Bringing back lehner?

Awesome. He can lose more shootouts than literally anyone. Also the timely soft goal benefits the rest of the division..
- broc

Except the mighty Leafs. Who had 2 more SO losses.

I dont watch a lot of sabre games.I saw maybe 7 or 8 of them.Eichel seems to be missing that little something that makes special players special.10 mil for him is too much.He isnt close to mcdavid or crosby.7 million is where he should be.Its good your not the gm of the sabres.lol
- flyeredup85

You missed it. Eichel definitely has "it".

You missed it. Eichel definitely has "it".
- Wetbandit1

herpes?

herpes?
- TheGame316

Probably. 90% of people have at least one strain.

Probably. 90% of people have at least one strain.
- Wetbandit1

He's better than Matthews.
- Jammerz04

Um, the numbers would not support that theory. Matthews has always had superior numbers to Eichel. USNTDP Under-18 Team? Better numbers. 1st year in NHL? Better numbers. Matthews lead his young team to a playoff birth in his first NHL season. Scored 40 goals. Calder Trophy. Eichel, despite playing with a more veteran team, lead a team to the second worst record in the Eastern Conference. Oh yes, Jack missed 21 games. But the Sabres actually had a worse record with him IN the lineup and out.

Eichel is a nice young player but he ain't no Matthews and he certainly ain't no McDavid.

Crosby is worth the max, he took a major pay cut. Is Malkin $800K per year better than Sid? I think not, yet he's paid it.

$10M is crazy, so is $13.25M for McDavid.
- Wetbandit1

Crosby didn't take any pay cut. He signed a 12 year contact that will pay him 3 million a year for the last 3. Malkin signed a 8 year that pays him 9.5 across the board. Crosby signed his extension before he lockout allowing that type of contact, Malkin was after so they couldn't add the last couple of years to decrease the cap value. If you look at only the first 8 years, Crosby cap hit would be slightly over $11m. He is actually making more real money then Malkin.

The question is if he actually plays the last 3 years. With his concussion history I don't think he makes it to 38.

Really? Based on what?
Mathews has been amazing all it of the gates....Eichel has been pretty good, not great.

What does Eichel have to do with McDavids new contract? McDavid won every trophy the NHL offers practically. Eichel still has to earn his money going forward. McJesus already did. Eichel will get his but you can't compare the two yet as far as contract terms.

This is not the 90's, the NHL now has a salary cap, that should be taken very, very seriously by GM's, owners, and players. Chicago is sinking fast because they did not respect the consequences of giving guys too much $$. Jack should not be looking at McDavid, he should be looking at guys like Hall, Eberle, Panarin, Saad. All guys that had to be shipped out because their team, and buddies on their team wanted to "hit a home run" with big contracts. Look at Edmonton, who gave Eberle, Hall, and RNH $6 mill contracts before they earned or deserved them. Now look at Stamkos, Crosby, and Malkin, all guys who took reasonable salaries, "team" salaries. I bet Tampa wins a Cup before Edmonton does. Jack did not earn that bonus last year because he was not in the top 10 in points per game. Simple. I love Jack, and hope he is a Sabre for a long time. That being said, I hope he understands the impact his new contract will have on his team, his teammates, his owner, management, and himself.

Really? Based on what?
Mathews has been amazing all it of the gates....Eichel has been pretty good, not great.
- Larsson_fan

Sword fan here and I can't disagree, if you do you're just like Garth.

Kopitar and Toews got $10 million on their 3rd contracts, coming off their 2nd contract, not their 2nd coming off their entry level. By the time they signed their 3rd contracts, both had the hardware to demand those numbers. For their 2nd contract both signed in the 6-7 million range. Both had similar stats to Jack after 2 years, Toews already had a cup by then.

Even with the inflation of the cap, I can't see how Jack can ask for more then 7.5 million.
- VT001

I thought i explained this well enough, but i guess not

He's watching McDavid with eager anticipation because his agent tells him he's sure to get about half the AAV?

Um, the numbers would not support that theory. Matthews has always had superior numbers to Eichel. USNTDP Under-18 Team? Better numbers. 1st year in NHL? Better numbers. Matthews lead his young team to a playoff birth in his first NHL season. Scored 40 goals. Calder Trophy. Eichel, despite playing with a more veteran team, lead a team to the second worst record in the Eastern Conference. Oh yes, Jack missed 21 games. But the Sabres actually had a worse record with him IN the lineup and out.

Eichel is a nice young player but he ain't no Matthews and he certainly ain't no McDavid.
- BernardShakey

This all might be true, but Eichel has better hair.

Sword fan here and I can't disagree, if you do you're just like Garth.
- LamontSanford

While I do think Matthews is the better player, and Matthews does have the stats and facts in his favour, it's not like it's a runaway at this point.

This all might be true, but Eichel has better hair.
- 1979AD

Eichel better watch out. He's got some competition for ugliest guy on the team now that they drafted Mittelstadt.

If Draisatl just edged out Eichel last year then wouldn't Eichel be looking at more like a Draisatl contract than McDavid.

Nobody is in McDavid's league.

While I do think Matthews is the better player, and Matthews does have the stats and facts in his favour, it's not like it's a runaway at this point.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Eichel Matthews Laine all in the same category, below Mcdavid

He's better than Matthews.
- Jammerz04

Actually - - no he's not.

Pretty simple test of that in my mind.

Ask yourself if you would trade Matthews away to get Eichel - one for one - totally a hockey trade with no salaries or anything else in play. . I have to think that 90% of knowledgeable hockey people would not do this. If you were to say yes to that trade then you are likely evaluating Eichel on perceived future value - not on what he has shown up to now.

10??? There's no way the oilers would pay draisaitl 10m a year. Why should eichel get that? Should be 7.
- edmhatescal

What a difference a couple of years makes - Gaudreau 6.75 Mil, Monahan 6.25 Mil, McKinnon, Barkov all in the same general range. I thought at the time that those were expensive contracts but man - they are looking pretty good considering the numbers that are now being thrown around for McDavid, Drasaitl and Eichel!

Jack Eichel will show everyone whats up this year -

This dude lives off this crap.