Buffalo Sabres

Eichel to Miss Start of 2021-22 NHL Season

Reports are that Jack Eichel miss the start of the NHL season regardless of where he ends up by the time the offseason closes.

by
Colton Pankiw
August 22, 2021

Despite it being clear that both parties want a change, it is now past the midway point of August and Jack Eichel remains a Buffalo Sabre. This situation is getting downright ugly, as it has been clear since the 2020-21 season ended that Eichel wanted out of Buffalo, but management has been unable to work a deal out.

For those who are unaware, Eichel is unhappy with the organization for not letting him get a procedure done on his neck, as they deem it too risky. Instead, they want the 24-year-old to undergo a different surgery, one that could keep him on the shelf for up to six months. If they were to let their captain get what he wants done however, the recovery time is roughly six weeks.

A pause in the summer break for a Jack Eichel update. Still no surgery means, by all accounts, he won't be ready for the start of camp or the season. More here in a quick piece: https://t.co/G9IqhWpBe6
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) August 22, 2021

This is getting very ugly at this point, as the Sabres don’t appear to be changing their mind and letting Eichel decide what is best for himself, which has led to the standstill we find ourselves in right now. As David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period mentioned in an article on Sunday, the superstar centerman will not be able to start the 2021-22 season as he cannot play until he gets a surgery done.

Even if he were to have had the surgery by now, it is unlikely Eichel would have attended the Sabres camp and began the season with them. He appears more than fed up with the organization, and the only solution left to this problem is a trade. How soon that trade takes place however remains to be seen, as it has been reported that other teams believe the Sabres asking price is far too high.

This is an unfortunate situation in many different ways. One, Eichel is already at his young age one of the better players in the game, having scored 139 goals and 355 points in 375 games. It is also an unfortunate situation for the league as he is a player that is worth the price of admission, and ones that many fans either attend games or tune in on television to watch him play. This situation is getting uglier by the day and hopefully for everyone’s sake it can get resolved soon.

Next: Flames Re-Sign Two RFA Blueliners