Ben Shelley: Sabres reportedly wanted Zegras, Drysdale and more in a Jack Eichel trade

What's the point of bringing this up on his podcast now. Obviously, the starting point for the Sabres was Zergras and Drysdale. Everyone knew that as soon as the Ducks were said to be involved.

It's be more interesting to hear what they were actually discussing since the Ducks were said to be involved numerous times. If the Sabres were firm in getting Zegras and Drysdale, the Ducks would've stopped picking up the phone after the second discussion.

Well. The entire Ducks fan base was right. We said Don't trade Zegras or Drysdale. It's funny. We haven't actually seen Eichel on the Vegas Knight's yet. I'm gonna say they go a great deal.
But Buffalo needed young players and lottery picks. The Ducks could have beat Vegas before the draft using the 3rd pick. Bad foresight by Kevin Adams

Ben Shelley: Sabres reportedly wanted Zegras, Drysdale and more in a Jack Eichel trade
- Ben-Shelley

Sabres should go to the closest mall and sit on Santa’s lap and hope for help lol

They initially asked for Z and Drysdale, but got the equivalent of Rakell and Perrault from Vegas. It would have been interesting to see what other chips were on the table from the Ducks.

They initially asked for Z and Drysdale, but got the equivalent of Rakell and Perrault from Vegas. It would have been interesting to see what other chips were on the table from the Ducks.
- hardenx

Perreault is no where near Krebs in play making ability. This is a stupid story anyway, if people didn't think they were gonna ask for that at first then there idiots.

We have an injured star who requires major neck surgery and no longer wants to play for us. Give us your best 2 players and 2 1st round picks for him.

How did that fail?

Perreault is no where near Krebs in play making ability. This is a stupid story anyway, if people didn't think they were gonna ask for that at first then there idiots.


True with regards to being a playmaker …. However he is a much better scorer ..
I think there was a deal to be made around the 3rd pick and some secondary pieces…

But no way would the Ducks include Z or Jamie…
Adam’s would have been crushed in Buffalo if he didn’t ask for or request them though.

Perreault is no where near Krebs in play making ability. This is a stupid story anyway, if people didn't think they were gonna ask for that at first then there idiots.


True with regards to being a playmaker …. However he is a much better scorer ..
I think there was a deal to be made around the 3rd pick and some secondary pieces…

But no way would the Ducks include Z or Jamie…
Adam’s would have been crushed in Buffalo if he didn’t ask for or request them though.
- dozerD10

I agree, just don't understand why Friedman brought it up and why people are ridiculing the Sabres for that ask. And the Ducks were not in line with what Jack wanted surgery wise, so it kinda made any deal hard.

We have an injured star who requires major neck surgery and no longer wants to play for us. Give us your best 2 players and 2 1st round picks for him.

How did that fail?
- jmatchett383

Anaheim would have asked for the same thing at the beginning of talks if the scenario was flipped.

I dont think people are ridiculing the Sabres for the asking price they put forth. But maybe they are now because of the return. Krebs hasnt shown he can even play in the NHL yet. Hes a wild card in that deal. As is Tuch's health.

As a Kings fan. Im glad Murray being Murray and not making insane trades went for that. Because I'd rather our teams potentially be good for the near future. I enjoy when both teams are good. And I do like Zegras and Drys.

Also. Eichle is gonna be just fine. I just wish it wasn't in Vegas. Its gonna end up being a steal for Vegas. No matter there success.

We have an injured star who requires major neck surgery and no longer wants to play for us. Give us your best 2 players and 2 1st round picks for him.

How did that fail?
- jmatchett383

Seems alot of people didnt see Jacks interview on chicklets where he told Buffalo that he would continue to play for them if they allowed him to get his surgery.

We have an injured star who requires major neck surgery and no longer wants to play for us. Give us your best 2 players and 2 1st round picks for him.

How did that fail?
- jmatchett383

Well said. Your car is obviously worth 10k and out classed Kevy Adams comes along and offers 3k. Not even worth a response and you simply block the guy's number so as to never have to again deal with this out of his league goof.

I think this ask is so egregious and laughed at by those who earn a living in the sport as being the reason Friedman has brought it up without saying those words....... Reminds me of Francis' asks pre-draft, he gets jack and his Kraken team sucks as a result and opportunities lost.

