Jack Eichel Confirms The Flames Almost Traded For Him

Jack Eichel Confirms The Flames Almost Traded For Him

Jack Eichel is a Stanley Cup champion now. The trade to Vegas certainly worked out for the Golden Knights. However, it sure sounds like the VGK had at least some competition landing Eichel on the trade market. It turns out the Calgary Flames were a finalist for Eichel’s services.

Eichel himself confirmed the Flames were the other team deep in talks with the Sabres on a trade.

Jack Eichel confirms that it came down to the Calgary #Flames and Vegas Golden Knights when he requested a trade from Buffalo pic.twitter.com/i235V3Xc8H

— Dennis Wideman (@bboysburner) December 21, 2023

VIA the Empty Netters podcast:

“There were teams out east in the mix trying to make things happen,” Eichel said. “The whole medical part of it was definitely a big component. The team obviously had to be okay with the surgery that I wanted to do. A lot of things had to work. I think as the summer went on, you’d always hear different teams call. Whether it was Minnesota or Carolina, or there was a period in the early fall where it was Colorado.

“When it came down to it, towards the end, it was between Calgary and Vegas.”

Jack Eichel Credits Bruce Cassidy For Winning The Stanley Cup

Vegas eventually acquired Eichel for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a top 10 protected first-round pick in 2022, and a second-round pick in 2023. Not a totally terrible return considering that Alex Tuch is a really good player on a controllable contract.

Who knows what Calgary was or wasn’t willing to offer? It is interesting to look back in hindsight now. Imagine if the Flames parted with Matthew Tkachuk in the trade and landed Eichel instead? They sure would like that return far more than how Jonathan Huberdeau has panned out!

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