K-9

That statement was very telling, imo. And while I wasn’t driven into a frenzy by it, I took it as a big, “F you, Buffalo” and after supporting him and the team thru all the losing seasons and last place finishes he was a part of, it was clear he was finished here and had to go. And the fact he was disingenuous about the “disconnect” made that even clearer.

Hmm.

Fair point to be sure. Where does Eichel show he’s back and prove to potential trade partners he’s worth the price? I just can’t see that being on this team given the current circumstances.

^This! Barkley in that chair would be must see TV.

If he had the ADR procedure today that gets him back on the ice January 21st given the estimated three month recovery. Even that’s a tight window at best right now for getting to the Olympics. But the window for the fusion procedure has passed and the Olympics are out of the question so I’m not clear on where the Sabres’ leverage is regarding that issue. But the Sabres aren’t under any pressure regardless, so no leverage is required anyway. The only factor I can see that forces the issue from their standpoint is if Pegula grows tired of paying Eichel to do nothing.

Again, good luck with that. But it’s an interesting angle none the less. I’d be interested as well in previous establishment of acceptance of experimental medical practices in the league. As far as specific established practices regarding treatment of cervical disc issues in players, the only two I can find reference to are Letang and Dorsett. Both had the fusion. Both came back to play. Dorsett had to retire because of recurring issues with his neck while Letang is still playing at an All Star level. Outcomes are never certain.

Eichel will have to show he’s back to 100% at some point before he can be traded for a return commensurate with his status as an elite player, but I can’t see that showing being with the Sabres. Do NHL players do rehab stints in the minors like baseball players? If so, and thinking Jack won’t be doing that in Rochester either, can he be loaned to another NHL team’s AHL affiliate for that stretch of games? If so, might an interested trade partner see that as preferable before pulling the trigger on a deal for Eichel?

I’d bet sliding Girgs to center ends up being the case.

Good luck with that as one of the major issues regarding cervical ADR performed on anyone, let alone athletes in contact sports, let alone hockey players, is the lack of data relative to outcomes, especially long term. It’s just too relatively new of a procedure to have established the necessary body of information required. Which is also one of the reasons many insurance companies won’t cover the procedure. The same “evidence backing their contention” has been available to them the entire time. So has the evidence suggesting that fusion is the better option. I doubt the majority medical opinion has shifted in the six months since Eichel’s injury.

Here’s what he said upon signing his $80m deal just prior to the ‘17/‘18 season: My how the times have changed.

I’m not convinced that Eichel didn’t want to be here at the time KA is rumored to have tried moving him in the Summer/Fall of 2020. He made some acquisitions that were widely viewed as good moves at the time. Moves designed to help Eichel. Although I’m sure Krueger had more say. Eichel was also only two years into his new deal that summer. Why would he agree to a long term deal with a team he didn’t want to play for? I’m also not convinced that Adams did anything more than field some calls about Eichel from interested teams. GMs do that all the time. But if Adams really did decide to move him before the 2020/2021 season, my question is why? What did he observe that convinced him the team needed to go in a another direction?

I don’t agree that the Sabres should have to share any responsibility. The only position the team should moderate is what they’re willing to accept in a deal and right now, there is no reason for them to do so. If the Sabres grow tired of paying him to do nothing, then perhaps that also moves their needle a bit as well.

He took a puck to the face. As he skated off, Rob said, “Yeah, he’s leaking.”

Right, because the first source that GMs look for to determine a player’s value is Paul Hamilton.

Maturing winners

That or

Can’t agree more here. The start of the season brings with it a shift in priorities for every team in the league.

It’s that lack of balance in his reporting that makes me so suspect. I don’t have an “agenda” as implied in a post above, but I do expect reporters to give credence to all sides of an issue when possible. And it’s certainly possible when it come to this particular neck injury. Friedman and Co. have been seemingly lacking in seeking and reporting what other sources in the medical community have to say on the subject. Instead, it’s been frequent reports implying how the Sabres are denying Eichel, holding him back, not good for the league, etc., when there is ample medical opinion out there to suggest not only are the Sabres NOT holding him back, but they are indeed doing what’s BEST for him medically.

So a player can refuse to be traded entirely then if he chooses. Might be a long five years for Eichel then.

Any idea if there is a maximum number of teams a player can list?

Yeah, Granato is a different breed. Best early example of this is after a particularly horrendous Cozens shift on Saturday, a shift that previous Sabres coaches would have pinned his ass to the bench for, Granato left him out there and double shifted him. Gave him an immediate chance to make a better play or two and erase the poor ones. Which Cozens promptly did. I think there is tremendous value in that.

Per the bold, regarding NMCs, is there a maximum amount of teams a player can list that he will/won’t agree to be traded to? Are those teams listed by the player at the time the clause is executed or is the list determined at a later time? I wonder if the teams the Sabres have been rumored to have discussion with are ok with Jack anyway and, if so, that would seem to eliminate that time constraint as well.

Friedman. Gotta love his schtick. Nothing new. Absolute regurgitation. Brisson needs to give him something else to shill.