Will Jack Eichel Ever Play For The Sabres Again?

[bob_sauve28]

Opinions differ. I go back and forth on this one. I'm leaning towards no, but I also think anything can happen. 

[Digger]

I'm in the "I don't know" camp.  I think the easy answer is "No" but perhaps he gets surgery or some sort of treatment that works and then eventually plays a couple of games to demonstrate his return to health before a trade.

So my answer is "No but maybe a game or two to demonstrate he can still play before a trade".

[Taro T]

Head says no.

Heart says hope he does.

[LabattBlue]

NEVER.  Not even if he has surgery while still Sabres property, and teams want to see him in action prior to trading for him.

[msw2112]

Until recently, I had been of the mindset that Eichel might thrive in Granato's system and if the team was succeeding, he might be willing to bury the hatchet and return to the Sabres after recovering from his surgery.  The up tempo game might suit his skillset and he would have fun playing hockey again, etc.  He could raise his career to new heights.  It would be a win-win.

My mind has changed.  Indications are that there was a segment of players on the roster in recent years who were dispectful to the staff, treated the less talented players poorly, and were essentially prima donnas and classless dic*heads.  It fractured the team and ruined chemistry.  If Eichel is one of those guys (what I read did not identify the names), I would rather see him move on, his talent notwithstanding.  I would also assume that Reihnart was one of those guys and probably Taylor Hall last year.  What the team is doing may be what the Bills did when they purged some of those types of guys - high talent, but poor character and poor for team chemistry (such as Sammy Watkins and Marcel Dareus).  I am all for process and team chemistry, so I am OK with moving on from Eichel.  Focus on high character guys with "medium" talent (like Okposo, Girgensons, etc.) and a few character guys with higher talent levels like Dahlin and Couzens (and Quinn, JJ, etc. when they complete their development in Rochester).

Edited October 21, 2021 by msw2112

[Cal Naughton Jr]

 

what was the question again?

 

[bob_sauve28]

42 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

Until recently, I had been of the mindset that Eichel might thrive in Granato's system and if the team was succeeding, he might be willing to bury the hatchet and return to the Sabres after recovering from his surgery.  The up tempo game might suit his skillset and he would have fun playing hockey again, etc.  He could raise his career to new heights.  It would be a win-win.

My mind has changed.  Indications are that there was a segment of players on the roster in recent years who were dispectful to the staff, treated the less talented players poorly, and were essentially prima donnas and classless dic*heads.  It fractured the team and ruined chemistry.  If Eichel is one of those guys (what I read did not identify the names), I would rather see him move on, his talent notwithstanding.  I would also assume that Reihnart was one of those guys and probably Taylor Hall last year.  What the team is doing may be what the Bills did when they purged some of those types of guys - high talent, but poor character and poor for team chemistry (such as Sammy Watkins and Marcel Dareus).  I am all for process and team chemistry, so I am OK with moving on from Eichel.  Focus on high character guys with "medium" talent (like Okposo, Girgensons, etc.) and a few character guys with higher talent levels like Dahlin and Couzens (and Quinn, JJ, etc. when they complete their development in Rochester).

Team chemistry does seem light years ahead of where it was, no doubt. 

[K-9]

Eichel will have to show he’s back to 100% at some point before he can be traded for a return commensurate with his status as an elite player, but I can’t see that showing being with the Sabres. Do NHL players do rehab stints in the minors like baseball players? If so, and thinking Jack won’t be doing that in Rochester either, can he be loaned to another NHL team’s AHL affiliate for that stretch of games? If so, might an interested trade partner see that as preferable before pulling the trigger on a deal for Eichel?

[MattPie]

37 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Eichel will have to show he’s back to 100% at some point before he can be traded for a return commensurate with his status as an elite player, but I can’t see that showing being with the Sabres. Do NHL players do rehab stints in the minors like baseball players? If so, and thinking Jack won’t be doing that in Rochester either, can he be loaned to another NHL team’s AHL affiliate for that stretch of games? If so, might an interested trade partner see that as preferable before pulling the trigger on a deal for Eichel?

At some point, the CBA allowed for a 2-week conditioning assignment in the AHL. Seems.. unlikely that the Sabres would send him some other AHL team though. I'm not sure there's benefit there enough to outweigh the risks.

