NHL Atlantic

Jack Eichel is on the move to the Vegas Golden Knights, but he won't see the ice for several months because of surgery on his herniated disk.

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, Eichel is expected to have disk replacement surgery "very soon," with the hope being that he can return to the ice in four months.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported early Thursday morning that the Buffalo Sabres were trading Eichel to the Golden Knights.

According to Dreger, the full deal, pending the trade call with the NHL, is Eichel and a 2023 third-round draft pick to Vegas for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 third-rounder.

Eichel and the Sabres have been at odds for several months about the type of surgical procedure he should undergo.

Dr. Chad J. Prusmack, Eichel's personal doctor, told Sportsnet's 31 Thoughts podcast in July that artificial disk replacement surgery was best way to proceed for the forward's short- and long-term health.

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News noted that type of procedure has never been done on an NHL player and that the Sabres were pushing for the more common anterior cervical discectomy with fusion surgery.

Friedman reported in October that Eichel was considering filing a grievance through the NHL Players' Association in an attempt to force a resolution to the situation.

Eichel’s agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli, issued a statement over the summer announcing that Eichel had formally requested a trade out of Buffalo.

"As previously stated, we fully anticipated a trade by the start of the NHL free-agency period,” the statement read. "After the agreed-upon and prescribed period for conservative rehabilitation lapsed in early June 2021, it was determined by the Sabres medical staff that a surgical process was required."

Around the same time, Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams told reporters the team didn't "feel any pressure" to make a trade just for the sake of it.

Eichel has spent his entire career with the Sabres since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2015. The 25-year-old still has five years, including the 2021-22 season, remaining on his eight-year, $80 million contract.

Because of the herniated disk, Eichel only played in 21 games last season. He has 355 points in 375 NHL games over six seasons.

A four-month recovery period would put Eichel on track to return in March. The regular season is scheduled to conclude April 29.   

The Buffalo Sabres officially completed a blockbuster trade Thursday to send star center Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights for a package headlined by winger Alex Tuch, prospect Peyton Krebs and a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft.

TSN's Darren Dreger initially reported details of the deal:

Eichel will undergo his preferred artificial disk replacement surgery in the near future and his new team is "hopeful" he'll be back on the ice in four months, per Dreger.

Tuch is also on injured reserve after offseason shoulder surgery.

Eichel became the face of the franchise when the Sabres selected him with the second overall pick of the 2015 NHL draft.

His arrival marked the expected end of Buffalo's race to the bottom of the standings, a two-year journey to win the "McEichel sweepstakes"—the nickname given to the not-so-secret widespread tanking in an effort to land either Eichel or Connor McDavid, who were viewed as generational prospects.

The 25-year-old Boston University product lived up to his end of the bargain. He recorded 355 points (139 goals and 216 assists) in 375 games across six seasons in Buffalo, establishing himself as one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive weapons with high-end speed, great vision and a lethal shot.

Yet despite multiple coaching changes and a variety of roster moves made by a few general managers, the Sabres were never able to find the right lineup mix around the Massachusetts native, who'd also expressed frustration about how the front office handled his season-ending neck injury.

"I've been a bit upset about the ways things have been handled since I've been hurt," Eichel said. "I'd be lying to say that things have moved smoothly since my injury. There's been a bit of a disconnect between myself and the organization. It's been tough at times. Right now, for me, the most important thing is just trying to get healthy, figure out a way to be available to play hockey next year, wherever that might be."

His captaincy was stripped by the franchise at the start of training camp amid continued disagreement about the treatment of his injury and the ongoing trade speculation.

The problems were relatively consistent throughout the Eichel era in Buffalo: The Sabres couldn't generate enough offense from their bottom six, the defense struggled to make an impact outside of an occasional moment of brilliance from 2018 first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, and the goaltending was typically subpar.

So while marquee names like Ryan O'Reilly, Evander Kane and, most recently, Taylor Hall created hope of a turnaround upon their arrivals, the results never changed. The Sabres completed their 10th straight season without qualifying for the playoffs in 2021, the league's longest active streak by five years.

