Jack Eichel

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.  

Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel has a herniated disk in his neck, and he wants to get it fixed as soon as possible.

According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Eichel and his camp are pushing the Sabres one last time to allow him to get his preferred surgery. Eichel wants to get a disk replacement surgery, while the Sabres are pushing for Eichel to receive a fusion surgery, as a disk replacement has never been performed on an NHL player.

NHL teams have the final say on how to treat injuries under the league's collective bargaining agreement rules. Eichel reportedly pushed for a trade to a team that would let him have the surgery he prefers before this attempt to convince Sabres management.

According to Kaplan, at least five teams were interested in trading for Eichel last week but Buffalo has not budged from its large asking price. Eichel's medical uncertainty also isn't helping matters.

The No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, Eichel is currently on injured reserve after failing his physical. He signed an eight-year, $80 million deal in 2017, which made him the highest-paid player in franchise history. He was limited to 21 games in the 2020-21 season with the injury.

How the Sabres handle Eichel's request will go a long way in determining their relationship with their star player. Eichel already wasn't happy with the team at the end of last season and he expressed his frustration, saying: "I have a lot of thinking to do in this offseason. There’s a lot that I have to consider."

Kaplan reports that Eichel has been collecting medical opinions that support his preference and his camp hopes to present the information to the Sabres this week. A last-resort option for Eichel would be to file a grievance.     

With the NHL season underway, it appears the Buffalo Sabres might be inching closer to working out a deal for disgruntled forward Jack Eichel. 

ESPN's Emily Kaplan recently reported on The Point that the NHL and NHL Players Association have intervened to "push things along" between Eichel and the Sabres. Last Thursday, there was "serious optimism" that a trade was imminent, but things "went quiet" on Friday. 

As of now, five teams are still in on Eichel, Kaplan adds. Each of those teams have agreed the former Sabres captain will get the artificial disk replacement surgery he desires instead of the neck fusion surgery that Buffalo believes is the best option. 

Eichel failed his physical last month and was also stripped of his captaincy amid the ongoing dispute between himself and the Sabres on how to handle his herniated disk injury. 

The 24-year-old hinted he wanted out of Buffalo in his 2020-21 season-ending media availability, saying he would be willing to play for another franchise. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman (via The Daily Goat Horn) reported in September that the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers were interested in Eichel. However, the Rangers might be out on the Massachusetts native after giving Mika Zibanejad an eight-year contract extension on Sunday. 

During a recent appearance on The Jeff Marek Show, Friedman also revealed that the Calgary Flames tried hard to acquire Eichel during the offseason. 

The Sabres drafted Eichel second overall in 2015. He has tallied 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games. Buffalo has not qualified for the postseason once since the 24-year-old was drafted. 

Eichel was supposed to be a centerpiece of the Sabres' rebuild after signing an eight-year, $80 million contract extension before the 2017-18 season. With the Boston University product on his way out the door, Buffalo could remain in turmoil for the foreseeable future. 

The 2021-22 NHL season is set to get underway Tuesday. The trade deadline is slated for March 21. And in between, the league's 32 teams will play games that dictate the types of moves they will be making.

For some, it's already clear whether they are likely to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Teams such as the two-time reigning champion Tampa Bay Lightning are Stanley Cup contenders. Those like the Arizona Coyotes, meanwhile, are amid a rebuild and may be looking to deal top players.

There's been plenty of trade buzz as we've gone from the offseason to the preseason, and with a certain franchise center still not having switched teams, it's likely to continue into the regular season. Here's some of the latest from around the NHL.

Sabres Moving Closer to Potential Eichel Trade?

With how slow the Jack Eichel trade saga has developed, it's unclear when the Buffalo Sabres could deal the 24-year-old. But it seems things are moving more in that direction than they were for much of the offseason.

On Wednesday, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that teams with an interest in trading for Eichel have been able to have discussions about Eichel's neck injury, as well as gain additional access to his medical files. Eichel may need to undergo surgery, and the preferred course of action has led to a disconnect between him and Buffalo.

If another team acquires Eichel, he and that new organization could be on the same page. There have been rumors that the Sabres' asking price is high, but it's always possible they get what they want given Eichel's talent.

"Both sides are hopeful something can be worked out soon with one of the clubs in the mix," Dreger tweeted.

When healthy, Eichel was a strong player over the past six seasons with the Sabres. He had 355 points (139 goals and 216 assists) in 375 games for a team that has failed to make the playoffs in that time. However, injury limited him to 21 games during the 2020-21 campaign.

Although Eichel is still on Buffalo's roster, he failed a physical in September and was stripped of the team's captaincy. It seems unlikely that he will play another game for the Sabres.

Will Kessel Get Traded by Coyotes During the Season?

It's no secret in which direction the Coyotes are heading. With Bill Armstrong entering his second season as the general manager and Andre Tourigny heading into his first as head coach, Arizona has undergone a lot of changes, and not only at the top.

This offseason, the Coyotes parted ways with numerous key players. Most notably, they traded goaltender Darcy Kuemper to the Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland to the Vancouver Canucks. And three-time Stanley Cup winning blueliner Niklas Hjalmarsson retired.

