The Buffalo Sabres want to re-sign their best player to a new mega-contract.
Jack Eichel has an appetite to sign said contract.
So, what gives?
Why are we two days away from the start of training camp and Eichel is still waiting for the press conference to announce his new contract extension.
Simply put, the term of 8 years is agreeable to both parties. However, the Sabres are going to have to make the average annual value a smudge higher. I've been trumpeting for over six months that Eichel will be a $10 million AAV player for the duration of his new contract.
In NASCAR terms, Eichel is drafting off Connor McDavid right now.
"Drafting" is also known as "slipstreaming", which is a popular strategy whereby two fast vehicles or other moving objects are caused to align in a close group reducing the overall effect of wind drag due to exploiting the lead object's slipstream. In other words, the "draft" created by the faster lead car in a pack creates a force that pulls the other cars behind it.
In other words, McDavid is the driver of the "faster" car that is "pulling" Eichel and other young stars to the victory circle.
I've used the term "high tide floats all ships" to describe the McDavid-Eichel relevance on salaries for young stars as they move out of their entry level deals.
Drafting also applies.
McDavid, 20, signed an 8-year, $100 million contract extension in July. McDavid will be a $12.5M AAV guy after this season.
Last month, McDavid's Edmonton Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl, 21, signed an 8-year, $68 million contract with an $8.5M AAV.
Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen, 25, a former RFA, recently signed an 8-year, $64 million contract ($8 million AAV).
Eichel wants his fair market value. Which will end up being in the $10 million to $10.5 million average annual value neighborhood.
On Monday night, Botterill said he is hoping to get Eichel's new deal signed "shortly".
Eichel is entering the final season of his entry level contract. He's not freaking about about the slow pace of his negotiations. Eichel knows that good things take time.
Eichel wants Buffalo. Buffalo wants Eichel.
A mutually agreeable deal will be finalized soon.
In negotiations, deadlines are critical. The opening of training camp is a deadline that will create a sense of urgency for all parties concerned. I've said it before and will say it again: Eichel trusts his agents to do his bidding for him. While his agents are "arm
wrestling" (hardly) with Botterill, Eichel continues to skate with his Sabres teammate.
"Both parties would really like to get a deal done," Botterill said. "Do we have a deal done? No, not yet, but we continue to be very cordial in our discussions and it has to be a situation where both groups are very comfortable with where the number is at, where the term is at and are excited about continuing this relationship moving forward."
Training camp will officially open on Thursday 9/14 when players assemble to do individual fitness testing. The Sabres play their first exhibition game on September 18.
Recently, Eichel told the Associated Press:
"I have no problem playing the year out. I'm adamant about staying a Sabre, I want to bring some new excitement to this town and the contract thing will take care of itself."
On Monday night, after the close of the Prospects Challenge tourney in Buffalo that featured Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Boston and New Jersey, Botterill stills in the pocket and delivered a tight spiral in terms of an update on Eichel's new contract.
"In a situation like this, it's an important deal for the organization, it's an important deal for Jack," Botterill added Monday. "All I would say is that I still think conversations are very cordial, very positive from that standpoint and when you have both parties wanting to get a deal done, I do believe eventually a deal will get done."
Thanks, Sabres.com
Eichel, 20, has scored 113 points (48 goals and 65 assists) in just 142 regular-season NHL games played. His 2016-17 season started in late November rather than in October due to having to miss the first 21 games of the new campaign due to a dastardly high ankle sprain that he suffered the day before the season opener. Despite the injury,Eichel was still brilliant in scoring 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) in 61 games.
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