Report: Jack Eichel; Sabres met with NHL and NHLPA to plead cases
Anthony Scultore
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According to Elliotte Friedman, the NHL and NHLPA met with Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres to hear both sides out. The meeting occurred within the last 10 days which would explain Eichel’s “unamused” emoji tweet on August 19th.
Eichel and Sabres met with NHL and NHLPA to resolve issues
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“I found out – there was a meeting in Buffalo, I might have my days off but I think it was Wednesday the 18th,” Friedman reported on his most recent podcast. “The League was there, the Player’s Association, Eichel, and the Sabres. I’m not sure if the doctors were there in person or via Zoom, and everyone put their cards on the table.”
The purpose of the meeting was so that the NHL and PA could hear both sides of the story. “Basically what I heard was there was no resolution,” Friedman noted. “Everyone was dug in and nothing changed, maybe that’s why Eichel made the change (from Peter Fish to Pat Brisson) to try the velvet glove instead of the hammer.”
When the session was concluded the League took the side of the Sabres while the PA backed Eichel.
Eichel hopes agent switch will get him a trade
“I was very surprised to hear the news that Eichel switched agents,” Friedman added. “Everything that happened in the last couple of months from his side, he knew everything about it. He’s the one that wants to do the surgery and he wanted that statement released. He just decided a new approach was necessary. [Fish and Peter Donatelli] did everything that Eichel wanted.”
Eichel’s move to one of the game’s most powerful sports agents is a clear indication of just how frustrated he is with his current situation. Brisson represents 52 NHL players including top names like John Tavares, Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Claude Giroux. Per Puckpedia, the total value of all his contracts are worth $1,044,859,004.
For now, we will have to sit tight and see if the switch is a shift in a positive direction for Eichel. It’s clear that this move was made for the sole purpose of getting the Sabres to make a trade before the season starts.
The saga continues.
