While Sabres center Jack Eichel continues to rehab his neck injury and wait for a decision on whether or not to have surgery, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported in a recent appearance on WGR 550 (audio link) that Eichel’s preference is to simply have the procedure, one that carries a six-week recovery time. That would give him plenty of time to rehab and be ready for training camp in the fall.
Where he goes for that camp is going to be one of the storylines to watch for this summer. Eichel has been in trade speculation for a while now but a trade in-season would have been tough to do for salary cap purposes. Dreger reports that the Kings are one of the teams that have been interested in the 24-year-old. They would be an interesting fit as they have young center prospects (including Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Gabriel Vilardi) that would need to be part of the deal plus the cap space to afford his $10MM price tag. Of course, should the Sabres make him available, there will be plenty of other suitors as well.
More from the East Division:
- The Bruins aren’t expected to try to turn John Beecher pro this summer, suggests Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). His sophomore campaign at Michigan came to an early end due to shoulder surgery and he was limited to just 16 games, recording four goals and four assists. Accordingly, it makes sense for Boston to want him to stay in college for another year although Divver indicated that if Beecher wants to turn pro, they will oblige that request.
- Still with Boston, the Bruins were happy to have Tuukka Rask back in the lineup on Thursday for their match-up against the New York Islanders. However, that appears to be the only addition from the infirmary that they’ll get, as Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), Brandon Carlo (upper body), and Kevan Miller (undisclosed) aren’t expected to return for the team’s next game on Sunday, according to The Boston Globe’s Matt Porter.
- Flyers goaltender Carter Hart was a late scratch from this afternoon’s contest against Washington with the team tweeting that he has a lower-body injury. Hart has been better this month after a disastrous March, posting a .910 SV% in five games before this setback. There’s no word yet on how long he’ll miss.
Kings won’t be trading byfield in any eichel deal, I can almost guarantee
And you know this how?
Because Byfield is a potential Malkin in a few years.
Hahahaha “potential Malkin”
Malkin is a special player, but I agree Byfield has a huge ceiling and I would not include him in a deal for Jack Eichel.
Were I comping Byfield, I’d say he’s more like a (potentially) better version of Keith Primeau.
I will be happy with a potential Kopitar.
Still for the life of men get y Sweeney re-signed Miller especially for a million they should’ve let him go and re-signed Chara but I’m sure their kicking them selves now
No I don’t think you understand, Chara did not want a 3rd pair job in Boston! It was his choice to leave.
He was told he’d be 3rd pair and plan was not to have him play back to back games.
SonChara decided to leave, which he had the right to do. He chose a 3rd pair job in Wash.
Miller has been Excellant when playing this year. If he can play most games in Playoffs that’s what we need right now.
Yes but can SonChara still go Super Saiyan at his age…. Inquiring minds would like to know. (Sorry I couldn’t help myself)
If a team offers up the right deal Eichel could be traded.
Ever since the coaching change to Don Granato the Sabres are playing very well & their record is just under .500 without Eichel (#1C) playing.
Maybe Eichel sees the growth of the younger players like Cozens, Dahlin, Joker, Middlestat, Thompson & the new guy Anders Bjork to want to stick around. The only real questions for the Sabres is the goaltending situation for next season (resign Ullmark or find another goalie) & what to do with Rhino & Risto long term.
I honestly think Buffalo trades Eichel before his no-movement clause kicks in at the end of next season. They don’t want to be caught in a situation where they don’t get full value for him because he controls where he goes. I also think that Buffalo really doesn’t want to trade Eichel to the Rangers or Bruins and those are the two teams that he would likely prefer to go to. If Buffalo moves him before the NMC kicks in, they control where he goes & that is to their benefit.
Unlike the Hall situation the Sabres will have some leverage due to the remaining term & Eichel has to show up to play. Eichel is only 24yo so his frustration could also be his youth talking also.
*Eichel needs to show up to play
Regarding Eichel, the closer we get to the end of David Krejci’s time in Boston, the more I think Eichel could end up a Bruin.
What would the Bruins offer to entice the Sabres to trade him there?
Issues with the Sabres trading Eichel to the Rangers or Bruins….
1- seeing him play against them multiple times a year
2- seeing Eichel in the Big Apple & not WNY
3- being in the same conference
Those reasons alone would require either team to play a bit of a premium (especially Boston)
I suspect that it is most unlikely that Eichel will be traded to a team playing in the same Division as the Sabres. It is only moderately more likely that he will be traded to a Conference rival.
If traded, he is most likely going out west for a package of four or five players/prospects/picks. Probably to L.A.
Will Byfield be part of the deal?
Eichel is overrated as he has not proven that he has leadership qualities and unproven top prospects like Byfield are overrated by their fan base … so, maybe …