Could Phil Kessel be one of the next Arizona players to get traded? The 34-year-old forward is entering his third season with the team, which is much further away from contending than it was when it traded for Kessel in June 2019.

This is the final season of Kessel's contract, and he's unlikely to fit into the Coyotes' long-term plans. It would make sense for him to get moved at some point. And according to Dreger, that's what Kessel wants.

"He wants a fresh start," Dreger recently said on Insider Trading. "He wants to earn a new contract somewhere in the National Hockey League. He's got some no-trade protection. He wants to go to a competitor."

Kessel won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins before heading to the Coyotes. And if he's going to win another in 2021-22, it's almost certainly going to be with a new team.

There reportedly may be some movement on the trade front involving Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the standstill may be "shifting," as teams interested in Eichel have gained additional access to his medical records to "clearly" see what he is dealing with.

Dreger added that Eichel and the Sabres are "hopeful" a trade can be worked out with one of the teams that have expressed interest.

Eichel is on injured reserve after failing his physical because of a neck injury. He and the Sabres are at odds, as he wants to undergo artificial disk replacement surgery, while the Sabres want him to get disk fusion surgery, as no active NHL player has ever had Eichel's desired procedure.

Eichel is one of the most dynamic, young talents in the NHL. However, it can be argued he has been wasted on a Sabres team that has not reached the playoffs since 2011, which was well before he entered the league.

The Sabres made Eichel the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft behind only Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.

Across six NHL seasons, Eichel has appeared in 375 games and registered 139 goals and 216 assists for 355 points.

He broke the point-per-game mark for the first time in 2018-19, recording 28 goals and 54 assists for 82 points in 77 games. He was better the following season, with a career-high 36 goals to go with 42 assists for 78 points in 68 games.

Eichel seemed poised to enter the MVP conversation last season, but he never looked quite right and had his campaign cut short by the neck injury suffered on a hit by New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas.

All told, Eichel appeared in 21 games and finished with two goals and 16 assists for 18 points.

Given the manner in which his injury has been handled and the frustrations of playing for a perennial losing team, it is clear Eichel no longer wants to be in Buffalo.

One thing working against the 24-year-old, however, is the fact that he is under contract through the 2025-26 season, meaning the Sabres are under no obligation to trade him.

Still, there is some incentive to move on from Eichel since keeping him could be a disservice to Sabres players and coaches who would likely be forced to answer questions about it throughout the year.

Also, since Eichel is one of the best young players in the game, it stands to reason that the rebuilding Sabres could get a large, useful package of players and draft picks for him.

Finding a trade partner and consummating a deal would be the best resolution for all parties involved.  

Two of the biggest names featured in NHL trade rumors early in the offseason were St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko and Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel. The 2021-22 campaign is set to get underway Oct. 12, yet neither has been dealt. But that could still change.

Tarasenko requested a trade in July, but nothing materialized. Eichel's situation with the Sabres is a lot more complicated because of his neck injury, which caused him to fail a physical and may still require surgery.

As the start of the season nears, these players continue to have plenty of news surrounding them. Here's some of the latest buzz involving Tarasenko and Eichel.

What Would It Take for Blues to Trade Tarasenko?

Even though Tarasenko is still with the Blues, it doesn't mean they won't trade him this season. However, it seems like that isn't going to be the team's preferred option.

NHL.com's Dan Rosen recently wrote that Tarasenko is likely to be in St. Louis all season because the team expects to be in contention for a playoff spot. But if the Blues disappoint and don't think they are going to be competing for the Stanley Cup, then Rosen believes a trade would be possible.

"If the forward can't stay healthy, he would have minimal trade value, so the Blues would be in a tough spot," Rosen wrote. "... If healthy and productive, his value on the trade market should be significant because the team acquiring him would have him for next season and could sign him to a contract extension next offseason."

Tarasenko still has two seasons remaining on the eight-year, $60 million deal he signed with the Blues in 2015. As for his health, that's been an issue recently, as he's been limited to 34 games over the past two seasons. St. Louis' handling of his shoulder surgeries was also a contributing factor in his trade request.

Maybe that affected the interest that teams might usually have had in Tarasenko this offseason. But there's no doubt he can be a productive player when he's on the ice, as he had at least 68 points in five straight seasons from 2014 to 2019.

Set to turn 30 in December, Tarasenko seems likely to remain in St. Louis for at least the remainder of 2021. However, it will be interesting to see how things develop, especially if he sees out his deal with the Blues and becomes a free agent after the 2022-23 campaign.

Sabres' Asking Price for Eichel Remains High

It seems much less likely that Eichel is going to remain in Buffalo. He was stripped of his captaincy after his failed physical, and he and the Sabres haven't been on the same page regarding how to handle his neck injury.

So why hasn't Buffalo just dealt the 24-year-old to end this saga? Well, it may still have a bit to do with the Sabres' asking price.

