On March 17, the Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Ralph Krueger after the team lost 12 games in a row. With Krueger gone, the attention turns to captain Jack Eichel.
This is Eichel’s sixth season with the Sabres and the team has yet to make the playoffs during that time. Eichel, who has 18 points in 21 games this season, has been a part of trade scenarios for over a year now.
Now, the NHL trade deadline is approaching on April 12. The Sabres will more than likely miss the playoffs, making them sellers again. If he doesn’t want to waste his prime in Buffalo, what are the odds that the Sabres trade Jack Eichel before the deadline?
Where Will Jack Eichel Play After The 2021 NHL Trade Deadline?
Odds via Bovada as of Wednesday, March 17
- Buffalo Sabres -230
- New York Rangers +400
- Boston Bruins +650
- Los Angeles Kings +950
- Detroit Red Wings +1600
- New Jersey Devils +1600
- Ottawa Senators +1600
- Minnesota Wild +1600
- Vancouver Canucks +2000
Jack Eichel Likely to Stay in Buffalo Past Trade Deadline
At -230, Bovada is leaning towards Jack Eichel remaining as a Buffalo Sabre this season. After all, the team would want a major package back for a superstar like him. Those types of deals take time to make to ensure that everyone gets what they want out of it.
However, just because Eichel stays on the team this season doesn’t mean they won’t trade him later. After the 2020-21 NHL Season, he’ll still have five years left on his contract with an average cap hit of $10 million. That type of contract is easier to move in the offseason when teams are more flexible.
Rangers, Bruins Have Next Best Odds
The New York Rangers have the best odds to land Jack Eichel via trade at +400. The reason behind that is because there are several reasons why Eichel could like playing in New York. First of all, Rangers head coach David Quinn coached him in 2014-15 at Boston University.
The team also has exciting players to surround Eichel with, like Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin. The Rangers would probably have to give up several prospects, current players and/or draft picks since Eichel is on a long-term deal.
At +650, the Boston Bruins stand a good chance at landing Jack Eichel because of his connection to the area. Not only did he attend Boston University, but he also was born in Massachusetts. It’s a lot of NHL players’ dreams to play in front of a home crowd and the Bruins would allow Eichel the opportunity to do that. However, the Bruins are lacking major prospects. They would likely have to give up one of their young players like Charlie McAvoy or David Pastrnak in the deal.
Is Jack Eichel Hollywood-Bound?
While the Los Angeles Kings may not have the best odds to land Jack Eichel, they’re far from the least likely landing spot. At +950, Bovada sees the possibility of Eichel in a Kings jersey by the end of the year. Regardless of the odds, Los Angeles has the pieces to make it happen. With pieces like Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas, the Kings have more than enough center prospects that could replace Eichel for the Sabres down the line.
The Kings would also have a 1-2 punch of Eichel and Anze Kopitar down the middle. That’s a combination that a lot of teams can’t defend.
