‘The Sabres preferred treatment was anterior cervical discectomy which usually involves removing the impacted disk and fusion (ACDF) by placing a bone graft where the disc was. This was the surgical procedure done on former NFL QB Peyton Manning in 2011 — before he won a Super Bowl with the Broncos — and on former Mets captain David Wright. The surgery Eichel wanted, artificial disk replacement does not involve fusion and instead an artificial disk is placed between the to cervical vertebrae. While ACDF is more common and, according to spine-health.com, the “gold standard,” it notes that studies do show artificial disk replacement surgery provides more mobility. However, it hasn’t been done on an NHL player before.’