Buffalo Sabres GM gives a massive Jack Eichel trade update

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams talked about the future, and Jack Eichel did not warrant mention.

The Buffalo Sabres have not made the playoffs since 2011. What’s more, they are at odds with their current best player as they and Jack Eichel disagree about how to address his neck injury. It seems inevitable Eichel will be traded this offseason, and there will be multiple suitors.

In a piece by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required), Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams talked about the future and who he sees as the young core to build around.

“Sometimes, when players come into the league at a really young age, some people feel like maybe they’re older than they are. But guys like (Rasmus) Dahlin, (Dylan) Cozens, (Casey) Mittelstadt, these are very, very young players. So, we want to build.”

Dahlin, Mittelstadt and Cozens are each a former top-10 pick, and under the age of 22. So they are a long-term trio, and three possible building blocks. Adams went on though, taking a not-so veiled shot at Eichel along the way,

“And I’ve been energized about this young core of Sabres we have that are hungry, and they want to be part of the solution. … These guys are proud to be Buffalo Sabres, they want to fix this and get this right, they want to move forward together. So that’s the young core that we’re working to build around.”

Jack Eichel trade rumors: Kevyn Adams gives a huge update

A report before the holiday weekend suggested Eichel’s camp thinks the situation with the Sabres is “moving toward a resolution.” While that may mean making nice and he stays in Buffalo, it’s far more likely there’s optimism/momentum for a trade.

Alongside Eichel, the Sabres have two other top trade chips (Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen) and he’s surely thought about how he might offload Jeff Skinner. But the major move of their offseason will be the trade that sends Eichel elsewhere, and though he probably didn’t need to Adams has openly acknowledged it will happen–possibly soon.