Insider on Jack Eichel Trade: “Comfortable in Saying Jack Will be Traded”

As we keep our eyes on the Jack Eichel potential trade news out of Buffalo, another NHL insider has weighed in, and he notes it matter of where Eichel gets traded to, not so much that the player will or won’t be moved. Darren Dreger of TSN is confident enough to suggest he’s comfortable calling this trade a done deal.

Dreger was on WGR 550 in Buffalo today, and noted the following: “What we know is that the discussions on Jack Eichel have increased over the last week. To a point where I’m pretty comfortable in saying that Jack will be traded. What we don’t know is where.”

He adds:

There are a number of suitors, a number of teams that would love to have a healthy Jack Eichel–put an asterisk beside that because we don’t know yet what direction that part of the scenario is headed. But any team that needs a center, I think of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim to some degree. 

Related: 11 Teams Who Won’t Be Trading For Sabres’ Jack Eichel

The Jack Eichel era appears to be nearing an end. #Sabres pic.twitter.com/PLUMREFGKh

— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) June 16, 2021

Dreger suggests the team won’t just dump the player to move him and it’s probably at the point now where the teams that are in the conversation are finalizing their offers or having the Sabres tweak them enough for the team to be comfortable making the deal.

Dreger’s report follows a number of others this week that suggest an Eichel trade could be imminent. Pierre LeBrun noted that talks were getting more “intense and serious”, while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested this deal is probably going to happen. Both seem to think it will take place before the NHL draft.

The Eichel Injury Situation

According to a few sources, including Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post, Eichel wanted to have surgery to repair his neck injury. The Sabres do not support that decision and there are teams that would have liked to trade for Eichel who are also not keen on him going the “exploratory ” route. Some teams, like the Los Angeles Kings, have backed away because of this.

But, a number of teams are still in, despite the uncertainty of his neck. It’s a big risk as the center has five years and $50 million remaining on his current contract, with a no-trade clause in effect in 2022.  

Next: Blackhawks Interested in Pursuing Jones and/or Hamilton This Offseason