Will Jack Eichel get Traded Before the Season?

At the start of the offseason, all signs pointed to Sabres superstar Jack Eichel being shipped out of Buffalo. The former 2nd overall pick had a rough time in Buffalo, missing the playoffs in each of his first six seasons despite putting up impressive numbers. Eichel’s disagreement with the Sabres about his herniated disc surgery was the last straw for Eichel as he would request a trade out of Buffalo. The Sabres also planned to trade Eichel before the start of 2021-22 season but with the offseason coming to an end, Eichel trade talks have slowed down and it is getting more likely that Eichel remains a Sabre for the start of next season.

Injury Concerns

The main reason Eichel has yet to be traded is because of his injury. Early in the season, Eichel suffered a herniated disc which ended his season. Eichel preferred a cervical disc replacement surgery while the Sabres’ medical staff was against it because it hasn’t been performed on an NHL player ever. As of now, Eichel has still not gotten surgery to repair the herniated disc in his neck and he will not be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season. Teams are now hesitant to give up premium assets for a player that isn’t healthy and will miss the start of the season.

Limited cap space

With the offseason almost wrapped up, most teams have already spent most of their cap space on other players, pushing them close to the salary cap. Eichel has a high cap hit of $10 million, and as of now, only six teams in the NHL have enough cap space to afford him (Senators, Ducks, Devils, Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Predators). With the limited market for Eichel, the Sabres aren’t getting the best offers for Eichel. The Sabres are better off holding on Eichel and trading him next offseason, once teams have cap space.

Based on all of these factors, teams have been reluctant to offer a giant trade package for Eichel, and instead, the Sabres have been receiving subpar packages, which they have obviously declined. Eichel is still under contract with the Sabres for the next five seasons, which means the Sabres could hold on to Eichel until they are offered a trade they’re happy with. The best bet for the Sabres is to hold onto Eichel until he comes back from injury. Once he plays again, his value should go back up and the Sabres could trade him for a huge return. But based on where everything lies, the probability of Eichel getting traded is relatively low.