Jack Eichel’s time with the Buffalo Sabres is officially over. The Sabres announced on Thursday that they have traded the star center to the Vegas Golden Knights.
According to the announcement, Buffalo received forwards Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch alongside draft compensation in return. They get a top-10 protected 2022 first-rounder and a 2023 second-round selection while sending a 2023 third-rounder to Vegas as part of the deal. If Vegas’ first-round pick next year falls in the top 10, the Sabres will receive an unprotected first-rounder in 2023.
Eichel isn’t expected to play for the Golden Knights anytime soon, considering he needs to have surgery in order to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He is expected to have a disk replacement procedure in the following days and is looking at three months recovery period before he can be cleared for contact.
This surgery was the main reason why the relationship between the Sabres and Jack Eichel deteriorated to the point that they needed to part ways. The organization wanted Eichel to get fusion surgery, which is the common procedure in herniated disk injuries. The player, on the other hand, wanted disk replacement, although this was never performed on an NHL player before. After two sides couldn’t agree on the next step, Eichel asked to be traded.
Eichel played 375 games for the Sabres since making his NHL debut during the 2015/16 season. He scored 139 goals and dished 216 assists for a total of 355 points, and has three All-Star nods.
Krebs, the Golden Knights first round pick in 2019, played 13 career games in NHL and has one assist to his name. Tuch, who spent four seasons with Vegas, played 249 games with the franchise and contributed with 139 points.
