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Local media station claims Buffalo Sabres are losing Jack Eichel trade

By Sion Fawkes

Jun 13, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson (20) hands over Stanley Cup to forward Jack Eichel (9) after defeating the Florida Panthers in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson (20) hands over Stanley Cup to forward Jack Eichel (9) after defeating the Florida Panthers in game five of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Sabres
Nov 10, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) looks to make a pass as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Why no real winner exists

Since Vegas, who has been a good hockey team since their inception in 2017-18, needed to break through that elusive wall to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, they needed to be a big buyer. Whether it was trading for Eichel or someone else, Vegas had their sights set on winning a Cup because they were in position to win one, and they also needed to stop falling short of winning.

And if they traded for someone other than Eichel, chances are they’re still hoisting the Cup this season. It’s not like Eichel took the team there. He didn’t pick up a downtrodden Vegas Golden Knights team and elevate them to the next level. Sure, Vegas missed the playoffs in 2021-22, but as last season proved, good teams like the 2022-23 Buffalo Sabres can miss the playoffs, and the Knights were a good hockey team two years ago.

Buffalo needed to get relevant again, and trading Eichel and a third for Tuch, Krebs, a first, and a second made them relevant again. In fact, they nearly became more than relevant. And while they are still a young hockey team who may still get even younger, what the Sabres have been doing reminds me a lot of what successful small market teams do in the MLB, or what the Pittsburgh Steelers have been doing in the NFL since 1972.

It’s called building through the draft, trading away or getting rid of talent that no longer helps your team, and acquiring young talent and assets that will. Not saying the trade would ultimately create the NHL’s next great dynasty, that would be farfetched, but the trade gave the Buffalo Sabres new life and hope that it hadn’t seen in over a decade.

Related Story. Sabres Fans: Don’t be irked over former players winning Cups. light

So yeah, if you claim the Sabres are losing this trade because Eichel was lifting the Stanley Cup, I’m going to debate that erroneous take while simultaneously admitting I made the error in claiming the Blue and Gold were winning, or already won the trade. Sure, Eichel won the Cup, but the Sabres find themselves in an outstanding position to compete. Because in just their second full season without Eichel, they went further than they ever did when he was a member of the team.

Source: The Buffalo Sabres really screwed up with Jack Eichel by Pat McMahon, WBUF.com

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