The Buffalo Sabres have traded their former captain, Jack Eichel, to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, bringing an end to a contentious eight-month disagreement regarding Eichel’s medical care.
The trade was finalized on Thursday, putting a halt to the public dispute between Eichel and the Sabres concerning the treatment of his herniated disk, an injury he suffered in March. In exchange for Eichel, an established center player, the Golden Knights traded forward Alex Tuch, rookie center Peyton Krebs, and two draft picks.
Eichel’s dispute with the Sabres centered around the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, which grants teams the authority to make final decisions regarding the medical treatment of their athletes. The Sabres’ medical staff recommended fusion surgery for Eichel’s injury instead of disk replacement, as the latter procedure had not been previously performed on an NHL player. However, Eichel is now set to undergo the surgery of his choice.
It is anticipated that Eichel will not return to play this season as he undergoes recovery following the trade. Additionally, due to the protracted disagreement with the Sabres, it is unlikely that he will represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in February. Eichel, the highest-paid player on the Sabres’ roster, departed from the team midway through an eight-year contract.