[K-9]

Just now, MattPie said:

At some point, the CBA allowed for a 2-week conditioning assignment in the AHL. Seems.. unlikely that the Sabres would send him some other AHL team though. I'm not sure there's benefit there enough to outweigh the risks.

Fair point to be sure. Where does Eichel show he’s back and prove to potential trade partners he’s worth the price? I just can’t see that being on this team given the current circumstances. 

[bob_sauve28]

11 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Fair point to be sure. Where does Eichel show he’s back and prove to potential trade partners he’s worth the price? I just can’t see that being on this team given the current circumstances. 

I know totally different situation, but I am reminded of Andrea Reed's horrible ham string injury and the Bills just gave him a personal try out before signing him. Wonder if other teams will just go on a physical and try out? 

[Buffalonill]

He finally has a good coach and we're not gonna see him unlock his full potential.

 

[K-9]

11 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

I know totally different situation, but I am reminded of Andrea Reed's horrible ham string injury and the Bills just gave him a personal try out before signing him. Wonder if other teams will just go on a physical and try out? 

Maybe, but when I ask myself if I’d go by that, I say no given the nature of the injury and lack of history regarding outcomes for NHL players.

[bob_sauve28]

5 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Maybe, but when I ask myself if I’d go by that, I say no given the nature of the injury and lack of history regarding outcomes for NHL players.

Yup, he's going to have to take some hits before anyone will trust if he is ok. 

[K-9]

Just now, bob_sauve28 said:

Yup, he's going to have to take some hits before anyone will trust if he is ok. 

Spice up that tryout maybe? 

[bob_sauve28]

6 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Spice up that tryout maybe? 

Or maybe he can play in the Olympics? But he had better get the surgery fast and that seems like its not happening 

[PerreaultForever]

I hope not. 

So sick of this. 

[K-9]

41 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Or maybe he can play in the Olympics? But he had better get the surgery fast and that seems like its not happening 

Well, ice hockey in the Olympics starts on February 9. If Eichel had the surgery RIGHT NOW, he’d be ready to resume playing on January 21, presumably. That leaves him 19 days before the Olympic competition starts. That’s the tightest of windows at this moment and it gets tighter each passing day. It would be nothing short of miraculous if he did that.

[Cheektorado]

1 hour ago, Buffalonill said:

He finally has a good coach and we're not gonna see him unlock his full potential.

 

He's been on the team since 2015.  Jack is an elite hockey talent.  There is no need to prove potential just that his neck has healed.

I strongly doubt he plays as a Sabre again.  I strongly believe Jack never wants to play as a Sabre again.

[Stoner]

Do people really still care?

[bunomatic]

25 minutes ago, Cheektorado said:

He's been on the team since 2015.  Jack is an elite hockey talent.  There is no need to prove potential just that his neck has healed.

I strongly doubt he plays as a Sabre again.  I strongly believe Jack never wants to play as a Sabre again.

I strongly believe Jack quit on the Sabres and subsequently on his team mates. 

[Digger]

2 hours ago, K-9 said:

Fair point to be sure. Where does Eichel show he’s back and prove to potential trade partners he’s worth the price? I just can’t see that being on this team given the current circumstances. 

Sarcastic reply.  Maybe he can train with the Bruins after his surgery because he seems to like hanging out with the hometown Bruins in the off-season.  Then he can wait for the trade to any NHL team other than the Bruins.

[Huckleberry]

Don't think the pegula's or sabres management, even the team wants him back.   He basically left them out to dry last year.
Was even rumoured he didn't even watch a single game when Granato took over.

[Cheektorado]

14 minutes ago, bunomatic said:

I strongly believe Jack quit on the Sabres and subsequently on his team mates. 

Yes I believe so.  I also can understand it to a degree and have stated the same.  I compare it to a marriage that has gone bad and both sides should just move on with their lives.

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Huckleberry said:

Don't think the pegula's or sabres management, even the team wants him back.   He basically left them out to dry last year.
Was even rumoured he didn't even watch a single game when Granato took over.

That was not a good look for him, especially in his role as team captain. I’ll cut him a little slack given the Covid situation, but only a little.