Jack Eichel traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, did the Buffalo Sabres get enough?
By Jordan Laroche
Jack Eichel traded to Vegas Golden Knights but was it enough?
After four months of thinking ‘today is the day,’ Jack Eichel has been traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The former second overall pick had requested for a trade during the offseason but after many teams that were ‘in’ on Eichel, Vegas claims the sweepstakes. Vegas sent Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, first and third round picks back to the Buffalo Sabres, but could they have gotten more?
One of the main reasons Eichel requested the trade was that the Buffalo Sabres were not willing to let him have the artificial disk replacement, which would keep him out for at least 3-4 months. Had Eichel been traded during the summer the Sabres could have received more as he would be able to play more this season.
One rumored offer from the New York Rangers included Alexander Georgiev, Vitali Kravtsov, Zac Jones and either a first round pick or an ‘established’ NHLer. Even though the Sabres have come out of the gates strong, adding two NHL-ready prospects in Jones and Kravtsov and a potential starting goalie would set the Sabres up long term.
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams did not want to trade Eichel to an Eastern team, and with the Rangers strong start to the season it is presumed that they did not want to disband their team just yet.
While Alex Tuch may look like the centrepiece in Eichel’s return, Peyton Krebs could become the best part of this deal. He has five points in two games with Vegas’ AHL affiliate the Henderson Silver Knights, while he will remain in the AHL for now, he plays an aggressive game and was a highly touted prospect coming out of the WHL.
While Alex Tuch can help Buffalo in the short term, with five years left on his deal, look at Peyton Krebs and who the Sabres take with the first-round pick to see who wins this trade.