It appeared as though there was some momentum toward a Jack Eichel trade a week ago, but things have gone quiet once again on one of the biggest stories in the NHL. With the season underway there is no lack of headlines and narratives to take the attention of hockey fans across the league, but every one of them is still keeping one eye on the Buffalo Sabres and their malcontent star. Today, Emily Kaplan on ESPN’s The Point explained the current situation with regards to Eichel:
Where we stand now is there are five teams still in on Jack Eichel, and those are teams who believe they can fit his they can fit his $10MM salary into their cap situation. Maybe that means moving some contracts or whatever. All of those teams though have agreed Jack Eichel will get the disk replacement surgery that he wants.
If there is a trade in the near future, Eichel still faces a major neck surgery that will keep him out of the NHL for several months. That makes it extremely difficult for any contender to acquire the Sabres former captain, though easier to swallow if it’s soon enough that he could potentially return for the end of the season. The one thing to consider when it comes to cap situations is that Eichel’s contract will be able to be moved to long-term injured reserve, though if he’s back before the playoffs the team would need to have the applicable room to activate him.
There’s also the factor of Buffalo’s cap, which will need money coming back the other way to stay above the lower limit. Sending money the other way seems likely for any team acquiring a long-term $10MM cap hit, though it still makes things more complicated.
Interestingly in these cases, a quiet period often shows up as the talks get more serious and the teams involved don’t want any leaking information to spoil the negotiation. It’s not clear if that’s the case with Eichel, but with five teams still interested and willing to greenlight his preferred surgery, it seems like a resolution of some sort is still possible in the near future.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
The most interesting thing was that the five teams are all on board with Jack’s choice of A.D.R. (allegedly). So much for the stinkfest of no team agreeing with that.
If true. If so, fair enough.
But this wouldn’t be the first time a team tells an uncritical or complicit journalist “oh yeah, we’ve got 5 teams beating down our door, make sure you print that.”
But, my question is…why doesn’t a guy who has wasted so much money already just waste a little more?
What would Eichel be worth if Pegula agreed to eat half of his salary and he was now $5 million AAV for 5 years? 5 million per season for 5 years in legal cap circumvention alone is worth a few firsts.
I think they could get multiple firsts, a few more seconds and/or thirds and a few real prospects at $5 million AAV, especially since it mitigates some of the injury risk for the acquiring team.
@forwhomjoshbelltolled – The “five teams are interested” could also have originated from Pat Brisson, not unlike what Allan Walsh has done to stir the pot. Either way, it appears to be out there, as “fact”, until proven otherwise. You and I are just two of the many who believe this could have been settled by Pegula eating 50%, just to make this all go away. Why they don’t seem keen on that idea is anybody’s guess.
@Mac – Am I foolish to hold out hope that all of Poile’s inactivity this off-season might be because he’s in on Eichel? (Yes, it is foolish, but what the heck). :D
@Gbear – No, I don’t think so, but you have to admit, you may be the first to suggest the possibility. Everybody else is target-fixated on ANA or NYR, but maybe GMDP has a sneaky move up his sleeve. Definitely an interesting thought. If he does pull it off, he’ll go Moe Howard and smack us all upside the head with a “See! I told you I knew what I was doing!”
@Mac – This would be one time I’d gladly be wrong. :)
So, you’re saying three or more first round picks, 2 or more second/third round picks, and at least two top prospects for a guy currently injured and about to have a surgery that no nhl player has had ever, and with no guarantee Eichel ever is the player he was let alone continues to grow and get better, which is what teams would be banking on given his age. That’s insane. NO Nhl team is giving up at least 3 first round picks, at least 2 second/third round picks, and two top prospects for Eichel, even if he was completely healthy. And that doesn’t even take into account that majority of teams interested are contenders, and most if not all of the top teams in league couldn’t even afford Eichel at 5 million without salary going back. And the teams not contending that would be interested aren’t giving up multiple first round picks/second round picks and their top prospects on top of that. McDavid isn’t even worth all that.
No way to know how true it is, but most reports over these past few months have said there were multiple teams interested in taking on his full contract and allowing him the surgery he prefers. If this is true, it once again highlights how comically bad the Sabres front office is, and why they’re the worst team in the league and have been for years.
What does Adams think he’s holding out for? What does he think is going to happen the longer he holds onto Eichel? I don’t understand what the Sabres think they’re doing or why they think it’s working out for them. Just trade him already. It does not benefit then one bit, and in fact actively hurts them, to continue to hold onto him. The Sabres are truly terrible.
many teams may be okay with the ADR, but how much in assets are they willing to stake on that?
@DarkSide830 – “many teams may be okay with the ADR, but how much in assets are they willing to stake on that?” – Therein, lies the rub. One would think the potential buyers are in control and should dictate that to BUF, not the other way around, right?
@MacJablonski,
Watch for a 3 team trade involving “permanent” LTIR as tighter cap teams can wedge a few million away from both salary caps,ie Chicago with Shaw.
You know my cap guy is all over it like the cheap cologne he wears lol.
I think it’s Anaheim-no Drysdale or Zegras.
Also FYI if it’s a beat team,Jack sits the year.
Watch Boston if that is the case as PB is in a contract year,with Boston dumping a bad expiring contract(s) to keep Buffalo at the cap floor.
Watch for ZG to be in the deal as well.
Love my cap guy but that cologne.
@Dave – He’s not going with that 100-proof stuff again, is he? That might leave a rash. :) Much as I kind of hate the old “money-laundering” move, it has come to be a necessity in this wonderful flat-cap world, hasn’t it? Good point that if he is dealt to a dog, not only will be “encouraged” to sit out, but he’ll miss out on the Beijing circus that so many guys have their hearts set on.
I kinda liked Friedman’s take on 32 thoughts eastern preview. Basically said Jack might just consider getting the surgery regardless of What buffalo wants and deal with the suspension/fine/contract after. The thing we’re all missing here is the guys in serious pain and discomfort every day because of this, regardless if he is making a ton of money or not no one deserves that
@bigdaddyt – One of us here is not missing that point of him being in pain. But, I agree, wholeheartedly, that he should get the surgery and deal with the aftermath later.
Trade him already.
And when he’s traded, all the “Just trade him already” people will be mad Adams didn’t hold out for more! Typical arm chair gms at their finest. It’ll get done when Adams seems fair value! Plain and Simple.
You’d have to be a Buffalo fan to say that though and not many of them left
Loving all these arm chair GMs in this comment section (& also all those talking heads).
Because of the failure of the previous big 3 Buffalo has had 5 straight top 10 draft picks to now build around with many more other drafted prospects to also add in the mix. Granato seems have to these younger players buying into what he wants to do. The Sabres also have UPL, Portillo (Powers college teammate) & Levi in the goalie pipeline.
In regards to Eichel I have said it in the past. Eichel could have signed for 3 to 4 years instead of 8 years & if did he that he would not be in this situation now.
And you’re not doing your own armchair GM’ing here?