The speculation around Jack Eichel's status with the Buffalo Sabres has been swirling since he expressed his frustrations with the team regarding the handling of his herniated disk during his end-of-season conference call back in May.
For weeks, teams have called Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams about Eichel's services and gauging potential interest for a potential trade to acquire the star center. However, the asking price has been regarded as astronomically high, with Buffalo looking to acquire four assets that are the equivalent of first round picks.
In addition, Eichel's injury status is a major red flag for teams interested in acquiring the 24-year-old. While it has been reported that Eichel is back skating and training, he still wishes to have a surgery to repair the damage to his neck that has never been done on an NHL player before. In addition, the Sabres are holding firm on not letting any team take a look at Eichel's medical records until they are in serious talks to make a deal.
It was thought that Eichel was going to be moved ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft this past Friday, but Buffalo went on to trade defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and forward Sam Reinhart. It was thought that a potential Eichel deal could be made in the days leading up to the opening of NHL Free Agency on Wednesday.
However, with the NHL Free Agency period officially open and teams making new additions for the 2021-22 season, all things have appeared to go silent between the Sabres and other teams on the Buffalo captain.
"The reality is things are dead quiet on the Jack Eichel front right now with the Buffalo Sabres," said TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie during "Free Agency Frenzy" on Wednesday. "I know the Sabres are on record, general manager Kevyn Adams, of saying, 'Well, if he's on our team in the fall, he's on our team in the fall.' I don't think the player or anybody else really wants that scenario, and there obviously have been conversations."
It was reported by Ryan Kennedy from The Hockey News on Tuesday that the Sabres' asking price in a potential Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights is forwards Reilly Smith and Peyton Krebs, defenseman Nic Hague and a first round pick. However, the Golden Knights have made some moves of their own on Wednesday and currently sit with little to no projected cap space to fit Eichel's $10 million per-year contract.
The Minnesota Wild have been another team that has actively been pursuing Eichel's services, hoping to acquire a No. 1 center to pair with reigning Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov. However, a report from Michael Russo of The Athletic surfaced on Wednesday that Minnesota was "backing out" of trade talks, citing the price to acquire Eichel would cost too much for Minnesota to make work.
According to CapFriendly, the Wild still have a projected $22.815 million of salary cap space available, but with players like Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala still to re-sign.
Other teams throughout this process have reportedly circled in and out of discussions with the Sabres regarding Eichel. One of those reported teams has been the Los Angeles Kings, who have plenty of high-level prospects to realistically strike a deal with the Sabres. However, they do not seem too keen on wanting to give up a top-level prospect like Quinton Byfield, who the Kings drafted second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
During the free agency period on Wednesday, the Kings made a significant signing to their center depth, adding Phillip Danault on a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5.5 million. With Los Angeles investing that much money in free agency, McKenzie says it's safe to cross of the Kings on the list of potential Eichel suitors.
"When you see the L.A. Kings, one of the teams to varying degrees may have had some conversations with the Buffalo Sabres about Jack Eichel, when the Kings go out and sign Phillip Danault and load up their center position to the tune of $5.5 million, I think it's safe to presume the L.A. Kings are not talking to the Buffalo Sabres anymore about Jack Eichel," McKenzie said.
CapFriendly currently lists the Kings as having only about $1.990 million of projected salary cap space.
The Anaheim Ducks also remain a potential team of interest for a fit with Jack Eichel, though they have a projected $18.43 million worth of cap space with four of their top, young restricted free agents to sign. In addition, Anaheim has been bullish on giving up either of their top prospects (Trevor Zegras or Jamie Drysdale) in a potential trade.
With Day 1 of free agency winding down and the future of the market now up in the air, it certainly seems like a Jack Eichel trade is no where near imminent.
"You can go up and down, and around the different teams that might have interest, but right now the interest is very much [on the] backburner," McKenzie said. "The Buffalo Sabres are just saying that's the reality of the market right now and everybody's just going to sit tight for now. It's not an ideal situation for the Sabres and Eichel, but as of right now, really soft, really quiet."
The Sabres have made just one signing through the opening day of free agency, adding veteran forward Vinnie Hinostroza on a one-year contract worth $1.05 million.
Meanwhile, a number of players that were on the roster during the 2020-21 season have found new homes around the league. Some of these players include forwards J.S. Dea and C.J. Smith, defenseman Jake McCabe, and goalies Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark.