The Rangers and Golden Knights are among the teams that are still interested in Sabres center Jack Eichel, notes Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Brooks suggests that Buffalo retaining salary might be enough to get New York to part with a top young asset like Kaapo Kakko in a deal although with five years left on that contract, retaining would be a sizable cost for Buffalo which may not be something they want to do. Meanwhile, Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon mentioned earlier in the week that he expected that the team they have now is what they’ll go into training camp with but as we’ve seen in the past, they’re willing to make big moves and move players around to make the salary cap fit work.
More from the Atlantic Division:
- Still regarding Eichel, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News posits that the statement his agents released on Friday isn’t going to help the trade process along as GM Kevyn Adams won’t want to acquiesce now and create any appearances that the statement forced his hand. While the clock is ticking for him to have the artificial disk replacement surgery that he’s seeking and be ready for training camp, Sabres doctors won’t sign off on that and are pushing for standard fusion surgery which carries a longer recovery time. We’ll find out soon enough if there’s a team that’s willing to meet Buffalo’s price tag or if this process will drag out longer.
- Bruins winger Nick Foligno told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription link) that he has fully recovered from the back injury that limited him to just four of Toronto’s seven playoff games and that he’ll be ready for training camp in September. Boston signed the 33-year-old winger to a two-year, $7.8MM deal on the opening day of free agency and informed Foligno that they may use him on his off-wing with Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall serving as the top two left wingers on the depth chart.
- The Red Wings will use veteran Luke Witkowski on both the wing and on defense with AHL Grand Rapids, GM Steve Yzerman told reporters (video link). The veteran, who primarily plays on the back end, has played both positions over the last few seasons and had a sparing role with AHL Syracuse in 2020-21 but should be called upon to play more regularly next season.
Not sure how a player could play again after a disc fusion surgery. No wonder Eichel wants the the disc replacement option.
@Gbear – Check out the latest “31 Thoughts.” The boys talk with a surgeon about disc fusion vs disc replacement and what it would mean for Eichel’s long-term health. Well worth the listen and sheds a lot more light on this mess. If you already have heard it, maybe this can be passed along to another PHR member, kind of like “re-gifting”, just better tasting than the 400-year-old “cake” that keeps getting passed around…
:)
It’s a good listen. The Doctor is 100%
@Mac – Just got off my shift at the salt mines, so I’ll give it a listen! :D
Sounds like Jack is in the right here.
Terry and Kim Pegula are the ones pushing the button to this $h*t show. Kim is a real hard ass With employees in the front office
When LA Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom died in 1979, the franchise was passed to his horrific widow, Georgia Frontiere. She ran the franchise into the ground and then moved the team. Given Terry’s age, prepare yourself, Buffalo, for a real nightmare when the Korean takes over.
@Paolo1900 – Maybe she’ll end up at the bottom of an enormous lake-effect snow squall “accident.” Like they sometimes say in Alaska when these type of things happen, ” she’s gone missin’ “
Wow , just listened to “31 thoughts” podcast
About eichel surgery choices. “Amazin”, and i use that word with this thought. Are the buffalo sabres doctors and front office related to the ny mets doctors and front office of past years! They were abysmal. How can they not let this kid get the disc replacement surgery rather the fusion surgery? Its about a young kid here not your friggin hockey team!!! Wake the f up, and let this kid have a chance at a career and life after that. This poor kid is stuck in buffalo hell!! Sorry Jack, hope you get what you really need and deserve.
There is a spinal surgeon who put out a video on YouTube that stated disk fusion is the preferred way to treat this type of issue with athletes who are in contact professional sports. Artificial disk replacement according to him the artificial disk can move or shift outward just like his original disk did with physical contact. It is the same setup to what he had naturally. Neck fusion adds a plate & screws to keep the replacement disk in place (P. Manning).
link to youtu.be
@fljay73 – If you haven’t already heard Dr. Prusmack’s in-depth explanation and why he thinks disc replacement is the way to go with Eichel, you should give a listen to the podcast.
