Comparing the Eichel trade to Florida’s Tkachuk trade

The Buffalo Sabers pulled off a blockbuster trade in November 2021 for Jack Eichel, eight months before Florida traded for Matthew Tkachuk.

The Buffalo Sabers have had some great returns regarding the Jack Eichel trade. Since the trade occurred, the Sabers have found two forwards who can man the top two scoring lines, with Peyton Krebs playing mainly winger on the second line, and Tuch playing the same position on the first and second.

The Sabers also landed the sixteenth overall pick from the Vegas Golden Knights, which they used to select Noah Ostlund. They will also get a second round pick in 2023. If Ostlund evolves into a big name, then this trade has the potential to have been franchise-altering.

Mar 2, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Buffalo Sabers center Peyton Krebs (19) skates during the warmup against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

How did the Buffalo Sabers fare with the Jack Eichel Trade in 2021-22?

Tuch, a hometown hero, quickly evolved into a fan favorite and a player many in the Sabers faithful would love to see snag the C patch in the future. Some would even want to see it happen now. Cancer showed its potential last season. And although his game still needs polishing, it appears he will be a Saber for the long haul.

All fans can agree that so far, the Buffalo Sabers have won out on the Jack Eichel trade. While the verdict can change five seasons from today, Eichel went to Vegas with high hopes, only to see his new team miss the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The Knights fired their head coach Peter DeBoer, and they also lost Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan via trade considering the amount of cap trouble they found themselves in. The situation had gotten so out of hand that the Knights had to settle for future considerations.

So, now that the Sabers have the upper hand in the Jack Eichel trade, for now, anyway, will the same occur to a Florida Panthers team that pulled off a rather similar trade? Let’s break it down.