NHL executive believes Eichel will be dealt to Eastern Conference team

With the NHL's trade deadline only 42 days away, teams are preparing for what may be one of the most interesting deadlines in recent history. The Canada-USA border is still closed for non-essential travel, and anyone entering Canada is required to quarantine for 14 days. It's likely deals with teams north of the border may happen weeks ahead of the April 12th deadline.

Craig Custance and Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic came out with a list of 28 players who could be dealt by April 12th, and there are plenty of talented players on it, including Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel.

Eichel, 24, is in his sixth season with the Sabres, and is becoming more frustrated after not making the playoffs in his first five seasons.

One NHL executive is confident that Jack Eichel will become a New York Ranger in the not-too-distant future.

"I think at the end of the day, Jack Eichel is going to end up a New York Ranger," predicted one executive. "I just don't know when that's going to be."

Another team possibly in the Jack Eichel sweepstakes is the Los Angeles Kings.

"LA is a team that people should be looking long and hard with (Quinton) Byfield, (Alex) Turcotte and plenty of other pieces," he said. "And does Buffalo really want to play against this guy a bunch every year or do they want him in the Western Conference?"

Eichel is one of the best centers in the NHL currently, and it will likely take a lot to pry him away from the Sabres.

"I would give up a lot for him. Talent-wise, he's a top-10 forward in the league," said another executive. "If they want to trade him, they are going to get a lot for him."

In 17 games this season, Eichel's tallied 14 points (2 G, 12 A), 4 penalty minutes, and is a -7.

Source: The Athletic

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