Jack Eichel drops another bombshell during his exit interview.

This is unbelievable.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Jack Eichel drops another bombshell during his exit interview.
Mike Wulf/CSM/Zuma

In what is perhaps the most shocking exit interview in recent National Hockey League history, Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel threw his own team under the bus on Monday. Eichel initially spoke of a "disconnect" between himself and the organization, even going so far as to make comments that sounded to me like he doesn't plan to be back in Buffalo next season, but things have only gotten worse since those initial comments.

Now Buffalo Sabres insider John Vogl is reporting that Eichel "essentially says" that the Sabres blocked him from getting corrective surgery for a herniated disc in his neck. When he was asked about whether or not it was his choice to get the surgery, you know considering this is the man's own body we are talking about here, Eichel indicated that he had not been given the option to do so and effectively confirmed Vogl's comments on the situation.

"It doesn't work like that. I wish. ... I'm under contract with this team and they definitely hold a lot of cards on what I can and can't do," admitted Eichel in yet another shocking statement on Monday.

It may come as a shock to fans that a player could be denied the right to treat his own body in the way he sees fit but as per the rules of the newly ratified Collective Bargaining Agreement, that is exactly the case. Eichel was unhappy with the diagnosis that he received from the Sabres physician and, as has been widely reported now, went out of his way to seek a second opinion at his own expense following that initial diagnosis. It would appear as though the second opinion recommended that Eichel go under the knife, but as per the new rules of the CBA the team's physician has final say.

This is how the CBA describes this particular rule as per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman:

A Player is entitled to obtain a second medical opinion from a physician(s) of his choice who is not on the Second Medical Opinion List and has not received advance approval from the Club. Upon the Player’s request, the Club shall provide the Player with all relevant medical information from the Player’s records to provide to the Player’s physician. The Player shall provide all such relevant records to the Player’s physician. The Club Physician shall determine the diagnosis or course of treatment (including the timing thereof) after considering any report or other records received from the Player’s physician.

Following these comments from Eichel on Monday, Sabres insider John Vogl has advised fans to perhaps refrain from buying a Sabres jersey with Eichels name and number on it. Absolutely crazy stuff.


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