https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/nhl-commissioner-gary-bettman-on-sabres-eichel-dispute-its-a-terrible-situation/article_ac92b5b2-253b-11ec-842c-ab88ac28561f.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
- Hank Balling

Interesting article and some solid points by Gary and I normally despise every time he opens his mouth… but

"No, it's really what's good for Jack," Bettman said. "And I can't tell you medically right now, as we're speaking, what the best course of treatment is and that's really what this is boiling down to: What's best from a medical standpoint?"

How long do we have to wait for a medical solution. Is time going to make this better Gary? Clearly Jack needs a surgery… there are two options on the table… a decision needs to be made between the two and if the insurance company that is backing the contract is a main issue, maybe Gary needs to be talking to the insurer or have the NHL back the $50 mill contract based on Jacks preferred surgery…

While I agree with this. AJ Klein weirdly enough has improved since last year.

I hated him for so long and he was bad….. then he got better last year. I forgot his one break out game. But after that. He’s been solid
- Sabretooth9

True, but Milano has been playing like one of if not the best linebackers in the NFL this year.

With a game against the Chiefs and those weapons, they need all hands on deck.

hell of a name too
- SabresFaninIndiana

Isn’t that the guy from Die Hard?

This is a weird situation, is there something else going on in his neck.
- Buff36

No. It’s the insurance company that’s backing the $50 million dollar contract not wanting to sign off on Jack’s surgery…

Interesting article and some solid points by Gary and I normally despise every time he opens his mouth… but

"No, it's really what's good for Jack," Bettman said. "And I can't tell you medically right now, as we're speaking, what the best course of treatment is and that's really what this is boiling down to: What's best from a medical standpoint?"

How long do we have to wait for a medical solution. Is time going to make this better Gary? Clearly Jack needs a surgery… there are two options on the table… a decision needs to be made between the two and if the insurance company that is backing the contract is a main issue, maybe Gary needs to be talking to the insurer or have the NHL back the $50 mill contract based on Jacks preferred surgery…
- Gr8daygo

Why should either take on that risk/cost? An insurance company is never going to pay anything they aren't obligated to pay. On a similar note, the league isn't going to want to take that on and set a precedent.

I could see something where Jack and the team share the risk here, but then how do you trade him? It's just such a mess.

Blue Jackets to take NHL-heavy roster to Buffalo for preseason matchup

https://www.nhl.com/bluej...season-roster/c-326549762


7 Sean Kuraly C
14 Gustav Nyquist C
19 Liam Foudy C
28 Oliver Bjorkstrand RW
29 Patrik Laine LW
34 Cole Sillinger C
38 Boone Jenner C
50 Eric Robinson LW
52 Emil Bemstrom C
59 Yegor Chinakhov RW
93 Jakub Voracek RW
96 Jack Roslovic C


2 Andrew Peeke D
8 Zach Werenski D
22 Jake Bean D
27 Adam Boqvist D
44 Vladislav Gavrikov D
53 Gabriel Carlsson D

40 Daniil Tarasov G
70 Joonas Korpisalo G

There haggling over a 25,000 dollar surgery, if Jack is so hell bent on the Surgery all that has to be done is Jack signs a waiver about the contract, go have your Surgery.

Why should either take on that risk/cost? An insurance company is never going to pay anything they aren't obligated to pay. On a similar note, the league isn't going to want to take that on and set a precedent.

I could see something where Jack and the team share the risk here, but then how do you trade him? It's just such a mess.
- Lunaion

in effect, he would be a $50m guinea pig for his preferred surgery because disc replacement surgery has never been done on an nhl player...i'm not so sure the contract insurance company or the nhl, and definitely not the sabres, are willing to do that no matter how many doctors jack and his agents parade out there championing his cause

There haggling over a 25,000 dollar surgery, if Jack is so hell bent on the Surgery all that has to be done is Jack signs a waiver about the contract, go have your Surgery.
- Buff36

That's what I said the other day here.

Why should either take on that risk/cost? An insurance company is never going to pay anything they aren't obligated to pay. On a similar note, the league isn't going to want to take that on and set a precedent.

I could see something where Jack and the team share the risk here, but then how do you trade him? It's just such a mess.
- Lunaion

So jack needs to accept fusion surgery or the Sabres are probably getting $0.50 on the dollar because if an interested team agreed with Jacks surgery he’d have been traded… mess is an understatement!

