Jack Eichel Sure As Shit Sounds Like He's Ready To Head Out Of Buffalo
Patrick McDermott. Getty Images.About a month ago I wrote a blog titled, "The World Can Only Hope That Jack Eichel Has Played His Final Game As A Buffalo Sabre".
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I haven't been contacted by Columbia University yet about a Pulitzer Prize nomination for that blog, but I feel like it might just be lost in the spam folder of my email inbox. But just a few weeks after being shut down for the season with a herniated disc, Eichel had this to say to the media today.
Holy smokes.
That's about as close to a "trade me right fucking now" as you can get without actually saying "trade me right fucking now".
The moment you make it clear that you don't really care where you end up playing next season, that's how you know you desperately want out. Jack Eichel has been stuck watching Connor McDavid put up 100 points this season on his way to the playoffs. He's been stuck watching Auston Matthews put up 40 goals this season on his way to the playoffs. And by his own admission, Eichel didn't have a great season this year. But do you really think the Sabres would have been a playoff team even if Eichel had 40 goals? Do you think they'd be a playoff team even if Eichel put the team on his back and had 100 points in 53 games? Because I highly doubt that shit.
He had 82 points in 2018-19. He had 78 points in 68 games last season. They haven't even sniffed the playoffs since he's been in Buffalo. So he has every right to be a little upset with the organization. He's still only 24 but he's wasting away in Buffalo. For the love of god, somebody free this man from his misery.
The rumors have been out that the Rangers are in heavy on Eichel. I think there are 26 different teams in the league right now who should probably also have Kevyn Adams on speed dial right now trying to do whatever they can to pry him out of Buffalo. Because I think that quote pretty much solidifies the fact that Eichel is done with the Sabres. There's not a chance that the captain goes out and says something like that at the end of the regular season and comes back ready to go the next year.
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So now Eichel Watch is on the clock. I doubt anything happens before the draft. I also doubt anything happens during the draft either because the NHL seems to have a way with building up anticipation and then letting all of us down. But when it comes time for free agency and teams are out there trying to figure out how they're going to fit Jack Eichel's $10M cap hit on their books? That's when a trade will go down. So I'd hold off on buying an Eichel Sabres jersey until at least mid-July.