from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

Here's what we know through multiple NHL sources:

1. The Sabres aren't retaining any salary. Nor should they. If you want Jack Eichel, why should Buffalo pay for some of your freight for the next four-plus years? Go find a third team to help you with the money. Arizona loves stuff like that.

2. Things started heating up last week with Vegas, which is just 4-4 and dealing with major injuries (Alex Tuch, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone). Things got worse for the Golden Knights on Tuesday when it was announced that William Karlsson might miss six weeks with a fractured foot.

In a flat-cap time, there's just not many teams that can afford a $10 million contract for the next four years, and the Sabres aren't budging about retaining any salary, Mike Harrington says.

Vegas could probably be cap-compliant with Eichel by using Long Term Injured Reserve on some of the above names (and there's real fear Stone's injury will extend much of the season). But once the Golden Knights get healthy, how do they fit Eichel in, too? Especially if he's ready to go before the playoffs. What would they have to give up aside from prospects to make the money work?...

3. Adams may be pondering multiple kinds of deals. ESPN analyst and former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes said over the weekend not to sleep on Calgary as an Eichel partner and it was an odd point to make on first glance because the Flames don't have mega prospects like the kinds discussed with Anaheim, Vegas or Los Angeles.

But with the Sabres off to a 5-2-1 start and Don Granato quickly getting entrenched as perhaps the franchise's best coach since Lindy Ruff, you wonder if Adams is pondering some NHL help and not just futures.

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