Wild ahead in Jack Eichel sweepstakes with trade discussions underway

Imminent trade shortly?

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Wild ahead in Jack Eichel sweepstakes with trade discussions underway
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Forward Jack Eichel has been trending in trade rumours ever since the Buffalo Sabres were out of contention, and talks heated up when the captain admitted that he would mull over his future with the organization this summer. He was especially upset with the Sabres’ demands not to undergo surgery on the herniated disc in his neck. Eichel played his last game of the campaign for the league-worst Sabres on March 7 before being ruled out for the remainder due to his neck injury. Eichel went on to say that there’s a “disconnect” between him and the Sabres organization regarding a neck injury that he suffered and that his focus is on getting healthy for next season “wherever that may be.”

Ever since, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has held talks with teams inquiring on Eichel’s availability with a recent report from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun stating that the Sabres will be expecting to demand a 2021 first-round pick as part of their return for Eichel, putting the timeline for a deal ahead of the July 23 NHL Draft. More insiders and reporters jumped in, with Jimmy Murphy adding that Adams is seeking a king’s ransom for Eichel as a league executive told Murphy that the Sabres could demand up to six components; a top-six center 25-year-old or younger, a top-four defenseman 25-or-young, a first-round pick and various prospects.

This is an expensive price tag for Eichel, who’s under contract through 2025-26 with a $10-million cap hit and played his last game of the campaign for the league-worst Sabres on March 7 before being ruled out for the remainder due to his neck injury.

It however did not deter the Minnesota Wild from holding talks with the Sabres about Eichel as team insider Micheal Russo for The Athletic has revealed that the Wild has had initial trade discussions with the Sabres about the star forward. 

Minnesota is seeking an impact player down the middle of the ice and could look to make Eichel that specific forward. The team enters the offseason with $22-million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, with Joel Eriksson Ek needing a new contract, Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala being restricted free agents as well. 

Last week, Kevin Weekes reported that Kaprizov could consider a return in the Kontinental Hockey League as CSKA is interested in signing him for KHL and the Olympics. This was said amongst chatter that talks have gone cold between Kaprizov and the Wild for a long-term contract extension. 
Kaprizov, who was voted a finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year this season, led rookies in goals (27), points (51), power-play goals (eight) and shots on goal (157) in 55 games. He was second in even-strength points (38) and power-play points (13) and was tied for third in plus/minus rating (plus-10). A few days later, Russo stated on the air of KFAN 1003 that there is a 50% chance that Fiala leaves the club this summer, he who is looking to earn more than the previous $3 million he earned annually over the past two season. And he has the right to a pay raise with a production of 94 points in 114 games over the past two years. 

Eichel could be an enticing argument to keep these young players around to make a run. 

Earlier this month, LeBrun reported that six teams make sense to acquire Eichel now that talks are getting more serious and intense, and listed the Wild, along with the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers among the many clubs that could make sense as a landing spot. From what we know, no other team has held initial talks like the Wild has with the Sabres. 

Maybe Minny is now in the lead.