Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press
The Columbus Blue Jackets have to now not in “sizzling pursuit” of Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel at this moment, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic:
“There’s quite a bit to unpack right here, but let’s get this fragment out of the formula first: after speaking with a gigantic number of sources in most modern days, it doesn’t appear that the Blue Jackets—no lower than as of on the present time—are in sizzling pursuit of Eichel, one in every of the premier centers within the league.
“Has Blue Jackets total supervisor Jarmo Kekalainen had conversations alongside with his counterpart in Buffalo, Kevyn Adams? Yes. That’s what excessive-rating executives call ‘due diligence.’ Earlier this week, Kekalainen acknowledged he spoke with ‘six or seven’ GMs in a single day.“
Eichel, 24, has 139 targets and 216 assists in six seasons for the Sabres, who selected the forward with the No. 2 total catch within the 2015 NHL draft.
Eichel most productive played 21 video games this three hundred and sixty five days, posting two targets and 16 assists for a Sabres team that done with the fewest aspects within the NHL. His closing game used to be on March 7.
The Sabres announced on April 14 that he would scuttle over the remainder of the season with a herniated disc in his neck.
Alternate rumors circulated around Eichel because the Sabres floundered, and the young huge name expressed his frustration with the group in Could per chance while conserving the door delivery for a doubtless fresh delivery in other areas.
Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News supplied the remarks:
“For certain, I’d train I have been reasonably upset relating to the formula issues were handled since I have been anguish. I could well be lying to command that issues devour moved easily since my wound. So yeah, I suspect there’s been reasonably of a disconnect I suspect from the group and myself. Or now not it has been tricky now and then. But apt now, for me, I suspect the largest thing is correct looking to get wholesome and resolve out a vogue to be available to play hockey next three hundred and sixty five days, wherever that will per chance very neatly be.”
Of display, Eichel wishes to devour surgical procedure to address his ailment, while the Sabres factor in that surgical procedure must be a closing resort, per Lysowski.
The Blue Jackets devour a couple of inquiries to ponder after ending closing within the Central Division with 48 aspects. It used to be a decidedly disappointing end result for a team that had made the playoffs each and each of the past four years, and now Columbus must regroup. Of display, defenseman Seth Jones seems on his formula out after he instructed the team that he’s going to now not imprint a contract extension, per Portzline.
Eichel doesn’t resolve to be within the Blue Jackets’ image for now, but his contract (five years final on an eight-three hundred and sixty five days, $80 million deal) would absolutely play a ingredient for any team willing to manufacture him. Nonetheless, Eichel is an improbable point scorer when wholesome, notably racking up 36 targets and 42 assists in 68 video games in 2019-20.
