I think i would advise eichel to just get the adr without the teams consent. Right now it seems to be a 50 million dollar problem- either he gets the surgery without their blessing and worst case, hes out 50 million, OR he waits for the sabres to sign off on the adr and leaves them on the hook for 50 million if the whole thing goes sideways. I dont get the idea that the sabres or their medical staff is willing to sign off on this, especially given how this has gone.

Great effort with this acgm

His trade value right now is zero until his medical condition has some path to resolution. Why would any team trade for any player who's spinal condition is in question. Plus, the Sabers are a better team WITHOUT him, so what does that say about his value? He may have talent, but when his team is better without him, that says loads about his leadership (lack thereof) and chemistry with his teammates.

Probably will experience chronic pain.

Way too much of a gamble, no matter the price with 50/60 million left on deal. Could set your team back into instant tear down and rebuild if your swing misses. Odds of a return to a player that can play up to a 10 million dollar contract would be interesting at best. Gm hot seat and somebody still buying, but I wouldn’t want that gamble anywhere near my Jets.

That's just it. If he gets the surgery and he can't play the Sabres nullify the contract and it's off their cap. If he can play it's easy to trade him or try to work things out. He could ask the team to agree to non-compliance either way and get the surgery releasing him. What he wants is for the team to shoulder all the risk, keep the money and get the surgery. That's unreasonable.

The main thing you were right about is you are not a doctor - a herniated disc is no more related to DDD than a broken wrist is related to brittle bone disease.

Dr. Sensonfire,

Many thanks for the rundown. A very interesting post. Either way, he is not playing before his clause kicks on July 1st. So Sabres have already lost most of the value in what would have been a big return.

Also, I have this clicking thing in my knee. And its stiffens when it rains. Should I get it checked?

It is unreasonable, be interesting to see if an nhlpa grievance does anything whatsoever. If this whole thing hadnt become so toxic, maybe there could have been an agreement to pay something, but its past that. Jacks not getting fusion, zero chance that happens, the sabres arent signing off on paying him 50 million in the unlikely even that it goes bad, and hes not gonna risk losing 50 million. I dont think the sabres are gonna sell short on him if this drags on towards nmc, or after. I think theyll let him sit until the right deal comes along.

So, what do you think the Sabres and Eichel should do right now?


Just leave it like this?


Ride it out and see where it goes?

The uncertainty over his medical condition and prognosis is exactly why that "Eichel bidding war" I was promised in the spring and summer by ardent Buffalo fans hasn't erupted yet.

The orthopedic surgeon is just down the hall and to the left past the soda machine.

My guess is that it will go to arbitration and Eichel will get the surgery he wants after a deal is made that divides the risk up between the Sabres, Eichel, the NHL and the players association - so if the surgery goes badly or if Eichel suffers a latter career ending injury related to the surgery Eichel would get 7.5 million a year with 2.5million coming from each of the Sabres, the NHL and the players association respectively.

As a 43 year old man with degenerative disc disease in his lower spine, I can tell you that no team would pay much of anything. At 30 I was on hydromorphone for the pain, now nothing touches the pain I experience everyday I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

There's zero chance the NHL agrees to that. It would set a president that Bettman would have to be the worst Lawyer in history to allow. Bettman's job is to protect the league above all else.

You know, before now, I really didn't feel sorry about the whole Eichel situation, but after reading this, I truly feel bad for Eichel. Eichel clearly wants to get back to playing hockey, but he isn't even guaranteed to be able to play hockey ever again. He loves hockey, IMO, and wants to get back to playing the game he loves, but if this situation gets resolved, I don't think Eichel will be the same player he used to be. Eichel is screwed one way or another, and while right now his trade value is zero, if he ends up being able to play hockey again at the NHL level, I might say Eichel at the point is only going to be worth about 2 first round equivalents and a prospect.

Bettman might prefer this precedent to a change in the CBA that gives players final say on injury treatment

Also remember that it's in the teams best interest to let Eichel sit because any option other than him getting fusion or non-compliance ends horribly for them. If Eichel sits for the rest of his contract they pay nothing. If Eichel gets the surgery they can walk away. If they let him get the surgery they lose all control over the decisions of every player possibly putting them on the hook for every procedure any player wants that could nullify their insurance while also keeping said player contracts on the cap immediately making their cap 10 million more restricted than other teams and unlimited potential for future problems. Anything other than a trade, fusion, or non-compliance is a complete disaster for the team.

It really is a no win for everyone.

Are this random teams that you chose or was there a reason you chose them.

The Sabres pay 20% of Eichel's contract while insurance picks up 80% while Eichel sits other than that you are right - now let me make the most preposterous prediction......Eichel will play for the Sabres again.

Eichel's last game on March 7th was against the Islanders.


Every other team was rumoured to being in on him all this time.


Also, please refer to me as Dr. Sensonfire

Alright doc. The islanders was the one that confused me bc theyve no interest in eichel.

So what is his value?

Expensive low value/risky assets, like Eichel is at the moment, plus conditional high value assets, for his future performances only if the surgery succeeds.

You are not getting unconditional high value assets for a guy who can not play, doesn't have a medical consensus, who will get an experimental treatment, doesn't have a plan B if it fails and has significative chances of never playing again...

If Eichel can understand that there needs to be some consideration to what is best for the team and some resolution can happen with him taking on the risk or getting fusion until the end of his career I have no doubt that could happen.