There is a medical cost to either surgery. What is the Sabres' health insurance company saying? Are they willing to approve either procedure? NO ONE is paying for this out of pocket. There just may be a third party authorization standing in the way. You know, cause that is how it works with health care procedures. PRIOR AUTHORIZATION SIGN OFF.

Just a thought.
- TC4145

Insurance companies really have the power. Especially with a player owed $50M. That ain't small change.

I think he’s using the disk replacement surgery as a quasi NTC and the second he’s dealt he’ll just get the fusion.

He’s doing whatever he can to get out of Buffalo ASAP
- Pegullaville

I disagree.

1. Jack first and foremost wants to play hockey and play in the Olympics. If he was pulling a stunt as described above, it would be completely contradictory and needlessly harmful to his career and image.

2. Jack has kept this fight up for a long time, and during his presser, made me fully believe that the org won't let him do what he wants to do for his present and future health. Jack's a lot of things, but I doubt he's a good actor and liar. Have you heard those Dr. Shatkin commercials? His acting skills stink.

3. The team and Jack don't want him to be here anymore. That much is a given. If it were me, and I had the opportunity to drop the lie to escape, I'd do it in an instant.

4. It's been made crystal clear by Adams and Eichel that there's a disagreement in medical opinion. Say what you want about Kyvyn but the man is pretty honest. I simply refuse to believe that everyone is 'choosing' to go through all of this headache.

No body is paying up for a guy who’s going to miss most of the season

If they keep him until next offseason, no one is paying up for a guy who hasn’t played hockey in a year and a half.

No one is paying up unless he gets healthy and plays NHL games as a Sabre, and by stripping the C off him that effectively ends any chance of that happening
- sbroads24

Why would any of the teams that want him care if he misses most of the season? They would only care if they got him at the end of the season. Hell, missing most of the season would make it easier to get under the cap.

Insurance companies really have the power. Especially with a player owed $50M. That ain't small change.
- Michael Pachla

This is also another reason why I think this gets settled soon. Jack may want the surgery but he also knows the window that he is working with here (playing this year, the Olympics).

The way it sounds to me is, if there's negotiating, it's which teams are willing to bet on Eichel being Eichel and allowing his preferred method. His preference is not happening in Buffalo, unless there's a written agreement in place with another team for a trade post surgery.
- TheSabresTaco

If they can come to an agreement behind the scenes between all parties, this is complicated, that's the best case scenario.

Jack is owed $50m on his deal. I as an owner would not want to see a $50m investment be the first NHL player to have this surgery done on them. If Gus wants it? Fine. Joker? Sure. But not Jack
- Michael Pachla

Sabres side is completely reasonable. I think Jack's is too. Resolution was to trade him. So here we are.

CBA has completely failed here.

No body is paying up for a guy who’s going to miss most of the season

If they keep him until next offseason, no one is paying up for a guy who hasn’t played hockey in a year and a half.

No one is paying up unless he gets healthy and plays NHL games as a Sabre, and by stripping the C off him that effectively ends any chance of that happening
- sbroads24

I know it's a reach but I believe the phrasing was the Jack agreed to give up the C in order to not be a distraction to the team. I think you could argue either way, but to me it was a good move to symbolically move past Jack. The guy doesn't want to be here, the world knows, you shouldn't have a captain who is not only not present, and not a leader of men, and doesn't want to be there regardless.

Him grasping onto the C, not that he probably had a choice anyway, but the Sabres letting him clutch it, what does that say about the org? To me, it says they're feckless cucks. And I'm glad I got to use those two words together in a hockey discussion.

Why would any of the teams that want him care if he misses most of the season? They would only care if they got him at the end of the season. Hell, missing most of the season would make it easier to get under the cap.
- Slump Buster

Becuse any team acquiring him is most likely trying to make the playoffs.

ALso terrible PR, we acquired a guy for a X assets who may not be healthy this year, and we dont know if hes actually still the same player he once was.

I disagree.

1. Jack first and foremost wants to play hockey and play in the Olympics. If he was pulling a stunt as described above, it would be completely contradictory and needlessly harmful to his career and image.

2. Jack has kept this fight up for a long time, and during his presser, made me fully believe that the org won't let him do what he wants to do for his present and future health. Jack's a lot of things, but I doubt he's a good actor and liar. Have you heard those Dr. Shatkin commercials? His acting skills stink.

