Buffalo Sabres: Jack Eichel’s situation getting messy after agents speaks out

With Jack Eichel still a member of the Buffalo Sabres, his agents have decided to turn up the heat and call out the team for a lack of progress.

The saga between the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel has taken an ugly turn with his agency calling out the team for the lack of progress in trade talks, saying the process is not working.”

"“As previously stated, we fully anticipated a trade by the start of the NHL free agency period,” Eichel’s agents, Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli, said in a statement. “After the agreed upon and prescribed period for conservative rehabilitation lapsed in early June 2021, it was determined by the Sabres medical staff that a surgical process was required.”"

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Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams made it clear that the team is under no pressure to trade Eichel and that they are in control of the process. At this rate, Adams is doing what he can to ensure the team is getting the most out of their top trade asset.

However, trading Eichel is only part of the battle his representation is facing with the Sabres. The star center is dealing with a neck injury and both sides have been at odds on how to treat it.

Eichel wants to have disk replacement surgery but Buffalo’s medical staff won’t sign off on it because no NHL players have had the operation. This is certainly a more significant development considering the disconnect between the team and Eichel has led to this situation getting worse.

Where do the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel go from here?

Many have wondered what has delayed the Sabres’ attempt to trade Eichel and now we are starting to understand how his injury is playing more of a factor than we may think.

Without any assurances of Eichel’s medical status going into next season, it’s likely that teams may not want to take the risk. If the Sabres medical staff won’t sign off on the surgery, will other teams?

Eichel’s agents have made it clear that he would be ready to play at the start of the season if he were to get the procedure done. Unfortunately, Eichel is under contract with the Sabres and they have the final say on what happens when it comes to his treatment.

This could be a situation where the NHLPA might have to get involved if his agents believe that a decision needs to be made soon. Unfortunately for Buffalo, this will continue to go down the wrong path and will likely only be resolved with the Sabres captain shipped off to another team.

Considering how the team has been operating this offseason, there is no reason why Eichel should want to stay and the Sabres can’t expect him to.

What are your thoughts on the situation between Eichel and the Sabres? Do you think this will lead to him being moved or a resolution? Let us know in the comments below.