The Buffalo Sabres' Jack Eichel saga is finally over. The Sabres have traded Eichel to the Las Vegas Golden Knights for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch , a 2022 first-round draft pick and a 2023 third-rounder, with a 2023 third-round pick draft pick also going to Vegas in the deal, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports the Calgary Flames were also in the running for Eichel, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. The 25-year-old failed his physical earlier this year and hasn't played this season amid a disagreement on how to handle a neck injury. He was stripped of his captaincy and has been on injured reserve all season.
Jack Eichel was dealing with this neck injury last season. His relationship with the Sabres went south because of the fight over how to treat the disk issue. He wanted to get artificial disk replacement surgery, while Buffalo wanted him to undergo fusion surgery because a disk replacement has never been performed on an NHL player.
The Golden Knights are okay with Eichel undergoing the disk replacement surgery, and he's expected to go under the knife shortly. While he'll be cleared to skate six weeks after the surgery, it'll be another three months before he can take contact. So, he won't be on the ice for a while and likely won't be able to play for Team USA in the Olympics.
Jack Eichel was a star for the Sabres with 355 points in 375 games. He's currently in the fourth year of an eight-year, $80 million deal.
Vegas is off to a slow start this season after reaching the Stanley Cup Semifinals last season. They're hoping Eichel will get health this season and be a key long-term piece for them.
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