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Buffalo Sabres are not finished winning the Jack Eichel trade

By Sion Fawkes

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres prepares to skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 22, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres prepares to skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on February 22, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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On Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres found out that they have the ninth and the sixteenth pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. 

Fans of the Buffalo Sabres will look back on the 2021-22 season with satisfaction as it pertains to the Jack Eichel trade. From Eichel’s debut with the Vegas Golden Knights until the regular season ended, the Sabres and Knights tied for 35 points apiece. That alone says a lot, considering the dire straits the Sabres found themselves in.

Then came the showdown on March 10th, 2022, Eichel’s homecoming to the KeyBank Center. The Sabres owned the Knights throughout most of the contest, which culminated with a 3-1 victory thanks to Alex Tuch’s efforts. The same Alex Tuch the Knights gave away for the rights to acquire Eichel.

Buffalo Sabres can still widen the gap regarding the Jack Eichel trade

On Tuesday, the Sabres found out they have the Knights sixteenth pick, which would have reverted back to the latter had the pick ended up in the top ten. It gives the Sabres have three picks in the first round and they can do a lot with them. It’s a long shot, but what if a top prospect like Shane Wright falls, as Buffalo Hockey Beat implied?

If Wright falls past the second selection, do you package picks and try to trade up for the potential game-changing franchise player? Perhaps go with the highest-quality pick? Or, do you stay put and take advantage of a draft class rich in talented prospects?

There is no right or wrong answer here. The point is, having the Knights pick for a talent-rich draft class gives the Sabres a lot of options.

Even if Wright is unavailable, they can still trade up to snag someone like forward Juraj Slafkovsky, or centers Logan Cooley and Matthew Savoie. Once again, this gives the Sabres the quality over quantity route, thanks to them owning the Knights pick.

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So the Sabres might not be finished just yet in claiming victory for the Jack Eichel trade. Whether they package and trade up or stay at home and take the best available, the Sabres have a lot of options come draft day on how to spend two picks in the top half of the first round.

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