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
- sbroads24

If there were only a handful of such cars and I needed one? Yeah, I would. There are only a handful of these cars. We did it with Kane (never mind that we overpaid).

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.
- Lunaion

There's no way to win. You can't let the team give in. Sure they might be able to recoup salary and contract termination and all that, but what if it destroys their asset? Sorry, as a player you're an asset. Are you given picks based on that players ATOI and P/60? What if the player chooses poorly and the CBA language allows him and then he turns around and sues the NHLPA for letting him make a bad decision?

Yes, very good post.
- Boss34

I'm going to sell you a house.

One of the most expensive house on the market.

Thing is it might be structurally unsound.

We might not know for awhile.

Also, you cant live in the house for a very long time.

I still want full market value for the house though and ill take nothing less so don't bother countering.

If there were only a handful of such cars and I needed one? Yeah, I would. There are only a handful of these cars. We did it with Kane (never mind that we overpaid).
- Slump Buster

It’s sort of been proven that these teams don’t feel they need Eichel.

I’m just sort of baffled as to how anyone thinks a team is gonna end up paying the piper for Eichel at this point

They didn’t all offseason and the Sabres are making it public they want to trade him

Nothings gonna change

If there were only a handful of such cars and I needed one? Yeah, I would. There are only a handful of these cars. We did it with Kane (never mind that we overpaid).
- Slump Buster

Who "Needs" Eichel?

I was just told Eichel wont matter to teams trying to make the playoffs.

I'm going to sell you a house.

One of the most expensive house on the market.

Thing is it might be structurally unsound.

We might not know for awhile.

Also, you cant live in the house for a very long time.

I still want full market value for the house though and ill take nothing less so don't bother countering.
- ImThatGuy

He will come with a certain amount of risk that other players won't have, to be sure.

.... but #1 centers don't grow on trees. When he gets his surgery he will be marked as healthy and someone will pay.

Who "Needs" Eichel?

I was just told Eichel wont matter to teams trying to make the playoffs.
- ImThatGuy

The good teams will be in the playoffs. That was the point. That's why they pony up at the trade deadline.

Vegas needs him, no doubt.

It's a business.

Dahlin's going to the KHL. Lol, didn't happen.

Owen Power isn't going to be happy in Buffalo. Power: "I would love to be a part of the Buffalo Sabres. Nice and close to home. I know they've got a rich history. It would be an honor to play for them and to get drafted by them."


The Doom and Gloom crowd worries about crap for almost no reason.
- Powerslave

Its always raining for ThatdumbGuy

Who "Needs" Eichel?

I was just told Eichel wont matter to teams trying to make the playoffs.
- ImThatGuy

That’s the rub.

If teams “needed him” he would’ve been dealt by now.

Teams don’t. It’s not changing

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

Cause hockey History shows no evidence to support Jacks case.

When theres no other case to look at and go "it worked here" or "it didnt work here because" its pretty hard to win.

Yeah he has some doctors on his side but The Sabres will just show that there is not a single guy that has had this surgery in the sport.

He has a better chance of the Sabres saying "go get it" than a third party

The good teams will be in the playoffs. That was the point. That's why they pony up at the trade deadline.

Vegas needs him, no doubt.
- Slump Buster

Montreal needed him(or someone like him) too this past playoffs. Probably why they were part of the sweepstakes

That’s the rub.

If teams “needed him” he would’ve been dealt by now.

Teams don’t. It’s not changing
- sbroads24

Here’s my theory with Eichel.

A) teams rich in prospects can appeal to Buffalo, however if they make the prospect laden deal while still being 1-2 years away from really being competitive (Anaheim for example) then they are in the same boat that Buffalo has been in the last couple of years.

B) cup contenders or serious contenders may not have the prospects or picks in the range the Sabres want, and since they are cap strapped, they would have to blow up a significant portion of the roster to bring Jack in, in the first place.

For example, the likelihood of Rossi or Boldy being as good as Eichel is less than 10% but the two of them plus cap space may give Minny a deeper team when it’s all said and done

Here’s my theory with Eichel.

A) teams rich in prospects can appeal to Buffalo, however if they make the prospect laden deal while still being 1-2 years away from really being competitive (Anaheim for example) then they are in the same boat that Buffalo has been in the last couple of years.

B) cup contenders or serious contenders may not have the prospects or picks in the range the Sabres one and since they are cap strapped would have to blow up a significant portion of the roster to bring Jack in, in the first place.

For example, the likelihood of Rossi or Boldy being as good as Eichel is less than 10% but the two of them plus cap space may give Minny a deeper team when it’s all said and done
- Pegullaville

Sooo the only scenario is him coming back to play here?

Could anyone imagine that? I can't

That’s the rub.

If teams “needed him” he would’ve been dealt by now.

Teams don’t. It’s not changing
- sbroads24

Huh? Lots of teams need him to get over the playoff hump and be legit contenders.

It hasn't been done by now because the teams also do not have any urgency as the season hasn't even started.

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.
- TheSabresTaco

isn't that what has basically been happening? All the other doctors say fusion, Only Jacks wants replacement.

There's no way to win. You can't let the team give in. Sure they might be able to recoup salary and contract termination and all that, but what if it destroys their asset? Sorry, as a player you're an asset. Are you given picks based on that players ATOI and P/60? What if the player chooses poorly and the CBA language allows him and then he turns around and sues the NHLPA for letting him make a bad decision?
- TheSabresTaco

I don't have the answer, but there's gotta be something better than a 5 year stalemate.

This has gotten good, why don't we see how this all plays out. Think I will worry about who is on the ice and hope a few youngins surprise me.

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

if Jack really wanted to go to the olympics, they would have filed the paper work for medical arbitration a long time ago

I'm going to sell you a house.

One of the most expensive house on the market.

Thing is it might be structurally unsound.

We might not know for awhile.

Also, you cant live in the house for a very long time.

I still want full market value for the house though and ill take nothing less so don't bother countering.
- ImThatGuy

not sure I would use houses for an example as they are going for 30 percent over asking price nowadays down here

Sooo the only scenario is him coming back to play here?

Could anyone imagine that? I can't
- DirtyDan

There is going to have to be a compromise somewhere.

Adams will have to lower his ask, teams will have to offer a little bit more

That’s the rub.

If teams “needed him” he would’ve been dealt by now.

Teams don’t. It’s not changing
- sbroads24

I think a lot of this falls on Jack

There is going to have to be a compromise somewhere.

Adams will have to lower his ask, teams will have to offer a little bit more
- Pegullaville

since jack did not go to medical arbitration nor did he have the surgery I am wondering if he is holding firm to get his wish next summer and go to the team he wants

not sure I would use houses for an example as they are going for 30 percent over asking price nowadays down here
- homiedclown

Trading Risto was like selling a house today.

Trading Eichel/Reinhart is like trying to sell a house in 2008/2009

if Jack really wanted to go to the olympics, they would have filed the paper work for medical arbitration a long time ago
- homiedclown

Exactly, it's to late, even if he had the surgery tomorrow he would be lucky to play in the Olympics. That UFC Fighter Wideman got cleared for full contact 5 1/2 months after his Disc replacement. He's the best example for the whip lash affects.

Trading Risto was like selling a house today.

Trading Eichel/Reinhart is like trying to sell a house in 2008/2009
- Pegullaville

we still have a few "zombie" houses around here from that bubble