In 2021, Jack Eichel's name was on everyone's lips in the National Hockey League and everyone was waiting to find out the Buffalo Sabers captain's next destination.
In an episode of the Empty Netters podcast that aired in early December, the forward confirmed that the Calgary Flames were the team he could have joined had he not chosen the Vegas Golden Knights.
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“I think over time different teams have gotten involved. First of all, I think some teams in the East tried to provoke something. In the summer you always hear the call of different teams. Whether it’s Minnesota, Carolina or, in the early fall, Colorado,” he revealed.
“Except for the very end, it was Calgary and Vegas.”
The rest is history, as Eichel joined the Knights in November and helped them win the Stanley Cup that spring. The American couldn't have chosen his target better, especially since his relationship with the Sabers has deteriorated. Once he arrived in Nevada, he was able to undergo the surgery he wanted.
“During the process there were places I wanted to visit more than others and [Vegas] was part of it. I was very happy with the result. I thought Vegas ticked most of the boxes for me. They want to win every year, it’s a great organization,” Eichel said.
According to ESPN network source Kevin Weekes, the Flames offered Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan to acquire the second pick in the 2015 draft. Let's say the face of the Sabers had changed, they instead added Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch in this trade with the Knights.