I am not a spinal surgeon, but it stands to reason that pro sports teams invest a lot in their players and if all of them to this point in time have chosen one surgery but not the other, it’s likely they have a reason.
If it’s clearly better, it seems like at least one team in at least one sport would agree.
Then again, innovations will always be doubted until they are not.
Not something I’d bet $50 million on, though.
Just like the expert in the YouTube video link I provided Eichel’s own neck area suffered a herniation & the artificial disk replacement is just replacing the original with metal/plastic in the exact same setup. Basically meaning another hit that caused the first disk herniation can happen with the artificial disk & you do not know if the artificial disk would hurt his spinal cord etc.
If I’m Eichel I do what’s best for my future as a human being and not as a “owned” player. It may hurt his career but I’d rather be able to live the 40-50 years post-hockey more comfortably than let some billionaires bully me around and say I can’t have the proper fix. No dice Buffalo time to quit being such a dumpster fire of an organization. If I’m Power I pull a Lindros and refuse to play until they stop treating their players as investments and inventory.
This is not knee or shoulder surgery. Eichel’s “original setup” received a hit & got herniated. The artificial disk replacement is just replacing everything the exact same way. Any type of a similar hit & you are in uncharted territory. Do you want to be that team that has a player on the ice paralyzed because of this surgery after a hit? If he wasn’t planning on playing again then I can agree with his desire for the artificial disk replacement surgery. He signed a big money contract & the team will go along with the advice of their team doctors. The CBA gives them that right & I would not want to be that team with that paralyzed player situation on the ice.
I don’t know about you, but I am not a doctor. If Eichel went to a specialist and this is what the specialist is recommending perhaps the specialist is correct. As was mentioned before this isn’t standard protocol but nothing is until it is, if that makes sense. I don’t think this is Jack and his buddy’s idea and they’re going to do it in his garage on the weekend after a few pops, so if a trained medical doctor in that area says this is the best solution I take him over Buffalo’s doctors. I’ll say if Buffalo is that concerned get an amendment to Jack’s contract saying I’d this surgery in any way keeps him from playing or something terrible happening as you mentioned that they are legally free of any responsibility and free from the contract. I personally think that’s cold but telling a person they can’t have surgery to repair a part of their body that a specialist is pronouncing the best solution is unethical.
OK, but what if 99% of doctors think he should do X but this one specialist thinks he should do Y?
There is no way to void the contract, that’s the problem. If the Sabres say yes and his career ends or if he’s terrible when he does play, they still owe him $50 million.
The PA would never allow it to be turned into an NFL style deal.
Ok but is this a 99/1% issue or does look closer to 50/50%? Regardless, whatever is actually better for him long term, hockey aside, is what should be done not what is best for a hundred million dollar sports team who won’t have to deal with a nagging health issue after they buy him out at the end of his career. Not worth it.
Listen to the podcast. It will change everyone’s thinking on what surgery is preferred and better.
My god, its a 24 yo kid, let him decide what he wants!!!
Just like Bo Jackson & his replacement artificial hip with football. It did not work out. They are just replacing everything with artificial with the exact same setup of the original that got herniated. Another hit similar to what caused his first herniation will happen again with unknown results.
The CBA gives the Sabres the final say in treatments & surgeries because they are on the hook for the whole contract.
Why would you redo something the exact same way that failed the first time?
Once again, did listen to the podcast, i dont think so. It wasnt done before ON EICHEL!!
This is not a surgery being performed with a warm spoon!! As far as the cba , im sure buffalo
Is insured. How about this. If JE elects this replacement surgery his contract gets voided,
Buffalo can resign him after or he becomes a free agent. What ever team signs him buffalongets compensated from that team, that is agreed upon by both the league and union. Last time!!! Listen to the podcast and the surgeon!!
Forget Buffalo…is any other team in the NHL willing to let Eichel get this surgery?
Agreed. Would he be so committed to this surgery if he was dealt to TBL or just take their suggestion?
Seems to have some other issues regarding it no? Does JE also believe the world is flat?
Or put another way, would any other team not allow him to have this surgery?
All we have is speculation either way, so it really doesn’t resolve anything.