3. The team and Jack don't want him to be here anymore. That much is a given. If it were me, and I had the opportunity to drop the lie to escape, I'd do it in an instant.

4. It's been made crystal clear by Adams and Eichel that there's a disagreement in medical opinion. Say what you want about Kyvyn but the man is pretty honest. I simply refuse to believe that everyone is 'choosing' to go through all of this headache.
- TheSabresTaco

All very good points, but why not go to arbitration then ?

Med costs are covered by the insurance policies they have on the players!! You think they don’t have the skirt covered? Alll asstest are covered!!

Dahlin was in Buffalo anticipating the signing of a contract. Callback to our earlier conversation, Boss.
- TheSabresTaco

Ok thank you for the follow up ☝️

Sabres side is completely reasonable. I think Jack's is too. Resolution was to trade him. So here we are.

CBA has completely failed here.
- Lunaion

Not sure. How do you provide provisions that force a player to receive a team elected surgery? Or even say, yeah, you can go to arb, but if you lose, you have to receive said surgery. That's dangerous language.

Why would any of the teams that want him care if he misses most of the season? They would only care if they got him at the end of the season. Hell, missing most of the season would make it easier to get under the cap.
- Slump Buster

Seriously? Not every team is the Sabres. Some actually like winning hockey games

All very good points, but why not go to arbitration then ?
- Pegullaville

The only logical theory is that he knows he'll lose. If he loses, how is he going to convince any other team that it's the right decision?

Becuse any team acquiring him is most likely trying to make the playoffs.

ALso terrible PR, we acquired a guy for a X assets who may not be healthy this year, and we dont know if hes actually still the same player he once was.
- ImThatGuy

I don't think most of the teams trying to acquire him are worried about any of that. Is Vegas worried about not making the playoffs? How about the Kings? Nope. The Ducks are in and they probably aren't going to make the playoffs.

Let me get this straight - a team is going to acquire a star player but fans will be angry because he can't play right away? Noooooo.

End of the day the skirt want to play in the Olympics!! So you figure it?

Seriously? Not every team is the Sabres. Some actually like winning hockey games
- sbroads24

Because most good teams aren't pressing to make the playoffs. They are only focused on what happens in the playoffs. You're making my point for me. Crap teams like us are worried about having someone like that so that he can help get them out of mediocrity. It's the same reason that good teams pick up players at the deadline.

Jack is owed $50m on his deal. I as an owner would not want to see a $50m investment be the first NHL player to have this surgery done on them. If Gus wants it? Fine. Joker? Sure. But not Jack
- Michael Pachla

I'm not seeing the difference between Gus and jack ☝️

Because most good teams aren't pressing to make the playoffs. They are only focused on what happens in the playoffs. You're making my point for me. Crap teams like us are worried about having someone like that so that he can help get them out of mediocrity. It's the same reason that good teams pick up players at the deadline.
- Slump Buster

Would you pay full price for a car you can’t drive for the first 6 months?

No team is paying full price for Eichel if he’s missing a lot of games. No one

Imagine having the leading surgeon in disc replacement in the United States telling a medical board that it's not a good idea for Jack to do it. I bet that would go (frank)ing amazing for him.

Not sure. How do you provide provisions that force a player to receive a team elected surgery? Or even say, yeah, you can go to arb, but if you lose, you have to receive said surgery. That's dangerous language.
- TheSabresTaco

I don't think you should be able to force someone to have a surgery either. That means there's no form of resolution here and we're just stuck waiting for someone to give in.

Why would any of the teams that want him care if he misses most of the season? They would only care if they got him at the end of the season. Hell, missing most of the season would make it easier to get under the cap.
- Slump Buster

Yes, very good post.

I'm not seeing the difference between Gus and jack ☝️
- Boss34

Girgensons will score more points than Eichel this year.

Big Bold Predictions, starting a Patreon for anyone that wants to join my sub.

In a nutshell the skirt will be healthy for Olympics

Seriously? Not every team is the Sabres. Some actually like winning hockey games
- sbroads24

Look at the kucherov situation, one of the better players in the league, he misses most of the season, team doesn’t miss a beat, wins the cup.

If you were a contending team and could add Eichel to your playoff roster and not have to worry about his cap hit, would that not be a huge advantage to the acquiring team.