One team gets out of Eichel’s sweepstakes!

I feel we are getting as inpatient with the potential Jack Eichel trade than the forward is himself. 

As you know last week, Eichel’s agents took matters in their own hands, publishing an impactful statement on the trade process in Buffalo and saying more on his neck injury. Eichel wanted disc replacement surgery, with an artificial disc being placed in his neck. It promises a shorter rehab time, the potential for less loss of motion and far less potential for the necessity for future surgeries. But the Sabres’ doctors aren’t comfortable with a surgery that’s never been done on a hockey player before… 

Many insiders got the feeling that might have convinced GM Kevyn Adams to lower his price tag, though he is still looking for an important return to move his captain. 

While Eichel’s camp’s pressure to get a trade going could get a rival team closer to a deal, it sounds like one contender is getting out of the sweepstakes.

According to Larry Brooks of The New York Post, GM Chris Drury has told agents this week that Rangers have never been seriously interested in Eichel.

It had been reported more than once that the Rangers were attempting to acquire Eichel. We’ve heard rumours of many teams entering trade talks, not only the Rangers, but also the Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers. 

These teams could get a better chance at landing Eichel if the Rangers are out of the running. 

Last week, it was reported that the Sabres had demanded for the Golden Knights to give Reilly Smith, Peyton Krebs, Nic Hague and a first-rounder in return for Eichel. It’s also rumoured that the Sabres would dare to ask the Canadiens for “Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Alexander Romanov. And they don’t intend to settle for just one of those three players. They also ask for prospects and picks,” per RDS’ Francois Gagnon. 

Eichel is under contract through 2025-26 with a $10-million cap hit. Maybe that’s a number Drury is not willing to spend on Eichel, on top of the pieces he would need to part with to make it happen. At the moment, according to Cap Friendly, the Blue Shirts have closer to $15 million in cap space available. 

But if you believe Drury, they are not seriously looking to become Eichel’s second NHL team. 

So, where will he go?