As a kinda closet Sabres fan going way back I'm glad Tuch will finally get a chance at decent ice time in a top 6 role. When healthy few bring speed, size and skill package.

Well said. Your car is obviously worth 10k and out classed Kevy Adams comes along and offers 3k. Not even worth a response and you simply block the guy's number so as to never have to again deal with this out of his league goof.

I think this ask is so egregious and laughed at by those who earn a living in the sport as being the reason Friedman has brought it up without saying those words....... Reminds me of Francis' asks pre-draft, he gets jack and his Kraken team sucks as a result and opportunities lost.

As a kinda closet Sabres fan going way back I'm glad Tuch will finally get a chance at decent ice time in a top 6 role. When healthy few bring speed, size and skill package.
- Mr Ricochet

Well then I guess the Ducks shouldn't have called again after that outrageous asking price. If you don't think any GM wouldn't start the asking price as high for Eichel than your GM isn't doing his job.

Well then I guess the Ducks shouldn't have called again after that outrageous asking price. If you don't think any GM wouldn't start the asking price as high for Eichel than your GM isn't doing his job.
- Buff36

Well said…Also Dylan / Krebs / Tuch is a nice 3 out of top 6 …

hopefully they parley the pick into something.. and with Power on the backend the future is looking up..

Get the goalie situation squared away and Buffalo has pieces to be a player.

Adams could only operate based on the data he had in the summer and fall. Zegras, Drysdale, plus picks was a huge ask even without the benefit of retrospect knowing the performance of those kids this year. If Adams made big asks of all the clubs he had involved talks with past initial footsie and slap-and-tickle and those talks stalled, he should have probably adjusted his expectations and demands (which the Sabres seemingly did by accepting the weaker VGK package). Was this the mistake of an inexperienced GM, or did he see the weak market but had little discretion to take a lesser deal in the summer because of the expectations of more senior management? My guess is the latter based on the history of Sabres' ownership.

Well said…Also Dylan / Krebs / Tuch is a nice 3 out of top 6 …

hopefully they parley the pick into something.. and with Power on the backend the future is looking up..

Get the goalie situation squared away and Buffalo has pieces to be a player.
- dozerD10

It sucks and the Sabres deserve all the sh!t they get, but to me as soon as Jack opened his mouth in his exit interview it put handcuffs on Adams. Adams has made mistakes (Goaltending) but I think they might just get it right this time. The players you mentioned, plus Quinn Peterka Samuelsson and Power added to the group plus with Cozens and a few of the other younger kids taking steps this year the Sabres could be a wild card in the next couple years.

I dont think people are ridiculing the Sabres for the asking price they put forth. But maybe they are now because of the return. Krebs hasnt shown he can even play in the NHL yet. Hes a wild card in that deal. As is Tuch's health.

As a Kings fan. Im glad Murray being Murray and not making insane trades went for that. Because I'd rather our teams potentially be good for the near future. I enjoy when both teams are good. And I do like Zegras and Drys.

Also. Eichle is gonna be just fine. I just wish it wasn't in Vegas. Its gonna end up being a steal for Vegas. No matter there success.
- poisondhearts37

I'm not so sure about the Vegas thing being a steal. They STILL have to move players to get Eichel's contract in under the cap. I want to see what Vegas looks like after those moves are made. Vegas is going to have to move $10 million to get cap compliant. So say Stephenson and Dadonov need to be traded also so Eichel can play. Suddenly Vegas isn't so deep anymore, although they'll have one great line. However, one great line hasn't helped the Oilers do much in the playoffs yet.

I agree, just don't understand why Friedman brought it up and why people are ridiculing the Sabres for that ask. And the Ducks were not in line with what Jack wanted surgery wise, so it kinda made any deal hard.
- Buff36

I think because it's just such a crazy ask on paper. At the time there were Sabres fans on this site that also saw those two being the starting point for any Eichel deal as well so it's not like this idea came out of left field.

I think in hindsight it doesn't make much sense but at the time Eichel was seen to have huge value and all the rumored/idealized deals were much bigger than what the Sabres could get in the end. Ranger rumours were all about Laf and Kakko, LA ones were Byfield + and all included multiple first rounders. It made sense considering Eichel is a franchise #1 centre but I think the health risks and prolonged timeline into the season dropped his value.

