Bruins Have Interest In Jack Eichel, Do They Have Pieces to Make a Deal?

Elliotte Friedman recently noted on his 31 Thoughts podcast that as many as 10 teams will be in the running for the services of Jack Eichel if the star center gets his injury issues sorted and he and the Buffalo Sabres officially determine it’s time to make a change. Should Eichel be a trade asset that hits the market this offseason, teams like the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and others will be among the many that show interest.

Another team many believe will kick tires on Eichel is the Boston Bruins. As part of Friedman’s lengthy list, he noted: “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.”

Related: Scribe Argues New York Rangers Target Different Forward, Not Jack Eichel

When it comes to the Bruins, the interest makes sense. The team is heading towards some big decisions when it comes to their leadership group, as well as trying to find a happy medium between the age of some of their stars, but the progression of some younger talent. They’ve got some tremendous wingers in David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand, but as Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci get up there in age (both are 35), Eichel seems like a better fit as the team’s top-line center. He’s also a former Boston University star, so the connection seems rather obvious.

Meanwhile, Jack Eichel has to be watching as his buddy Taylor Hall rebounds in a grand fashion as part of the Bruins roster. Hall was a mess in Buffalo, but he’s scored eight goals and 14 points in 16 games. It’s become crystal clear that not all of Hall’s failures as a member of the Sabres should be blamed on Taylor Hall.

The Bruins will potentially have the money to make an Eichel deal work — if they don’t re-sign Krejci and Tuukka Rask, they’ll have $14.25 million coming off their books, along with the removal of David Backes’ $1.5 million retained salary. But, do they have the trade pieces?

What Would It Take to Land Eichel?

Speculation is that the Sabres would be asking for Charlie McAvoy or Pastrnak in exchange. That feels like a non-starter for the Bruins, especially if putting Eichel with Pastrnak, then re-signing Hall and putting him with Krejci on a short-term, team-friendly extension is the end goal. “I think you’re looking at McAvoy and (Trent) Frederic, probably minimum,” one NHL source said earlier this year. “Minimum.”

That’s a big ask if the Bruins don’t bite, the reality is, they might not have the assets to make a deal work.

Not to mention, it seems unlikely that Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams trades two players in the back-to-back deals to the Bruins. Adams was basically forced to trade Hall to Boston and the deal has looked terrible for the Sabres organization thus far. Making the same mistake again and with the same team is not something Adams will want on his resume.

As such, Boston will have to offer more than other teams.

And no, Jake DeBrusk, a first round pick, and a prospect for Eichel with the Sabres eating some of Eichel’s contract is not going to happen.

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