Report: Buffalo Sabres Could Very Soon Be Trading Jack Eichel

The Buffalo Sabres are just over a week away from the start of the 2021-2022 regular season. They host the Montreal Canadiens at the KeyBank Center next Thursday evening at 7 pm.

A player who will not be on the ice for Buffalo that night is former captain, Jack Eichel.

Eichel failed his training camp physical with a neck injury that caused him to miss most of last season. He's currently in a much-publicized dispute with the Sabres over both playing for thee Sabres and which surgery he should get on his injured disc in his neck.

Eichel and his medical team prefer to get an artificial disc-replacement surgery, while thee Sabres medial team wants him to get a disc-infusion surgery.

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Eichel would also like to be traded to another team, but the compensation and the cloud of uncertainty regarding his injury has made it very difficult for that to happen. However, the end may soon be in sight.

Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that the trade discussions have "shifted" and teams inquiring about Eichel have gotten additional access to medical files, which has accelerated the process.

Dreger adds that there is hope that something can be worked out soon with one of the teams talking to the Sabres about Eichel.

It's likely to assume that general manager Kevyn Adams still wants a top prospect and current players in a trade for Eichel; along with a first-round draft pick. It would be an interesting time to trade Eichel right now, since the season starts in a week.

Still, Eichel and the Sabres would prefer this situation to be over as soon as possible, but Adams still wants the best possible deal for one of the top players in the NHL.