A debate can be had about whether the losing culture that was created during Buffalo's pursuit of Eichel or McDavid was harder to escape than expected once the tanking was over. It's a viable theory given how the Sabres have crumbled at the first sight of adversity in recent years.

The bigger question is where the organization goes from here. A true No. 1 center is much like a franchise quarterback in the NFL—the most important building block to success. Trading Eichel leaves a massive void that won't be easy to fill, and it comes on the heels of Sam Reinhart's trade to the Florida Panthers in the offseason.

Perhaps Dylan Cozens, who showcased plenty of upside throughout his rookie season, can take on the role, or maybe the financial flexibility created by moving Eichel, who's under contract through 2026 as part of an eight-year, $80 million deal, can help the team find one via free agency or another trade.

There are no easy answers, however, and eight years after former Sabres general manager Darcy Regier warned their rebuilding efforts "may require some suffering," there's still no end in sight.

Meanwhile, Eichel will have an opportunity to begin a new chapter of his career with the Golden Knights. The most important thing for the 6'2" playmaker probably won't be his individual numbers, which are always strong, but instead finding far more team success than he did in Buffalo.

Once he recovers from the neck injury, he should slot in as the top-line center alongside wingers Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty in Vegas.

The Calgary Flames reportedly have a trade offer on the table for Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel.

Kevin Weekes of ESPN, NHL Network and TSN reported the rumor Wednesday.

The Flames' deal would center around 23-year-old left wing Matthew Tkachuk, who has four goals and two assists in nine games this year.

He has 114 goals and 170 assists in 358 lifetime games over six seasons with the Flames, who selected Tkachuk sixth overall in the 2016 NHL draft.

On Tuesday evening, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported that the Flames and Vegas Golden Knights were the two finalists in the Eichel sweepstakes.

Kaplan also said that both teams were OK with Eichel going forth with his desire to have artificial disk replacement surgery in his neck, which has been a sticking point between him and the Sabres.

While Vegas and Calgary are reportedly the front-runners in the Eichel sweepstakes, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported the St. Louis Blues are interested as well:

John Vogl of The Athletic also reported news that would seem to precipitate a move:

The Flames would appear to be in the lead for Eichel given that monster trade offer, although Vegas could come over the top. As Lyle Richardson of the Hockey News wrote, the Golden Knights have a need for a top-line center, and Eichel could be a fit there.

For now, Eichel remains a Sabre, although it doesn't appear that will be the case much longer.

Whichever team lands Eichel will get a player who has amassed 139 goals and 216 assists in 375 NHL games since 2015.

The Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly the finalists in pursuit of a trade for Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported the update Tuesday night and noted the talks are at the "1-yard line":

Eichel and the Sabres have been engaged in an extended standoff about what type of surgery he should receive to overcome a neck injury suffered last season.

The 25-year-old former Boston University standout has pushed for an artificial disk replacement his camp believes will give him a better quality of life moving forward, while the organization prefers a traditional disk fusion since the artificial disk surgery hasn't been performed on an active NHL player.

Based on the league's collective bargaining agreement, the team gets the final call on medical procedures, so Eichel has remained sidelined waiting for a possible trade.

Kaplan said both the Flames and Golden Knights are willing to allow Eichel to get the artificial disk replacement, which would come with a "minimum" of three months recovery time before he'd be cleared to play.

The timeline is important because the second overall pick in the 2015 draft would be a lock for Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing if healthy. The Americans' first game is set for Feb. 10 against the host nation of China, and the tournament runs through Feb. 20.

It seems unlikely the team that ultimately acquires Eichel would want his first action to come in the Olympics after being out since March, though.

Even if a trade isn't finalized in the next few days, it's hard to imagine a scenario where the dynamic center plays again for the Sabres given the longstanding dispute about the neck procedure and the team's overall lack of success since it drafted him.

