Sabres and Jack Eichel “Heading Toward a Resolution”

In a text sent to The Associated Press on Thursday, Peter Fish, the agent for Buffalo Sabres disgruntled center Jack Eichel noted: “We are communicating with the team and are heading toward a resolution.” Apparently, what that means is that the two sides have talked about his situation, laid out of their respective final opinions on Eichel’s situation and will have settled on a plan to move forward in the coming days.

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Jack Eichel and the Sabres are moving toward a solution regarding treatment for the center's injured neck, his agent told The Associated Press.

The sides have not agreed on treatment for a herniated disk that ended the captain's season in March.
https://t.co/LkBCtQCIgZ

— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) July 1, 2021

Sabres’ general manager Kevyn Adams spoke with the media as well and while he declined to elaborate on the text from the agent, he did acknowledge that he had a lengthy conversation with Fish a day earlier. Adams reiterated that the stance of the Buffalo Sabres is to have their extremely qualified medical team run point on Eichel’s injury and that they’ve denied Eichel’s request to have somewhat experimental cervical disk replacement surgery.

“Our stance hasn’t changed and where we’re at. It’s in the hands of the medical experts,” Adams said. “That’s what I said previously and it’s where we’re at right now. That’s the best I can give you.”

New Sabres’ head coach Don Granato said of the Eichel situation, “We don’t know what might happen, what will transpire. But we will be prepared to move in a direction,” he said. “Whatever the scenario is, we’ll be ready for it. We will adjust and acclimate without compromising the direction we want to go. So I’m confident and comfortable in that.”

Expect the “Resolution” to be a Trade

While there has been some differing opinion on how in-demand Eichel still is and varying reports as to how many teams are actively looking to trade for the player, expect the final decision to ultimately be that it’s time Eichel move on. Many reports suggest the team isn’t happy that things have gotten to this point and Eichel probably doesn’t envision a scenario where he can happily return to the organization.

All in all, the Sabres are likely to trade a number of players this offseason and really think about their long-term future under the Adams and Granato. If the club moves Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen might not be that far behind.

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