I think that the teams that are kicking the tires on Eichel are hesitant on offering too much due to the neck injury and pending surgery. Conversely, I doubt that Buffalo is offering any discounts due to the injury. IMO, there’s no way Buffalo can get full value until it’s clear that Eichel has recovered.
Rachel’s doctor, Dr. Chad Prusmack, outlined two pathways available for Eichel on Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman's "
31 Thoughts" podcast. The first, which is what the Sabres prefer, is an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. The procedure Prusmack recommends for the Sabres captain is an artificial disc replacement surgery. In both procedures, the injured disc is removed through the front of the throat. However, in a fusion surgery, a surgeon will insert a graft, and the bones will fuse over time. In a replacement surgery, meanwhile, the disc is swapped out for an artificial one. Prusmack likens the replacement procedure to getting an artificial knee or hip.
I don’t see a trade happening anytime soon.