There haggling over a 25,000 dollar surgery, if Jack is so hell bent on the Surgery all that has to be done is Jack signs a waiver about the contract, go have your Surgery.
- Buff36

They are arguing over the backing of a $50 million dollar contract if the $25,000 surgery fails… it’s not the medical insurance it’s the insurance company backing the value of the contract…

in effect, he would be a $50m guinea pig for his preferred surgery because disc replacement surgery has never been done on an nhl player...i'm not so sure the contract insurance company or the nhl, and definitely not the sabres, are willing to do that no matter how many doctors jack and his agents parade out there championing his cause
- Michael Pachla

I find the guinea pig argument disingenuous, but the rest is probably spot on. Why should anyone want to take on this risk and potential cost?

I find the guinea pig argument disingenuous, but the rest is probably spot on. Why should anyone want to take on this risk and potential cost?
- Lunaion

guinea pig might be a bit strong, as (i believe) you pointed out before...here's the definition:


a person or thing used as a subject for experiment.
"we were used as guinea pigs to test the effects of radiation on human beings"

yes, this surgery has been done before, but never on an nhl player...therefore definitive results and any effect on the player moving forward is still an unknown

So jack needs to accept fusion surgery or the Sabres are probably getting $0.50 on the dollar because if an interested team agreed with Jacks surgery he’d have been traded… mess is an understatement!
- Gr8daygo

I think I came up with an idea that's not totally stupid which would (mostly) satisfy all parties' concerns. It'll almost certainly not happen but it should be a fun blog for tomorrow

They are arguing over the backing of a $50 million dollar contract if the $25,000 surgery fails… it’s not the medical insurance it’s the insurance company backing the value of the contract…
- Gr8daygo

I understand that, that's why Jack is gonna have to take a chance here and if he really thinks this will work, then sign a waiver that the Sabres are not obligated for the 50mill if the Surgery fails, but will still hold his rights.

I understand that, that's why Jack is gonna have to take a chance here and if he really thinks this will work, then sign a waiver that the Sabres are not obligated for the 50mill if the Surgery fails, but will still hold his rights.
- Buff36

but the sabres still have his rights...he's a valuable piece right now regardless of this situation...if something goes array, they're out on the player and any return he could have gotten

but the sabres still have his rights...he's a valuable piece right now regardless of this situation...if something goes array, they're out on the player and any return he could have gotten
- Michael Pachla

Just how valuable is he in his current condition?

Isn't that the crux of why he hasn't been traded yet?

but the sabres still have his rights...he's a valuable piece right now regardless of this situation...if something goes array, they're out on the player and any return he could have gotten
- Michael Pachla

If the surgery fails everyone is out on Jack, as long as this has gone it is really hard to see either side budging on the Surgery. Either Jack takes some risk here or he gets suspended without pay and we sit.

Just how valuable is he in his current condition?

Isn't that the crux of why he hasn't been traded yet?
- kingcong39

understood...point was, if jack signed a waiver with the contract insurance company, and the sabres let him have his surgery, if something went wrong, he'd be worth even less than what he's now worth during this entire soap opera

guinea pig might be a bit strong, as (i believe) you pointed out before...here's the definition:


a person or thing used as a subject for experiment.
"we were used as guinea pigs to test the effects of radiation on human beings"

yes, this surgery has been done before, but never on an nhl player...therefore definitive results and any effect on the player moving forward is still an unknown
- Michael Pachla

It's been done on professional athletes and professional hockey players. It's not experimental. Less established. Probably considered a greater risk (hate to get into medical and insurance areas that I don't have the information on). Bettman called it a legitimate medical disagreement.

If the surgery fails everyone is out on Jack, as long as this has gone it is really hard to see either side budging on the Surgery. Either Jack takes some risk here or he gets suspended without pay and we sit.
- Buff36

unless some other team takes the risk, then this is where we're at right now

It's been done on professional athletes and professional hockey players. It's not experimental. Less established. Probably considered a greater risk (hate to get into medical and insurance areas that I don't have the information on). Bettman called it a legitimate medical disagreement.
- Lunaion

point taken

point taken
- Michael Pachla

On the surface, I'm on Jack's side. "It's his neck" is very compelling. Like everything else in this world, you have to follow the $....and it's just a mess. It's hard to believe we're here speculating on his contract insurance.

unless some other team takes the risk, then this is where we're at right now
- Michael Pachla

Well yes, but doesn't sound like the Sabres like the conditions that teams seem to want.

On the surface, I'm on Jack's side. "It's his neck" is very compelling. Like everything else in this world, you have to follow the $....and it's just a mess. It's hard to believe we're here speculating on his contract insurance.
- Lunaion

It's not hard to believe. What's hard to believe is another team being willing to trade much for Eichel in the condition he's in.

Is there any hope for progress aside from Eichel having a change of heart and agreeing to the fusion surgery?