COSabreFan

I’m sure the union won’t let Jack assume the risk from the surgery also, even if wanted to. So this seems it is now more about insurance policies vs union CBA.

If he can’t overrule this, it might help to publicly say so. Something like, “I understand Jacks position, but I don’t have the authority to make it happen. It’s out of my hands.”

If both sides stand firm, I can’t see a current scenario where the value of Jack improves with time. It’s like the Sabres are playing the long game on a depreciating asset. Sometimes you have to sell at a loss while it’s still a loss not a zero.

It is coming from Jacks doctor, so one could certainly question its validity. None the less its stated in this article. https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/is-surgery-the-right-move-for-jack-eichel

The problem from Sabres POV is the asset they are going to sit on is a depreciating one, only chance to stop the depreciation is to get him healthy one way or the other. I understand the NHL doesn’t want one of their star players to go rogue, but there is no way they want one of their star players rotting on the vine for 1-2 years in his prime either. Wonder if and when the NHL and NHLPA get involved beyond the basic CBA. Also read here and other place that the replacement is experimental, my understanding it is not. It’s a really common surgery, even been done on college hockey players, just never on a NHL player.

They won’t terminate his contract if he just goes had has his surgery, he then is no longer an asset to them. Jack has already made over 50 million, if he has been smart with his money he could let Sabres suspend him without pay. Even if it was for a year my guess Jack would be just fine financially and the Sabres as a franchise would be tanked for years. No player would ever sign here unless the had to, and none of our good players would ever sign a contract extension here. It would be irresponsible to the franchise in the long term, and that’s what KA job is right? If I were Jack I would just go have surgery and put it back on Sabres, and hope to be ready for the Olympics. If I was KA I would have either let him have it right away or held the line till trading deadline. If all I got was bag of pucks offers I would let him have his surgery and work tirelessly to restore as much of his value as possible to trade him. That’s what’s best for the Sabres in short and long term.

Jack would love for Sabres to void his contract, Sabres won’t do it getting nothing for him. In fact I think this is one way this ends, Jack just has his surgery anyway and dares Sabres to do something. Sabres may have short term leverage, and have the NHL CBA on their side. Yet, it only gets worse for them in terms of trade return and lasting damage to team as a franchise long term. If they had just let him have his surgery in April it would have either worked and he is back or traded. If it didn’t work he would just now be having the fusion surgery the Sabres wanted and on his way back and tradable. He is literally nothing to the Sabres now and for foreseeable future, that is horrible for the Sabres as a team now and in the future. But yeah, at least he showed them right? Held the line! Classic case of wanting to be right, instead of getting it right.

Not interested in seeing how good or bad KA or Jack has handled this up till now. Bigger question is how will this end, it needs to end. 1). Fails physical today and put on LTIR. Jack sits at home and gets paid till next summer where his no trade kicks in. 2). KA allows Jack surgery, probably with Jack giving Sabres something in return. Jack heals fine, returns to Sabres, plays in Olympics then gets traded by deadline in Spring. If that happens they could have done that in March and avoided this mess. 3). KA plays hardball and forces Sabres surgery, terminates contract if he doesn’t. Then he gets nothing for him at all. 4). Jack just has surgery, Sabres terminate contract or sue him? Not sure if KA has as much leverage as he thinks. Plus I’m sure Terry is calling these shots, which makes it much worse. My opinion is he should allow Jack his surgery, hedge/insure best you can, get what you can. Not seeing any other option that is good for Sabres organization in long term.

Ultimately I don’t think Terry is interested in paying Jack 10 million to sit on LTIR. If Sabres go completely nuclear and void his contract for not getting their surgery, they will lose big time in long run. No players will ever want to come here whether signed in FA or drafted as long as TP still owned the team. I feel the quickest/best way to move forward and rebuild again something sustainable is to let him have his surgery, get what you can and turn the page. It sucks, but I think they should be more interested in getting it right then being right.

And one the Sabres will likely ultimately have to give in some on. It’s just silly now. Allow him to have surgery ASAP, then trade him for the best you can when healthy. Jack to me has all the leverage, Sabres have more to lose.

My questions: Wondering how much value that asset still has currently and going forward? Is his value more likely to decrease or increase with time given current situation? Whats the value to the organization to not have to deal with this anymore and be able to just move on?

The Tank Tandem

Don't think they care other than the money they are and will lose.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Of course we did for next season. What we didn’t think was that under his ownership we would have 4 GMs, 7 coaches, a .324 winning percentage and a single handed dismantling of one of the great hockey cities in the United States. Sell the team.

This organization from top to bottom are horrible, Incompetent, uninteresting, unimaginable, joyless and soul sucking bad. There is no way that there is even the littlest of thing that brings even the smallest bit of enjoyment to my life. I wish I could get the all the emotions, time and money I invested in them the past 10 years back. Sports should be fun. This organization make me not only hate them, by myself for caring so much, for so long.

Same

If your getting back basically a 2nd round pick and a goalie who likely won’t ever play for you then don’t trade him. Let him play next season and trade him at deadline for whatever. At least we get to see him play for another 6 months, and maybe even slightly increase value from crap you got now to not as bad crap you may get later.

Is there a HOF of awful takes for this board. These last 2 posts of yours are 1st ballot for sure.

Do many Captains, face of franchise players have the coach he supposedly loved playing for fired, a 17 game winless streak, and 1 leading player and soon to be others traded while they are on IR? im not saying he needs to be in locker room everyday, speak to media everyday. I think wherever he is, to get on a Zoom call at least one time to address anything is not to much to ask a Captain/face of franchise player.

How about he get on a zoom call just once, address the coaching change, make support the boys still here, address his progress, etc. The face of the franchise who is invested in this team, his teammates and the organization would do that. Considering how much has happened since he went away, the fact he has said absolutely nothing says a lot about where his mind is. IMHO.

Fair.

Hey Kevyn, you said this is totally unacceptable, yet this is the definition of acceptance.

Why not just say publicly that Ralph is coach for rest of season? Where is Terry and Kim? They have anything to say? Hey Kevin you said that this is unacceptable, this is exactly what acceptance looks like!

Have no idea at this point. Losing out? New owner?