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Sabres news: Is holding onto Eichel hurting his trade value?

By Jacob LeBlanc

Mar 7, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) controls the puck against the New York Islanders during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; Uniondale, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) controls the puck against the New York Islanders during the third period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the offseason starts to calm down after the expansion draft, the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and the beginning of free agency coming and going, headlines are starting to die down. But one headline that will follow the Buffalo Sabres until a solution is reached is the current relationship between the team and their star captain Jack Eichel.

Both of Eichel’s agents recently put out a statement bashing the Sabres and said that “the process isn’t working”. It is obvious where his camp stands on the current situation in Buffalo. But it is ultimately the Sabres’ decision whether or not that Jack will be on the team next season, not his agents. If Buffalo feels like it is in their best interest to trade him, then they will not have any issues in doing so, as it seems like at least half the league has inquired about trading for the star center.

Many thought that if Buffalo was planning on trading Eichel, it probably would have happened before the draft so the Sabres could stock up on even more 2021 draft picks. But here we are, over a week removed from the draft, and Eichel is still a member of the Sabres. But, he is practicing in Boston in the Bruins practice facility. Yes, Eichel is from Massachusetts, so it could mean nothing other than he is home and wanted to get some work in. But it is still tough to see Jack skating surrounded by Bruins logos.

If the Sabres do plan on trading Eichel, the longer they wait, the more it could hurt his trade value. Kevyn Adams has been very adamant on what he wants in exchange for his top talent if he were to make a trade, and many teams see his demands as not worth it. But you can bet that teams are also seeing how unhappy Eichel and his agents are with Buffalo. And the longer he stays on the Sabres, it could lead to more displeasure coming from Jack.

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If a team feels like the Sabres could be reaching a boiling-over point with Jack, they could try to lowball them on a trade to get him out of Buffalo. So it will be up to Kevyn Adams in any potential Eichel trade that he must hold his ground and get what he really wants in return.

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