Report: Six teams now in the running to land Jack Eichel

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T. Tadi
June 16, 2021 (12:25)

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Not only for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel, but also for fans following the trade rumours, this has been a roller-coaster trip.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet disclosed on Tuesday that he didn't get the impression that the Sabres had given Eichel clearance to negotiate with other teams. General manager Kevyn Adams, on the other hand, appears to have done so, and Pierre LeBrun now says that six teams are interested in acquiring the top forward now that negotiations are becoming more serious and intense.

The Sabres are expected to seek a 2021 first-round pick in exchange for Eichel, according to LeBrun, putting the deadline for a deal prior of the NHL Draft on July 23. The Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Rangers are among the numerous teams that could be a good fit as a landing point, according to the insider.

The forward, who is under contract through 2025-26 with a budget hit of $10 million, plans to think about his future this summer. He was particularly irritated by the Sabres' refusal to have surgery on his ruptured disc in his neck. Eichel played his final game of the season on March 7 for the league-worst Sabres before being ruled out for the rest of the season due to a neck injury. Eichel went on to add that there is a "gap" between him and the Sabres organization over a neck injury he sustained, and that his priority now is to get fit for next season "wherever that may be."

The team is allegedly hesitant to go ahead with the procedure, despite Eichel's and his doctor's efforts to get it done this summer.
Friedman wrote in May that Adams had confirmed that the Sabres are still unhappy with Eichel's method. «Whatever Eichel decides to do, it will be in concert with the next team that acquires him,» he continued.

We all sensed Eichel's desire to leave Buffalo. The Sabres won the lottery and will have the first overall pick in the forthcoming draught this summer, but if rumours are true, they could end up with another pick in the first ten picks.

If the Sabres sell off a lot of players this summer, such as Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, it's understandable that they'd want for a top draught pick to start the final reconstruction in Buffalo.

The Kings have the eighth overall pick, followed by the Ducks in third place and the Jackets in fifth place. The Flyers will pick 13th, while the Rangers will pick two spots ahead of them.

Credit: HockeyFeed