4 Comments
Nov 2, 2021Liked by Joe Yerdon

Great Piece Joe. What a bummer for fans and Jack,

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Joe, as always, a well written cogent piece. As you say, both sides have a point that most people can agree with. The Sabres bear a substantial risk in blessing a surgery that (I assume) does not meet the standards of their insurer. Eichel clearly has his own risk in that surgery as he wants to be a generational player in this league for years to come. He also has his own long term health in mind, as he should.

I wonder had the relationship between Eichel's past representatives and the Sabres been less acrimonious, could they have worked out a situation to mitigate the financial risk to the team. If so, the Sabres and Eichel's positions would have been similar. Once the divorce became inevitable, the Sabres had no incentive to share any risk with Eichel's camp.

I feel for Jack on a personal level. I understand management's position on a professional level. Most of all I experience the frustration on a fan level. I hope that the Sabres work out a trade with contingencies for Jack's future health, that he get's healthy, and that both teams can walk away at least somewhat satisfied.

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