Eichel, who's under contract through 2025-26 as part of his eight-year, $80 million deal, has done his part, scoring 355 points (139 goals and 216 assists) in 375 games for the Sabres. Alas, the franchise hasn't been able to put enough talent around him over the past six years to climb up the standings.

While the sides are almost definitely about to head their separate ways, there's still pressure on Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams to deliver a sizable return package for the three-time All-Star to help jump-start the latest rebuilding effort after several failed attempts over the past decade.

Once healthy, Eichel would immediately take over as the No. 1 center in either Calgary or Vegas, and with more talent around him, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him rank among the scoring leaders next season when he has a chance to play a full schedule.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames are among the trade finalists for Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported Saturday.

However, the situation remains "fluid and complex," Weekes added.

The Golden Knights have been linked to Eichel ever since he and the Sabres have been at an impasse over the type of surgery he should have on the herniated disc in his neck.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff said earlier this week he thought the Golden Knights were a "team to watch" for Eichel. However, Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported that the Sabres wanted Peyton Krebs in any deal with Vegas and the Golden Knights weren't willing to part ways with the 2019 first-round pick (h/t David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Elliotte Friedman also said on The Jeff Marek Show earlier this month that the Flames "really tried" to acquire Eichel over the summer.

"One of the teams that we knew was really big into (acquiring Eichel) was Calgary," Friedman said on the show (h/t The Hockey Writers' Colton Pankiw). "Calgary really tried. And not once did anybody say to me 'he wouldn't go to Calgary.'"

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported earlier this month on The Point that five teams remain in on Eichel. It's unclear if that's still the case with Calgary and Vegas appearing to be the front-runners.

The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild have also been linked to Eichel over the last several months, per Friedman (h/t The Daily Goal Horn).

If Eichel is moved this year, it's unlikely he'll play because he needs to undergo neck surgery. He could be ready for the 2022-23 season, depending on when he is moved and how long it takes for him to recover.

Eichel has tallied 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games. He was drafted second overall by the Sabres in 2015 and signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension with Buffalo before the 2017-18 season.

Boston Bruins winger Taylor Hall said hockey culture, which he described as an "old boys' club," must change based on the details released from the investigation into sexual abuse allegations made by former Chicago Blackhawks forward Kyle Beach against then-Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.

Hall discussed the situation in his press conference after Thursday night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes:

Beach, who was previously only known as John Doe in court documents filed as part of a lawsuit against the Blackhawks, revealed Wednesday he was the player who accused Aldrich of sexual abuse during the team's 2010 playoff run in an interview with TSN's Rick Westhead.

I've been a survivor, I am a survivor. And I know I'm not alone. I know I'm not the only one, male or female. And I buried this for 10 years, 11 years. And it's destroyed me from the inside out. And I want everybody to know in the sports world and in the world that you're not alone. That if these things happen to you, you need to speak up. Because there are support systems.

The report found that Blackhawks did little to address Beach's allegations, including failing to notify the police. Aldrich departed the organization in the offseason and went on to volunteer with a high school hockey team. In 2014, he was sentenced to nine months in jail for sexually assaulting a student at the school.

Beach has received an outpouring of support from the hockey community since coming forward, including several current players applauding him for his courage.

"I'm shocked and it's a terrible thing that has happened," Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad said. "I really feel for him and the victims. It takes a lot of courage to come out and tell his story. Just a terrible situation that shouldn't happen."

Sharks center Logan Couture added: "It's pretty devastating to hear the details and what he went through. I feel for him, and hopefully this will let him heal. And obviously it's not a situation that anyone wants to deal with—especially in this game. Hopefully something like this never happens again."

He's also received support from outside hockey. Former Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, who was among the victims of sexual assault by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, posted a message to Beach on social media:

Meanwhile, those involved in the decision to allow Aldrich to remain with the Blackhawks for the remainder of the 2010 playoffs, which culminated with the team winning the Stanley Cup, have faced the fallout of the report's damning details.

