from Michael Traikos of the National Post,
It’s not whether he is going to be traded in the off-season. That much is certain following his end-of-year comments of a “disconnect” between him and the team regarding his health. Rather, it’s whether the Buffalo Sabres can get enough value for him to make a deal worth pursuing.
After the miserable year he and the team have had — two goals and 18 points in 21 games before a neck injury ended his season — it’s a question that isn’t necessarily easy to answer.
Sabres fans might consider Eichel a superstar, or at the very least a top-10 centre. And with a $10-million cap hit, he is certainly being paid like one. But the 24-year-old hasn’t exactly produced at a superstar level during his six years in the league.
Nor would he even crack the top-10 when it comes to goals and points among NHL centres.
Prior to this year, 23 players had produced more offence than Eichel since he entered the league in 2015-16. Among centres, he ranks 15th in goals and 14th in points. He has never scored 40 goals. He has never put up 90 points. Only twice has he even finished the season with a point per game. And just once has he ranked among the top-10 in scoring, when he tied Jonathan Huberdeau with 82 points in 2019-20.
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