For both the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel, if the ultimate end goal is to see a trade take place this offseason that will give Eichel a fresh start, let him take care of his injury the way he wants and give the Sabres pieces to move forward in a new direction, both sides got some not-so great news recently.
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According to Sportsnet analyst and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, it’s not about bringing back Eichel. No, the team has decided, they want to trade their captain and start fresh. He added, “I really think at the end of the day, want to move on. They don’t want him back, they want to move on.” The problem for Buffalo is that other teams are figuring out their dilemma and know they don’t have to pay top dollar for a player who doesn’t want to be there and to a team that doesn’t want the player. Why buy high when it’s clear he’s going to get moved?
Also, some teams are just no longer interested.
Eichel’s trade value around the NHL is dropping as teams pull out of the race, some for different reasons than others. The Los Angeles Kings were one of the teams rumored to be in the mix, but a Friedman referred to a report from LA Kings insider John Hoven who reports that indeed the Kings have decided not to make Eichel a priority.
Friedman notes: “If John Hoven writes that the Kings are out on Sabres captain Jack Eichel, then there’s a greater than 0% chance that that’s exactly what’s happening. If he’s writing that, someone is very legitimately telling him that.”
The Sabres Have to Create a New Market
Friedman says that Sabres’ GM Kevyn Adams is feeling pressure to move the player, but it’s probably not a good decision to sell low. He’s trying to back things up a bit and not cave to the masses.
Part of the reason the organization might have to do so is because some of the interested teams are concerned about Eichel’s recovery in the same way the Sabres are. Buffalo’s medical staff doesn’t agree with how Eichel wants to fix his neck injury and other teams are leery too.
Friedman notes: “What teams are saying is, ‘Yes, you’ve got other teams [interested], but he’s got an injury. We don’t know about the [recovery] process.’ … They also say, ‘You guys aren’t dealing from a position of strength’ in negotiations.” That means the Sabres need to create a new narrative.
Friedman explains that the Sabres have to make it public they’ve, “got [many] teams interested in Eichel, and we’re going to play you all against each other to try and drive up the [trade] value.” From there, they need to lessen concern about the injury.
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