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Sabres news: If Eichel leaves, who will be the new no.1 center?

By Jacob LeBlanc

Apr 29, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (37) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Boston Bruins during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (37) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Boston Bruins during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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By now a lot of people are probably tired of hearing about Jack Eichel and if he is going to be traded before the start of this upcoming season. Regardless of whether people are tired of the topic, it is still the biggest story surrounding the Buffalo Sabres through the remainder of the offseason. For the purpose of this article, let us assume Eichel gets moved before the start of the season. Who would be the number one center on opening night next season?

It probably depends on a few things. If Eichel is traded, the Sabres could get a quality player in return who could take over the number one center role that Jack would be leaving. If Buffalo could get a return that includes a player good enough to immediately step in to be the first-line center, that is obviously great. But there are a few other ways that the Sabres could go with this.

There is plenty of young talent that flourished in the Sabres offense once Don Granato took over as the head coach partway through the season. The two most likely candidates to battle for this role that are already on the Sabres roster are Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens.

We saw what Mittelstadt is capable of in an offense that fits his style at the end of last season. He played the best hockey of his career, and fans finally got to see what we expected from him when he started in Buffalo. Hopefully, he can keep up the momentum he ended last season with and can carry it over to this upcoming season. Mittelstadt would probably be the favorite to land this spot without Eichel on the roster, especially if he plays like he did at the end of last year.

Cozens would be an interesting pick to have start the season as the top-line center in Buffalo. He showed plenty of promise in his rookie campaign last season, but a somewhat lack of production. He only tallied 13 points in 41 games played. But at only 20-years-old, Cozens has plenty of more time to develop into a potential number one center. Having him start the season there would certainly be a trial by fire.

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If Eichel is still on the roster and plans to take the ice for Buffalo once next season starts, then this discussion is thrown away because Jack would be the top-line center. But with the drama between Jack and the Sabres still going on, Buffalo will likely need to address their number one center role sooner rather than later.

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