from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

The Sabres deserve the criticism they are getting for not making the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons. But there's not enough talk about how much responsibility Eichel bears for the last six seasons. And he bears some of it, even for all the good moments he's produced in the face of so much chaos and bad play around him.

Your star players get all the plaudits in good times and the heavy arrows in times of trouble. Eichel should not be exempt from that. No one is trashing Zach Bogosian for yet another playoff failure in Toronto in May. All the talk is about Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner not coming through for the Leafs against Montreal. That's life as a star.

This theory that Eichel can't be here because he'll poison the room has merit but if he wants out, he can't be a toxic captain. Who is trading for that? He needs to shut up and play. And play well. Every team in the league will be paying attention. He'll enjoy playing for Don Granato, too.

And with five years left on his deal, we're not talking a long stretch. Just play for a month or two and people will rethink offers and ring Adams' phone again. How can any GM trade for Eichel now? What GM can tell his owner he just traded for a $50 million contract when he has no idea how or when the player will return from surgery?

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