5 contenders left in Jack Eichel sweepstakes as we near trade!

This sure has been a roller-coaster ride. Last Thursday, it felt like an imminent trade was going to take place for Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres, but since, things have quieted down. According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, it is due to teams getting set to pitch for Eichel as she reports that five teams are in the mix.

While she does not mention the teams by names, Kaplan says that the clubs can fit his $10 million annual average value within their salary-cap payrolls, though some might have to make some moves before pulling the trigger.

“Maybe that means moving some contracts or whatever,” said Kaplan, adding that those teams have agreed to allow Eichel to have the disc replacement surgery he seeks.

Eichel favors having artificial disk replacement surgery. The Sabres are against him having the procedure because it has never been performed on an NHL player. However, the Sabres’ way means that a patient could have three surgeries in 20 years. We can understand why Eichel wants to get it done his way.

Kaplan points out that preferred option is he’s traded, gets the procedure done and returns to action in three-to-four months. No one likes the other option that would see Eichel filing a grievance but he might not have a case because of the CBA.

If we focus on the five teams Kaplan speaks of, Cap Friendly helps us realize that clubs with lots of cap space and sufficient assets in prospects and promising young talent to acquire Eichel could include the Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes. All of them need an established first-line center, though we don’t have specific reports that they’re all in the hunt for Eichel.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun believes the St. Louis Blues could be that other contenders seeing that they have been said to be lurking around the Sabres to talk Eichel. LeBrun reported earlier this offseason that the Calgary Flames had done their due diligence when it cames to Eichel, though the insider now wonders if the San Jose Sharks could be in the mix seeing that Evander Kane, who could face a hefty suspension, could up coming off their books they would suddenly have $7 million in cap space.

There is no doubt that this pending trade remains tricky, but we always appreciate updates to see where Eichel could end up.