BHN Puck Links: Eichel Saga Over, Bruins Need Perfection Line

As expected, North Chelmsford, MA native and former Boston University star center Jack Eichel will not be joining the Boston Bruins. He will however finally get his controversial neck surgery and if all goes well, hopefully, suit up for the Vegas Golden Knights by late February/early March.

The Jack Eichel saga with the Buffalo Sabres finally ended Friday morning when the Sabres traded Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick to the Golden Knights in exchange for forwards Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick. 

Per Darren Dreger of TSN:

“The first-round pick heading to Buffalo is top-10 protected for next year’s draft, while the Sabres retained no salary on Eichel’s $10 million cap hit. If Vegas’ first-round draft pick in the 2022 NHL Draft is a top-10 pick (following the Draft Lottery results) then, Vegas will transfer its own first-round pick (unprotected) in the 2023 NHL Draft and its own second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to Buffalo, while the Sabres will transfer their own third-round pick in 2024 to Vegas.

As reported across the National Hockey Now network early Wednesday evening, the Calgary Flames made a late push for Eichel before Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams finally got Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon to finally include Krebs in the trade return from the Knights. Adams was also able to complete the trade without retaining any of the remaining $10 million salary-cap hit owed to Eichel for this and each of the next four seasons. The Knights are now $9.6 million over the $81.5 million salary cap and will need to move a notable player or players if and when Eichel returns later this season. 

While Eichel coming home to play for the Boston Bruins would’ve been a great story and solved their center depth issues they will face in the near future, they too likely would’ve faced some tricky cap issues like the Knights are facing now. That’s likely a major reason why, as reported here, they weren’t a finalist in the Eichel trade sweepstakes and haven’t been pursuing him since the NHL Entry Draft back in July. 

Now onto the rest of your BHN Puck Links:

Boston Bruins

The player Eichel would’ve eventually replaced as the No. 1 center for the Boston Bruins, captain Patrice Bergeron, and his linemates, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are off to their worst start since they first formed ‘The Perfection Line’ (BHN)

Jeremy ‘Skip’ Swayman will get the start between the pipes for the Boston Bruins against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden tonight. 

Skipper Sway.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/cazVwKVbEA

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 4, 2021

National Hockey Now

Are Marc Bergevin’s days as GM of the Montreal Canadiens even more numbered than we thought? (Montreal Hockey Now)

Who have been the best players for the Vancouver Canucks thus far? (Vancouver Hockey Now)

How about the best players for the Toronto Maple Leafs through the first month of the season? (Toronto Hockey Now)

Are the San Jose Sharks a playoff team? (San Jose Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders really miss defenseman Nick Leddy. (NYI Hockey Now)

For the first time in Florida Panthers history, a south Florida native will suit up for the Panthers tonight. (Florida Hockey Now)

NHL

Congrats to Marian Gaborik on a great NHL career. He’s arguably the most electric player to ever play for the Minnesota Wild! (TSN)

The Edmonton Oilers are off to a great start but they don’t plan on resting on their accolades anytime soon because their ultimate goal can only be achieved in the Stanley Cup Final. (Sportsnet)