On the morning after Zach Bogosian and the Tampa Lighting won the Stanley Cup, Buffalo Sabres general manage Kevyn Adams clapped back at the Jack Eichel trade speculation.
Adams now has more work cut out for himself that the Stanley Cup winning team is sitting high atop the Atlantic Division. If the Sabres are going to qualify for the 2020-21 Stanley Cup playoffs, they will have to defeat improved division fors Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Florida.
Adams told The Instigators (former Sabres players Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet) that he has “no intention… of trading his franchise player.
“People (NHL GMs) call and make phone calls and ask about players every day,… Adams said. “My job is to listen, and we have no intention of shopping Jack Eichel. People call and you have conversations. That’s it.…
If I am being honest, I wish Adams would have told the interviewer to go to hell while punching his desk and proclaiming his burning desire to win a Stanley Cup in 2020-21 with Eichel at the helm.
Adams, the rookie NHL general manager who took over for Jason Botterill in June, is now tasked with having to manage the Eichel tempest in a teapot. It's the first major adversity that Adams has had to deal with in his short time on the job. Adams better change into a flame retardant pinstripe suit because the heat is increasing by the hour under his desk chair.
On Monday afternoon, just hours before the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars in Game 6 to win their second Stanley Cup championship in their franchise history, Bob McKenzie tweeted that he had dug around and learned that the New York Rangers are one of the NHL clubs to have contacted Adams to inquire about Eichel’s availability.
On Monday, Eichel's agent, Peter Fish, told McKenzie that the captain of the Sabres has not requested to be traded. Eichel patiently continues to get his body and mind ready is preparing for the 2020-21 season with the Sabres.
The Sabres were one of seven NHL teams to be skipped over for consideration for the return to play and Stanley Cup playoffs.
Four months ago, Eichel spoke with Buffalo and said:
“It’s been a tough couple of months. It’s been a tough five years.…
“Listen, I’m fed up with the losing and I’m fed up and I’m frustrated,… Eichel said.
“You know, it’s definitely not an easy pill to swallow right now.…
Before the NHL season was abruptly shut down on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eichel tucked a career-high 36 goals and a team-high 78 points in 68 games this past season. Eichel's season highlight was when he scored points in 17 consecutive games.
Tell me, Kevyn Adams. What is your intention regarding the most valuable player on your team Jack Eichel?
Adams said Tuesday that he is willing to consider to trade the eighth overall pick in the talent rich 2020 NHL Draft.