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Buffalo Sabres: Was the Jack Eichel trade franchise-altering?

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 28, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) controls the puck against Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) controls the puck against Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Jack Eichel trade sent shockwaves through both the Buffalo Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights organizations and it may have altered both franchises. 

Although it happened last November, the Jack Eichel trade is one that Buffalo Sabres fans will never forget and it could have altered the state of the franchise for the next decade. In 2021, the Sabres made three trades, with the other two involving Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart.

But they got the most compensation for Eichel. Although we can’t count out potential positive returns via the Reinhart trade, which also brought the Sabres a first-round pick (28th overall) and Devon Levi.

Why are we still talking about the Eichel trade? Simple: We now know that the Sabres will select 16th overall. And the selection may even further alter the franchise in a positive way.

How franchise-altering was the Jack Eichel trade for the Buffalo Sabres?

The Sabres acquired Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, with solid returns for each. Tuch evolved into a dynamic player on the first and second lines, scoring 38 times in 50 games. Although his scoring prowess cooled later in the season, he was nonetheless still an effective player.

Krebs evolved as a decent passer on the second and third lines, but he also displayed a knack for accuracy, shooting 15.2 percent. He put up 22 points in 48 games, a respectable number for a player who has yet to appear in a full NHL season.

Tuch (26) and Krebs (21) are also young enough to play in Buffalo for the next five-to-seven seasons. But the Sabres also have the 16th overall pick. And while the trade has already altered the franchise given solid performances from Tuch and Krebs, if they nail the 16th pick, it will further point the narrow north for an organization that has not seen the playoffs in over a decade.

So yes, this trade has the potential to act as one catalyst for a successful run in the 2020s. It’s not the only one, but if the Sabres embark on a playoff run, fans will point to the Eichel trade as one of the main factors.

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Trades like these don’t come around often for NHL franchises. And the Sabres landed two key players in it. A third key player with the 16th pick in the upcoming draft will only further set up this franchise to contend in the not-so-distant future.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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