New Jersey Devils: 5 Moves That Would Unnecessarily Speed Up Rebuild

This hurt just to write. The Buffalo Sabres are very likely going to trade Jack Eichel. He’s a legitimate star, but the Sabres just aren’t on a timeline to get something worthwhile out of their star before his no-move clause goes into effect in 2022. This ties the team’s hands. Sabres fans will be quick to point out that he hasn’t officially asked for a trade, but the Sabres also haven’t said they aren’t taking phone calls.

Look around the league. Who could give the Sabres a player with the profile of Jack Hughes? Most teams will try to send a package of picks and prospects. Say the Los Angeles Kings come calling, they could offer Quinton Byfield or Arthur Kaliyev or Alex Turcotte. If the Kings offer all three, then maybe that’s enough for the Sabres to say yes, but none of those players have even close to the future that Jack Hughes might. So, if the Devils offer Hughes straight up, the Sabres might say yes.

Hughes is also going to make a lot less than Eichel’s $10 million salary in his next contract. He’s negotiating against a flat cap and with less traditional production. This gives the Sabres a chance to get a restart with someone with similar upside to Eichel long term.

Will the Sabres ask for more? Of course, but they won’t get it. They have to choose a package of multiple prospects or a package that is literally one great young player. Hughes is still a teenager. He could be great and is right on the cusp already. The Devils could make him part of a competitive unit next season, but Eichel is much better for a team looking to compete now.