Jack Eichel reveals he was almost traded to a Canadian team

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Liam McCormick
December 21, 2023 (4:20 PM)

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Ever since the Buffalo Sabres lost the draft lottery in 2015 and were unable to draft Connor McDavid, the team and city seemed to be dissatisfied with drafting the consensus number 2 pick, Jack Eichel. After the team toiled away in the basement of the standings, and Eichel had a differing medical opinion than the Sabres to deal with an injury, he finally requested a trade out of Buffalo that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights.

A player with Eichel's clear potential to be a franchise centreman doesn't get traded often, and many teams were interested in acquiring him at the time. In a recent interview, Eichel detailed the process of the move out of Buffalo, and even revealed that he was almost dealt to the Calgary Flames at the end of the process.

But when it came down to it, towards the end, it was between Calgary and Vegas.

In that deal that almost came to fruition, it was widely reported by insiders at the time that Matthew Tkachuk would be part of the return going back to Buffalo.

It's incredible to see a player reflect so candidly on the harsh trade process that he endured so early on in his career, and even provide specific details about the trade. Although it never happened, it would've been incredible to see Eichel on the other side of the Battle of Alberta, playing rivalry games against Connor McDavid.

In the end, Eichel was the winner of the saga in Buffalo, and has since proved to the hockey world his elite talent and ability to lead his team to a Stanley Cup victory - before McDavid has done so.