According to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News, the Sabres' "demands, long believed to be at least four pieces and perhaps more, are just too much right now for an injured player." And a Western Conference source shared that sentiment with Harrington.

"What they're asking for is insane" the source told Harrington. "I get that they're trading Eichel, but what do they really expect if you don't know if he can play?"

So the stalemate continues. It seems unlikely that Eichel will play for the Sabres again. And if they are not willing to lower their asking price or allow him to get the surgery he desires, then he may not be playing anywhere anytime soon.

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner spoke out Friday in support of former Buffalo Sabres teammate Jack Eichel.

Eichel and the Sabres are at an impasse, as Eichel no longer wants to play for Buffalo. Sabres doctors will not permit Eichel to undergo disk replacement surgery on his neck, and Buffalo has held off on trading its star player as well.

On Friday night, Lehner called out the NHL Players' Association in a tweet, asking for it to do more in support of Eichel:

Lehner later added the following:

Eichel and Lehner played together with Buffalo for three seasons from 2015-16 to 2017-18, after which Lehner signed with the New York Islanders in free agency.

In subsequent tweets, Lehner took aim at the Sabres and NHL.

He referred to Eichel as "a generational player" and called for Eichel to be allowed to make his own medical decisions:

The goaltender also reacted to Eichel's doctor's saying it would be best for Eichel's long-term health to get disk replacement surgery:

A Massachusetts native, Eichel was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL draft, in which Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was selected No. 1.

It quickly became apparent that Eichel was one of the best young talents in the league, as he averaged just under one point per game in his second and third seasons before exploding for a career-high 82 points in 2018-19.

The 24-year-old followed that up with a career-high 36 goals in 2019-20 to go along with 78 points in 68 games.

Eichel suffered the neck injury last season and finished with only two goals and 16 assists in 21 games.

It appears he will never play for the Sabres again, and his NHL future is in question as well since he has yet to undergo surgery of any kind. Buffalo has no obligation to trade Eichel, as he is under contract through the 2025-26 season.

The NHL is back. After an eventful offseason that included trades, free-agent signings and a new class of incoming rookies, the league's 32 teams are now preparing for the 2021-22 season.

This past weekend, the first NHL preseason games took place. And there will be plenty more exhibition contests taking place over the next few weeks before regular-season action gets underway on Oct. 12. So there's not much time until these games start mattering.

While the majority of the focus has now shifted to what's happening on the ice, there are still rumors circulating about potential trades, possible contract negotiations and more. 

Here's some of the latest buzz from around the NHL.

Teams Reportedly Want Clauses Added to Potential Eichel Trade

With the Buffalo Sabres now holding training camp, it's still not clear whether Jack Eichel will play for the team again. The center, who has been dealing with a herniated disk in his neck since March, failed a physical upon his arrival at camp and was then stripped of his captaincy.

There's been a dispute between Eichel and the Sabres over which surgery he should undergo in order to get healthy, and that's sparked plenty of trade rumors all offseason. So while Eichel currently remains in Buffalo, it's possible that could change if there isn't any resolution.

According to Nick Kypreos of Line Movement, the 24-year-old would be willing to be dealt to any of the NHL's 31 other teams. However, it seems quite a few have conditions they'd want included in any potential trade.

Kypreos reported that one team believes a trade is doable, but they'd want clauses added regarding how Eichel performs after surgery in terms of his games played, his scoring and other key stats. In such a deal, a team may not have to pay Eichel as much if he didn't perform up to expectations.

Eichel is still under contract through the end of the 2025-26 season, so if a team traded for him, it would have multiple years of control. However, he will have a full no-movement clause come into effect after the 2021-22 season. As of now, he can be traded to any team, which doesn't seem to be a concern to him based on Kypreos' report.

When Eichel has been healthy, he's been an effective player. After being selected by the Sabres with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NHL draft, he's tallied 139 goals and 216 assists in 375 games with the team over six seasons.

Senators Not Close to a New Deal with Tkachuk?

Another hot topic around the NHL of late has been Brady Tkachuk's status with the Ottawa Senators. The forward is a restricted free agent who has yet to work out a deal with the Sens, who still have him under team control due to his RFA status.

During a Sept. 26 appearance on TSN 1200 Ottawa, TSN's Darren Dreger reported there's "no deal that is close at this point" between Tkachuk and the Senators. But there's plenty of time for things to change on that front.

"That's not to say that it can't happen very swiftly," Dreger said. "I think when you get to this stage in the negotiation, everybody knows what the lines are, right? Ottawa prefers a certain amount of term, a long term. They know what they like in terms of the money. They don't like giving up the bonus money. So the structure of the contract has been a back-and-forth, to be sure."

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported that the Senators sent an eight-year, $64 million proposal to Tkachuk's camp, as they're hoping to get that type of deal done. But Garrioch also noted that both the 22-year-old and the team are "trying to find a way to end the stalemate to get Tkachuk back on the ice as quickly as possible."

It makes sense that Ottawa wants to continue to build around Tkachuk. Since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, he has 60 goals and 65 assists in 198 games over three seasons, and he's likely going to keep getting better in the years to come.