Chicago president of hockey operations Stan Bowman and senior director of hockey administration Al MacIsaac, the last two front-office executives still with the team from 2010, departed the organization. Joel Quenneville, the team's coach in 2010, resigned from his role as the Florida Panthers' head coach.

In addition, Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz requested Aldrich's name be removed from the Stanley Cup on Friday.

Joel Quenneville resigned as head coach of the Florida Panthers on Thursday. 

The move comes amid an investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks' handling of a sexual assault allegation in 2010 when minor league hockey player Kyle Beach said team video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him at his Chicago apartment. 

Andrew Brunette will take over Quenneville's former post on an interim basis. ESPN's Kevin Weekes first reported a coaching change was incoming and that John Tortorella will be a potential candidate to take over on a full-time basis.

Quenneville coached Chicago from 2008-2019. He said in July that he had not heard about the allegations until earlier this summer, via ESPN's Michele Steele:

However, multiple sources claim Quenneville knew of the allegations in 2010, with Beach being one of them.

"I've witnessed meetings, right after I reported it to [Blackhawks mental skills coach] James Gary, that were held in Joel Quenneville's office. There's absolutely no way that he can deny knowing it," Beach said, per ESPN.com news services.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman (who has since resigned) and mental skills coach Jim Gary said otherwise when interviewed for private firm Jenner & Block's report on the matter, noting that Quenneville was concerned with upsetting chemistry during the team's Stanley Cup-winning run.

Quenneville became the Panthers' head coach on April 8, 2019, and led the team for two-plus seasons.

The entire Jenner & Block report was released Tuesday. Quenneville still coached Wednesday, leading the Panthers to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins that gave them a 7-0 record.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito released a postgame statement:

Quenneville did not speak with media after the game either.

"In light of this afternoon's news, we felt it appropriate that I address you all," Zito said, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

"Joel will be meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman tomorrow. He has no comments prior to that meeting."

Quenneville met with Bettman in New York on Thursday to discuss his involvement in the Blackhawks sexual assault case. No news emerged from that meeting before reports emerged of the Panthers' coaching change.

Tampa Bay Lightning star winger Nikita Kucherov is set to miss at least two months with a lower-body injury. 

The Lightning announced Kucherov underwent a procedure on the unspecified injury Tuesday and will miss eight to 10 weeks.

In three games this season before getting injured, Kucherov accounted for one goal and three assists.

The three-time All-Star sat out the 2020-21 regular season while recovering from offseason hip surgery. He returned for the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs and led the NHL in postseason scoring en route to a second straight championship. 

Kucherov's injury and subsequent return led many hockey fans to criticize the Lightning for being $18 million over the salary cap, which doesn't count in the playoffs. 

Before the 2019-20 season, the Russian had been one of the most durable players in the league, playing 515 of 562 of Tampa's regular-season games from 2013 to 2020. In those games, he tallied 221 goals and 326 assists for 547 points.

Kucherov is one of the top players in the NHL, as he won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2019.

With Kucherov sidelined, the Bolts will rely heavily on captain Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn up front. Corey Perry, Pat Maroon and Anthony Cirelli are among the forwards that will need to fill in during Kucherov's absence. 

The Lightning persevered without Kucherov last season, but this season could be a different story.

Tampa has struggled during a 3-3-1 start, and it will have to snap out of it without the benefit of its best forward for at least the next two months.

Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said he'll meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday to discuss the Chicago Blackhawks' handling of sexual assault allegations in 2010 after the results of an independent investigation were released Tuesday.

Quenneville, who coached the Hawks from October 2008 through November 2018, said Wednesday he won't publicly discuss the situation until he speaks with Bettman.

"I respect you all doing your job here and have your own questions here," Quenneville told reporters. "But I won't be commenting further until my meeting with the commissioner."

On Tuesday, the Blackhawks announced the findings of the independent investigation by Jenner & Block law firm into the organization's handling of a sexual abuse allegation brought forward by a former player against then-video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs:

It is clear the organization and its executives at that time did not live up to our own standards or values in handling these disturbing incidents. We deeply regret the harm caused to John Doe and the other individuals who were affected and the failure to promptly respond. As an organization, we extend our profound apologies to the individuals who suffered from these experiences. We must—and will—do better.

