NHL Rumors: Sabres don’t want to trade Jack Eichel to the Rangers, and Oilers Tyson Barrie to test free agency
Anthony Scultore
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The Sabres don’t want to trade Jack Eichel to the New York Rangers. That is a growing theme in the NHL rumor mill. However, if the decision is to move Eichel, why cut off your nose to spite your face as the old saying goes.
Sabres don’t want to trade Jack Eichel to the Rangers
As the fallout from the Eichel’s exit day comments continues, they were only enflamed by GM Kevyn Adams saying he only wants people that want to be here. Over the last several days, a number of hockey shows and insiders have unprovoked brought up that the Sabres would rather not trade him to the Rangers. If possible, they would rather prefer to send him out West.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli was on WGR550 in Buffalo and said, “I think the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers are potential suitors for Eichel. I don’t understand why the Sabres would be willing to move Eichel to the Rangers. It’s probably not their first priority.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman expanded on that point on WGR550. “I think the Sabres would rather trade Eichel to Mars than the Rangers,” he said. “You have to do what’s best for your team. At the end of the day, don’t you have to make the best trade? And if the Rangers give you the best deal isn’t it incumbent on your team to do it?”
The one thing not being argued anymore is IF the Sabres will trade Eichel. That seems like a foregone conclusion now. If the Sabres refuse to trade him to the Rangers to spite Eichel’s likely desire to go there it is understandable. However, should the Rangers offer be made public afterwards, and it turns out to be a better haul, Buffalo fans will revolt.
Oilers Tyson Barrie to test free agency
Tyson Barrie bet on himself before the season started and took a one year deal. It paid off because he finished as the NHL’s top scoring defenseman this season. Last night on TSN’s Insider Trading, Dreger noted he will test the market this summer.
“The sense is that Tyson Barrie is going to test the free-agent market. He’s earned that right,” Dreger said. “Given everything that Ken Holland and the Oilers are going to have to go through with hefty negotiations with Adam Larsson, [Ryan Nugent-Hopkins], Darnell Nurse, and other players, you need to be able to compare apples to apples.”
According to Dreger, Barrie would like to stay in Edmonton but is looking for a 5-6 year deal. That’s why the overall belief is he’s heading to free agency in July.