Local media station claims Buffalo Sabres are losing Jack Eichel trade

Now that Jack Eichel has a Stanley Cup, one local outlet is erroneously pointing out the Buffalo Sabres are losing the trade that occurred in November 2021.

Perhaps the biggest misconception in the NHL right now is that because Jack Eichel won the Stanley Cup, the Vegas Golden Knights are winning the Jack Eichel trade over the Buffalo Sabres. “For now, at least.”

And while it’s true Eichel ended his first full season in Las Vegas, Nevada hoisting the Stanley Cup, the claim that the Knights are winning couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, if Vegas was a struggling hockey team and if Eichel picked up and carried the organization on his shoulders, then I would concede in two seconds that Vegas is winning this thing.

So to claim the Blue and Gold either lost or is losing this trade isn’t just erroneous, it’s nothing short of reckless. Now, I will admit that I was reckless in the past myself, having consistently claimed Buffalo won the trade, or was winning the trade. That said, I’m not going to sit here and act all self-righteous and all. The things I said were premature, and I’m wise enough to admit that.

As I stated in my previous piece on the subject, there is no clear-cut winner at the moment because both teams have accomplished exactly what they set out to do with the trade. Vegas needed a Cup, Buffalo just wanted to become a better hockey team, and the latter got more than what they bargained for.

Former Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel — Jun 13, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (9) warms up prior to the start of game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Vegas, in no way, is winning the Jack Eichel trade over the Buffalo Sabres

Thanks to the trade, the Sabres acquired a leader in Alex Tuch whose production was light years ahead of Eichel’s. And funnily enough, I don’t remember Tuch playing THAT WELL when he was a member of the Golden Knights. And while Pat McMahon of WBUF can claim all they want that Eichel was a leader, he’s also shown nowhere near the leadership ability as Tuch, who played a pivotal role in the Sabres turnaround literally since he skated onto the ice at KeyBank Center.

While there was turmoil during Eichel’s time in Buffalo, he did absolutely nothing to pick up the team and carry them on his shoulders in the way a team captain is supposed to. Eichel never made the team better, and they suffered through arguably their worst stretch in franchise history with him on the roster.