Trettioåtta

That's a good point. Thankfully Eichel's status has been cemented due to his stellar play on a record breaking Sabres team

Not just that - but how would those answers have helped? What he wants back very much depends on which team they are dealing with - a young player, a good prospect and a first can mean wildly different things based on which team is giving them up. Also why would he answer Pegula-related questions? People are mad if they think KA will throw his boss under the bus. What is the hope? That he gets free wings at the bar whilst he watches the new manager lead the Sabres?

It isn't two wrongs make a right. It's if everyone is wrong then no-one would have made a different decision. Yakupov was rated as first overall by basically everyone in 2013 (or whenever it was). If Edmonton didn't draft first, Yakupov still (likely) goes first overall.

Reinhart is a good player, but not much more. If he is traded, it doesn't fundamentally shake the organisation. That is not true for Eichel. For Eichel, the question is 'are you all in?' The only way this team with Eichel works is if he basically decides he will potentially sacrifice his career and commit. The Sabres cannot afford for their captain, currently best player and most expensive cap piece to be one foot in. If Eichel does double down and it works out, he becomes the greatest Sabre of all time and is spoken about for generations around the league for what he overcame and on his back the cup was won. If he commits and it fails, he likely is traded in his thirties to become an important B-party vet to help a team get over the top and is remembered as a vital deadline or FA addition. If he moves on, his story will be determined by how that new team performs, and how the Sabres perform without him.

Review how hockey professionals saw the trade. The response was broadly Adams pulls a stunner and perfectly fills the 2C role. Adams was wrong - but he was certainly not alone in that boat.

I think people are overstating the NMC impact. Let’s say they actually gave him a 10 team NTC list - which is a pretty normal option. Well, that is sort of useless at the deadline. Because Hall simply looks at which teams are in the playoffs / bubble and selects the 10 teams most likely to select him. Leaving the Bruins, and teams without the cap space to make it work, or so in the bubble that they will not trade their first round pick. I actually don’t think many teams would need to be added to a list before it becomes Bruins or bust. I reckon a 5 team NTC would have still forced a Bruins trade for pretty much the same amount

Eh. Johansson only had 14 points in 34 games vs Staal’s 10 points in 32 games. Not to mention we got a third and a fifth for him and he went on to have 3 points in 21 games. Ultimately I think this was a good move that didn’t work out and basically no one thought Staal would drop off a cliff. Signing Hall was not a fail. He was the biggest name out there and we came out of left field and got him. Trading Hall for peanuts wasn’t great; but Hall had an NMC and so there wasn’t really another option. The real issue here is that Hall wanted to be paid as a first line team carrying player whilst actually wanting to be a second line passenger. The fact he basically have up on the team after signing for that amount is the failing on him. He had a duty to be professional and was negligent. Agreed on goaltending Agreed on RK Eichel situation doesn’t feel entirely Sabres fault. I actually think this team could be better off without him - if we get the right package back. Cozens and Dahlin is my hope for the team. I find it telling MCCabe watched ‘The Last Dance’ about MJ and said Eichel reminded him of MJ. Not sure I want that comparison in my captain. Agreed on standings

From an NHL executive on Eichel (via The Athletic): Tough spot for Buffalo. Your team is somewhat in disarray and your marquee player, who has had a short, substandard, injury-riddled year and NOW wants out?

I don't really see an issue with anything he has said. I think he actually liked the concept of this becoming his team. Broadly I think he came across as professional.

What would they do if he did just get it done? Void his contract?

At this point, if he is going to be traded I would rather it be done sooner. LAK are out of the playoffs, NYR are out of the playoffs, ANA are out of the playoffs. Once the lottery is decided, trade him. Or make a clear statement that unless a team makes an offer to really change their mind that management consider Jack a Sabre come October

Maybe their doctors think it would cure it? Or that it is unnecessary? Or May make future injuries more likely. Not necessarily a bad reason

‘Doing what’s best for Jack Eichel in the long term’

Sounds like the Sabres are blocking iy

Yeah

He speaks about the Sabres as a separate entity from him. There is the Sabres and there is Eichel

Yeah this feels fairly depressing. It doesn’t sound like there is will for him to stay

It’s frustrating him saying he didn’t play well enough and then got hurt and the team did perform well Enough so now he ‘needs to consider his future’ Maybe if him and Hall played to their standard / didn’t get injured, the team would have performed to a point that he wouldn’t need to consider his future

Risto basically said if we don’t make the playoffs next year he won’t re-sign. Which seems like a reasonable response to me

I look forward to our fans demanding players be traded for not saying they love playing losing hockey with Buffalo. No doubt many fans will have a measured response

The rumour was the Sabres wanted 4 firsts. Chytil (2017), Lundqvist (2018), Schneider (2020) and 2021 hit this - and Buchnevich hits a fifth one (as in you would trade a first for him) to top up for the fact a few of the firsts are weaker than one may like. Like it or not - I think this is probably the most realistic trade.

They key is to not negotiate during the season, thus giving you a shorter window to get it done

Did Drury bang your mum or something?

Who is our backup goalie now?

I miss him playing for the Sabres. First player I fell in love with. What he brought for the sabres was exemplary. I hope we honour his commitment and achievements