‘Eichel is under contract for six more years with an average annual value of $10 million and his no-movement clause does not begin until 2022-23. The two-year captain willed the Sabres to a 30-31-8 record with 78 points during the coronavirus-shortened season, earning him an eighth-place finish in voting for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL’s most valuable player.’
Archives for September 2020
Sabres’ GM for a Day: Plotting a course for 2020 offseason
‘Next up are unrestricted free agents, who will be free to sign elsewhere beginning Oct. 9 at noon: Johan Larsson, Zemgus Girgensons, Wayne Simmonds, Vladimir Sobotka, Jimmy Vesey, Michael Frolik and Matt Hunwick. While Simmonds checks a few boxes, his lack of foot speed doesn’t fit with how Krueger wants to play. We’re also saying goodbye to Vesey, Frolik and Hunwick, the latter of whom did not appear in a game last season because of a neck injury. Allowing these players to walk will give us flexibility to add salary elsewhere and we have some intriguing young forwards who will have an opportunity to win roster spots in training camp.’
Adams: ‘We’re not shopping’ Jack Eichel
‘”People call and make phone calls and ask about players every day, and my job is to listen and have conversations. It’s something that I want to make very clear that we have no intention, and we’re not shopping Jack or talking to teams looking to do anything with Jack. It’s just people calling to ask questions and you have conversations. That’s really the extent of it.”‘
Do we have to build a Jack Eichel fear bunker?
‘How many more bad seasons away are we from Eichel finally saying “I’m done.”?’
Jack Eichel trade rumors: Rangers among teams calling Sabres, Buffalo feeling no urgency, report says
‘”I hear that [trade talk] a lot,” Fish said. “Jack wants to win, he’s frustrated [not winning] but, no, he doesn’t want out. Jack is preparing to head to Buffalo at some point here and prepare for the season, whenever that may be. That’s all he controls.”‘
Jack Eichel trade rumors: ‘Calls taken’ for Sabres star; Rangers reportedly interested
‘McKenzie reports that Buffalo isn’t actively shopping Eichel, but that Eichel is “frustrated” with the lack of team success coming his way.’
Report: Rangers among teams to call Sabres about Jack Eichel’s availability
‘According to TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie, one Sabres player who has been asked about by other teams in trade chatter is captain Jack Eichel. McKenzie tweeted on Monday that the New York Rangers were among some teams believed to be interested in the 23-year-old center.’
Sabres’ drafts under Jason Botterill show glaring need for help at forward
‘Cozens, 19, plans to train in Buffalo until NHL camps open or he reports to Hockey Canada’s camp ahead of the IIHF World Junior Championship. He has the speed and awareness to contribute with the puck, but the question is whether he’s ready to shoulder the defensive responsibilities required of a center in the NHL.’
Sabres bolster depth at center by signing Curtis Lazar to two-year contract
‘Lazar’s most significant impact, though, was in the faceoff circle. He won a career-high 51.2% of his draws, a quality that earned him more playing time as the season progressed. Coach Ralph Krueger would routinely use Lazar at the start of the 3-on-3 overtime to gain possession.’
Sabres reward Curtis Lazar’s breakout season with two-year contract
‘Joining the Sabres as a free agent had refreshed Lazar, and he believed he could make an impact. But several days later, Lazar, who had played only one NHL game the previous season, would clear waivers and be assigned to the Rochester Americans to start the campaign.’