Sabres GM Kevyn Adams delivers a personal message to Jack Eichel

In case you missed it earlier today, the Buffalo Sabres finally, mercifully traded disgruntled former captain Jack Eichel.

Trade talks between Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon went late into the evening last night and then overnight as the two hammered out the details of a blockbuster deal that was finally announced early this morning.

Insiders from Sportsnet, TSN and ESPN all broke news around 7am ET before it was officially confirmed by the Sabres and the Golden Knights on social media later in the morning. 

Check it out:

While Eichel himself has yet to make a proper statement or speak to the media, he did send out a message on social media once the deal was confirmed:

As for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, he held an impromptu press conference from his office and took questions from the media. Before that though, Adams shared some details of a conversation that he had with Eichel once the deal was finalized:

"I care about Jack Eichel as a person. I told him that. I wish him nothing but the best for him. I want nothing more than for Jack to get healthy. I also told him nothing in this was personal."

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams

That's interesting... because these trade negotiations certainly seemed personal at times. 

Nevertheless, the deal is done and both Eichel and the Sabres are picking up the pieces and moving on.

Adams took questions from the media afterward and I feel it's worth sharing some of his answers. See below.

On why the Sabres turned down a rumored offer from the Calgary Flames that included star forward Matthew Tkachuk and multiple 1st round picks in exchange for Eichel:

On the Sabres' insistence on not retaining any of Eichel's salary in the trade:

As for Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon, well... he's over the moon to have acquired a superstar like Eichel:

McCrimmon was asked, of course, about Eichel's pending surgery and admitted that there's still so many unknowns with regards to Eichel's recovery.

My guess? They "Nikita Kucherov" Eichel the entire season and stash him on the IR until the playoffs, then they slot him into the lineup with no salary cap implications and with an additional month of rest and rehab.