan of the team, the Rangers with their insane amount of prospects and other capital that they might try to make the deal considering Dolan’s insistence we hurry the rebuild along and return to the playoffs next year. But LA is just as “sexy” a headline and while I think giving Byfield up would be dumb it’s a possibility and it’d definitely force this trade through. Draft day is gonna be fun thanks to Eichel and Jones imo
‘If’ Byfield is part of any deal, I think he’d change the terms whereas he’d be equivalent to two, two and a half of those first round picks. I also don’t see Buffalo getting their asking price, so Byfield and another top prospect may be the package that gets it done (not to mention the contract dump that goes along with Eichel). As for the Rangers, they have the prospects to get any deal done, question is are they willing to reverse course after making so much progress? Personally, I don’t think they should make a deal for him, especially with the uncertainty surrounding his neck. Kakko or Kravstov, Miller and perhaps Jones, but wouldn’t go any further than that regarding players.
Should be interesting.
When will GMs ever learn? I’d deal four first-rounders for a Gretzky, a Bourque, a McDavid, a Brodeur — generational superstars destined for first ballot Hall of Famers. Nothing short. Four first-rounders usually yield at least one genuine star, one top-six forward/top-pairing defenseman, and one useful roleplayer. Eichel just doesn’t have the resume to command that haul, never mind that he’s potentially damaged goods.
LA needs to separate themselves from any Eichel nonsense until he’s cleared for contact. Dealing 4 big pieces for a injured neck is a recipe for failure.
His neck issue is fixable. He isn’t the only one that has had (fusion) surgery & on his neck not came back strong. Eichel wants a new type of surgery that is not NHL proven. Thinking that Byfield is anywhere near Eichel’s level is putting to much stock into a prospect. I feel the Sabres are feeling out the market but I do not see a trade to the NYR but I do see a trade out West.
And dealing Eichel less than that after previous debacles is just the same! 2 negatives equal a positive lol!
It looks like a win/win. Byfield is the only prospect that shows game changing potential and they know that. The others look mid range skilled. There is no way he’s traded. Eichel will eventually heal and we’ll have both. Or nothing happens and we pray the prospects up their game.
I am not sure Eichel is a risk worth taking, The Sabers tanked his value with the handling of this neck injury. I would be ok with the Rangers taking the risk of trading for him for a package that doesn’t gut the team of our young guns. Something like Strome, Kravtsov, the 15th pick, and maybe a few 2nd or 3rd tier prospects.
Buffalo should do their best to kiss and makeup with Eichel and raise his value, I hope he comes back better than ever.
If he was healthy . I would trade for him if I was a center away. You are then giving up late first round picks. otherwise no. Also he is not a leader do not make him a captain.
Jack Eichel and a third round pick for Aaron Rodgers.
I wouldn’t cough-up the equivalent of 4 1st rounders for Eichel… not a chance….And if they’re implying that Buffalo will want a nearly 40 year old defenseman in a package for Eichel, that’s not likely to happen either.
Eichel has been a point per game player on, realistically, the worst team in the NHL since he joined the NHL. He is a top 5 to 10 center that every team covets. I read today that the Sabres have already begun to repair the damage they created with Eichel and the two sides are resolving and coming together on an agreement on his surgery. Now whether the Sabres keep him or decide to trade Eichel is still anyone’s guess but you can believe that the Sabres are not going to just give him away. So, if the Sabres were to trade their star player you can bet the team acquiring him will be paying a fortune for his services. As for his injury, you can bet that whatever type of procedure he has it will be the best that money can buy and will allow him to be the star player once again. Also, although there are certainly worries on whether he will return to form you can be assured that those worries will be quelled or very diminished before a trade is made. Being a Sabres fan since the mid to late 70’s, being biased by watching Jack Eichel and finally, being starved for anything good coming from the Buffalo Sabres, I can only hope for one of two outcomes. 1) Hope that the Sabres realize what they have in Eichel, completely mend the fences they have torn down and finally build a team around Eichel that can compete year in and year out for the Stanley Cup during Eichel’s career. Or, 2) If the Sabres decide to trade our #1 stud center who should be the face of the franchise and a complete untouchable they trade him for a King’s ransom that I believe a desperate team out there will provide. If either one of these 2 things were to happen it would be a fantastical and surprising outcome for a disillusioned, desperate and utterly deserving fan base that hasn’t had much if anything to cheer about for at least the past decade. Unfortunately, the only thing us Sabres fans can do is wait and see if our ownership can finally do something right.
I think you underestimate the damage the Sabers have done to Eichel and his value. Buffalo should do their best to get him back on their side even if he still wants a trade just to raise his value. On the flip side if he comes back and is not the “Eichel” but a shadow of himself not trading him now will net them even less.
Without seeing him play again any team trading for him is taking on all the risk.
The Sabres stuck to the doctors recommendations and didn’t let him have his way. That is why the whining from Eichel this year. The team not succeeding the last decade is not all his fault, but he has not helped either. As the Captain he should shoulder a lot of the blame. I’ll take the assets he will bring to the team for the future rather then watch him in a Sabres uniform another year. Let the bidding war go. NYR, with all their assets, are going to drive the Kings or another team to give us a great return. The Kings want to win now, let’s see how bad they want it, lol.
The Blackhawks neither have the talent, cap space nor draft capital to make an Eichel trade work, and it wouldn’t solve their most glaring issue that is the deep vacant void of the blue line. Keith may be addition by subtraction at this point, as younger guys step in, and they trade for a true top pair guy to play with Boqvist (if he isn’t included in another Stanbo firesale trade.)