In the end the Sabres still got a pretty solid return.

I think because it's just such a crazy ask on paper. At the time there were Sabres fans on this site that also saw those two being the starting point for any Eichel deal as well so it's not like this idea came out of left field.

I think in hindsight it doesn't make much sense but at the time Eichel was seen to have huge value and all the rumored/idealized deals were much bigger than what the Sabres could get in the end. Ranger rumours were all about Laf and Kakko, LA ones were Byfield + and all included multiple first rounders. It made sense considering Eichel is a franchise #1 centre but I think the health risks and prolonged timeline into the season dropped his value.

In the end the Sabres still got a pretty solid return.
- 13sundin13

I'm not sure that's accurate that he had perceived "huge value". You had a few teams who could have swung a deal with cap space and prospects/picks. If Eichel's value was so huge, why was a deal not done? Yeah, the Sabres might have misplayed their hand and misread the market. OR, perhaps, the surgery Eichel wanted would have voided any insurance on his contract and financial issues pushed some team away. I don't know. But what we do know is that the rumored offers in the summer were much better than what the Sabres got from VGK. Krebs/Tuch/Picks..that's fine. That's solid. But it is still a disappointment for a franchise center that the team intentionally tanked to get (well, as a consolation prize to McJesus).

I'm not sure that's accurate that he had perceived "huge value". You had a few teams who could have swung a deal with cap space and prospects/picks. If Eichel's value was so huge, why was a deal not done? Yeah, the Sabres might have misplayed their hand and misread the market. OR, perhaps, the surgery Eichel wanted would have voided any insurance on his contract and financial issues pushed some team away. I don't know. But what we do know is that the rumored offers in the summer were much better than what the Sabres got from VGK. Krebs/Tuch/Picks..that's fine. That's solid. But it is still a disappointment for a franchise center that the team intentionally tanked to get (well, as a consolation prize to McJesus).
- Only_A_Ladd

I still don't think Vegas and Buffalo are done, there was to much noise with Theodore in the trade. But Vegas was dealing with D injuries with Whitecloud and couple other D, and the forward for the Sabres who's name was brought up was hurt at the time to.

I still don't think Vegas and Buffalo are done, there was to much noise with Theodore in the trade. But Vegas was dealing with D injuries with Whitecloud and couple other D, and the forward for the Sabres who's name was brought up was hurt at the time to.
- Buff36

This makes sense because of Vegas' cap situation. Maybe Kevin and Kelly had a handshake deal to make a trade deadline deal to get the Knights under the cap if Eichel was ready to play. Or the deal gets done in the off-season. However, if Eichel is ready to go, Vegas is going to have to do something!

I'm not sure that's accurate that he had perceived "huge value". You had a few teams who could have swung a deal with cap space and prospects/picks. If Eichel's value was so huge, why was a deal not done? Yeah, the Sabres might have misplayed their hand and misread the market. OR, perhaps, the surgery Eichel wanted would have voided any insurance on his contract and financial issues pushed some team away. I don't know. But what we do know is that the rumored offers in the summer were much better than what the Sabres got from VGK. Krebs/Tuch/Picks..that's fine. That's solid. But it is still a disappointment for a franchise center that the team intentionally tanked to get (well, as a consolation prize to McJesus).
- Only_A_Ladd

I meant more on paper, a top 5-10 #1 centre just entering his prime is a very valuable piece that rarely gets moved. Obviously injuries and the uncertainty around the surgery dropped his value, but in theory a player of his caliber would bring back a lot.

I meant more on paper, a top 5-10 #1 centre just entering his prime is a very valuable piece that rarely gets moved. Obviously injuries and the uncertainty around the surgery dropped his value, but in theory a player of his caliber would bring back a lot.
- 13sundin13

Agree. And it did. Tuch is outstanding IMO, Krebs hasn't developed but might become a great 2C to Cozens 1C, and the picks, while not high, will still get the Sabres a decent prospect or two (or a chit in another trade).

I still don't think Vegas and Buffalo are done, there was to much noise with Theodore in the trade. But Vegas was dealing with D injuries with Whitecloud and couple other D, and the forward for the Sabres who's name was brought up was hurt at the time to.
- Buff36

There is no way Vegas trades Theo. That would be a bigger mistake than when the Ducks protected like 5 bad players and moved him to vegas to protect them.