Report: A new suitor enters Eichel trade negotiations

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HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Report: A new suitor enters Eichel trade negotiations
TSN

We're literally just days from the opening of the Buffalo Sabres' 2021-22 training camp and there still hasn't been a resolution to the offseason soap opera concerning Sabres captain Jack Eichel. Eichel, of course, requested a trade from the team after a disagreement over an experimental neck surgery that Eichel and his camp feel is necessary. The Sabres maintain that a more conventional fusion surgery is preferred over the disc replacement surgery that Eichel is pushing for and this disagreement has ultimately led the two sides to seek an arrangement elsewhere. But... it appears the Sabres are having difficulty pulling the trigger on a deal.

While the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks have all emerged in trade rumours, it doesn't sound like anyone has come close to meeting the Sabres' asking price. Now, Steve Carp of Vegas Hockey Now reports that the Vegas Golden Knights are in the mix and would be wise to put together an offer for Eichel.

From Carp:

Word is there is a re-engagement between the Buffalo Sabres and teams that still have an interest in acquiring center Jack Eichel via the NHL trade market, and the Vegas Golden Knights have everything to gain.
Jack Eichel gives Vegas the top center it has lacked from Day One. Yes, William Karlsson had a career year in the inaugural season but Karlsson has not come close to duplicating his 2018 numbers which saw him score a career-high 43 goals. In the last three years, his goal output has been 24, 15 and 14, the last two outputs coming in shortened seasons. Let’s also remember that Karlsson started his first year with the Knights as the fourth line center and eventually worked his way up to the top line with Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault when the team was going through an early-season losing streak and then-coach Gerard Gallant felt he needed to shake things up.
Eichel’s AAV is $10 million. So you’re going to have to move some pieces to clear the cap space to accommodate him. Would the Sabres take Smith, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, or Marchessault, who has three years of term left, each of who makes $5 million? Would they be willing to take Alex Tuch, who is from the Syracuse area and rooted for the Sabres as a kid? Tuch makes $4.75 million, but he’s out on LTIR following shoulder surgery, and he wouldn’t be available until mid-season. 
They would likely want Peyton Krebs or a couple of other prospects. And they would probably insist on Vegas first- or second-round picks in 2022, 2023, or 2024.
Buffalo is probably more interested in prospects and picks. Creating $10 million in cap space is every GM’s Christmas come true. So the Sabres may not be interested in players making $4 million to $5 million when they’re in rebuild mode. The caveat would be taking, say, Smith, then moving him at the trade deadline in February to a team that needs a veteran proven scorer.
The key would be making the money work. So that means two players from the current NHL roster would have to be moved. It may also require getting a third team or possibly even a fourth involved.

Thoughts, Sabres fans?


Source: Steve Carp