I watched some of the BUF-Isles game. The Sabres team in general is playing with no life. But also Eichel has become a perimeter player. He's not really going all out. He's not driving his line at all. It reminds me of the Rangers during the dark ages. Eichel is either really hurt and just trying to protect himself or he's like one of the worst captains currently in the NHL. You can't lead if you're not going all out. It's just not possible. If he's that banged up that he is playing this passive, he should sit out and heal.
As for trading for him -- i dunno. Even if he had a 7m cap hit, I dunno.
Today's NHL, you want your top players driving the play. Forcing the issue. It's the only thing that opens up space for offense. Chytil, though he sometimes gets a little tunnel vision, he makes his wingers better. He demands attention and it creates mismatches and turnovers all over the ice. That's what Zib did last year. We don't necessarily need a facilitator. We need players with a mix of skill, skating and doggedness.
Kakko, Laf, Panarin -- they are sick passers. Good vision. They can do a lot of great things. But they are all better when the players around them are opening up lanes with their speed and forecheck. Kreider, Gauthier, Fast when he was here. Buch can do that when he's on his game.
Jack Eichel certainly has the size, the wheels, the vision, the skill to fit in. But I don't know that I want him at that price (cap/players) if it means we have to screw his head back on. And make sure it stays on the right way. He has to completely unlearn some habits that feel like they're forming this year.
