Report: 10 teams in the mix for Eichel, including several playoff teams

Step aside Rangers and Bruins, Elliotte Friedman reports there are some new suitors for the Sabres' captain.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Report: 10 teams in the mix for Eichel, including several playoff teams
Zuma Press

On the latest 31 Thoughts podcast with hosts Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, the pair break down the latest in the ongoing soap opera series between the Buffalo Sabres and captain Jack Eichel and give some insight into where Eichel may end up this offseason.

It's not exactly a secret that Eichel is unhappy with the Sabres and all indications are that the team will take trade offers on him this offseason. But... where will he end up? So far, most analysts have pegged the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins are the most likely destinations for Eichel, but Friedman reports that nearly 10 teams are in the mix to land Eichel. Interestingly enough, Friedman received some insider information that the St. Louis Blues could be a major player in Eichel trade talks.

Check it out:

“LA can do it, Anaheim can do it, Ottawa can do it but I don’t see it. Montreal can do it. You know someone told me that St. Louis wanted to move some of their young pros and he could see St. Louis putting together a package to do it. Winnipeg could do it… but number one on the list has to be the Rangers. Boston’s going to want to do it and Columbus is going to want to do it, but the Rangers is who everyone is looking at.”

Honestly, I never really considered the Blues but it actually makes a LOT of sense. The Blues have a number of young players they could serve up to the Sabres to help kick start their rebuild. Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas and Klim Kostin are all intriguing young players and could entice the Sabres more than draft picks or junior aged players. 

But... who are we kidding? It's going to come down the Rangers and thee Bruins, isn't it? The Rangers have any kind of assets the Sabres could want and the Bruins will look to be aggressive this upcoming offseason with veteran David Krejci's $7.25 million contract coming off the books. Then again, the Bruins have to earmark some money for trade deadline and former Eichel teammate Taylor Hall. But, with Eichel being a Boston kid look for the Bruins to move heaven and earth to acquire him this offseason. I'm just not sure they have the assets that the Rangers have on offer.