Even if the injury situation surrounding Jack Eichel isn’t sacring teams away from inquiring about the forward as a possible trade option, many of those teams might find themselves bowing out of the talks rather quickly if a recent report about the Sabres’ asking price is accurate. Apparently, rival NHL executives are questioning what Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is thinking because the ask is massive.
In this week’s ‘Off The Record,’ one NHL executive, who apparently has knowledge of what the Sabres are looking for, threw shade at Adams, suggesting what the Sabres want is ‘just crazy!’ Considering there are big questions about Eichel’s injury status, there is talk that the Sabres are looking for as many as six different pieces as part of any deal.
Those components include a top-six center 25-year-old or younger, a top-four defenseman 25-or-young, a first-round pick and various prospects. The astronomical ask has teams backing off and thinking Adams has misread the market on what other GMs are willing to pay for a player who is elite, but also banged up.
The executive said:
“I get that Kevyn is in a really tough spot and needs to make sure he can get as close to Jack’s worth as possible, but this is just crazy. … In this market and with so many teams trying to build from within because of the cap, how is he going to get that? Then, you don’t even know how Jack’s back will hold up.”
The Chicago Blackhawks were rumored to be in the running and could have offered Kirby Dach and the 11th pick in this year’s draft. Anaheim might be in the mix, offering the third-overall pick and Trevor Zegras. The Columbus Blue Jackets might have made a strong pitch too. One would think those two assets alone should be something the Sabres consider. These recent reports suggest Buffalo wants a lot more.
This could move the reports of a trade being imminent to a deal that takes a little longer to get done. The Sabres will have to decide how badly they want to move him and come down with their ask.
A Deal Still Likely to Get Done
Remember, it was not that long ago the Sabres were asking a lot of Taylor Hall. He wound up being moved a the trade deadline for a second-round pick. If the Sabres are jammed here, they are likely asking for as much as they can get and hoping, that with the amount of teams in the mix, someone will cave. They probably won’t. It will then be up to Adams to take the best deal on the table.
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