The investigation found that the team failed "to promptly and thoroughly investigate" the allegations, violating its own policy on sexual harassment, and allowed Aldrich to continue working with the team, providing opportunities for further misconduct.

The player filed a lawsuit against the NHL team in May for negligence, saying members of the franchise covered up his allegations.

In July, Quenneville stated he didn't become aware of the alleged conduct of Aldrich until details from the lawsuit became public.

"I first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer," Quenneville said. "I have contacted the Blackhawks organization to let them know I will support and participate in the independent review. Out of respect for all those involved, I won't comment further while this matter is before the courts."

However, the Jenner & Block report found the coach was among the high-ranking members of the organization to attend a meeting about the allegations when they first were reported in May 2010.

Reid Schar, a Jenner & Block partner who spoke about the findings, said witnesses recalled that Quenneville and then-president John McDonough expressed their desire to focus on team chemistry and the playoffs rather than act on the allegations (via Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic):

Several witnesses recalled and later told others about a discussion then ensued during the meeting regarding whether the time was right to address the allegations against Aldrich in light of the ongoing playoffs. One witness recalled during the meeting that Mr. McDonough and coach Quenneville made comments about the challenge of getting to the Stanley Cup finals and a desire to focus on the team and the playoffs. What is clear is after being informed of Aldrich’s alleged sexual harassment and misconduct with the player, no action was taken for three weeks.

Aldrich was allowed to remain on the Chicago coaching staff for the remainder of the season as the Hawks went on to win the 2010 Stanley Cup title. When the team finally did act, it allowed Aldrich to resign but continue to participate in the championship celebrations.

The NHL announced Tuesday the Blackhawks were fined $2 million for their inadquate response to the allegations, and Bettman confirmed meetings with Quenneville and Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, Chicago's former assistant GM, about their roles in the situation.

"I plan to arrange personal meetings in the near future with both individuals to discuss their roles in the relevant events as detailed in the report," Bettman said. "I will reserve judgment on next steps, if any, with respect to them."

Quenneville, who coached the Hawks to three Stanley Cup titles, was hired by the Panthers in April 2019.

The former NHL defenseman has also served as head coach of the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche during a 26-year coaching career.

The Vegas Golden Knights might be ramping up their pursuit of Jack Eichel. 

Vegas is considered a "team to watch" for the disgruntled Buffalo Sabres forward, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported Tuesday (h/t David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal).

The Golden Knights have been linked to Eichel since the star forward made it clear he wanted out of Buffalo because of the Sabres' unwillingness to allow him to get the artificial disc replacement surgery he desires instead of neck fusion surgery for the herniated disc in his neck.

However, the Golden Knights reportedly aren't willing to meet the Sabres' asking price for Eichel. Buffalo wants 2019 first-round pick Peyton Krebs in any deal, according to NHL insiders Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek (h/t the Las Vegas Review-Journal).

The Golden Knights expect Krebs to be a difference-maker. Head coach Pete DeBoer said after the 20-year-old's NHL debut that he has "a good reputation in the organization."

Buffalo will likely look for a center in return for Eichel, so if Krebs is unavailable, someone like Nolan Patrick or Jake Leschyshyn might head the other way in a trade that will undoubtedly include draft picks.

In September, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman (via The Daily Goal Horn) reported that a number of other Western Conference teams were interested in Eichel, including the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan added earlier this month on The Point that five teams remain in on Eichel. All of those teams agreed the former Sabres captain would get the artificial disk replacement surgery he wants. 

If Eichel is traded this season, it's unlikely he plays because he needs to undergo neck surgery. However, he could be ready for the 2022-23 campaign, depending on when he is moved and how long his recovery takes.

Eichel, who was drafted second overall by the Sabres in 2015, has tallied 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games. He signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension with Buffalo before the 2017-18 season.