Montreal Canadiens: Could Jack Eichel be Heading to Montreal?

Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel has been wanting to be traded for some time now. The Montreal Canadiens could use a center like him, especially if Phillip Danault finds a better contract with another team and gets traded too.

That’s a possibility, considering the rumour that he turned down a $30 million six-year extension.

Eichel was drafted second overall in 2015 by the Buffalo Sabres and has been with them since, though he made it clear he wants to be traded and many reports show that he might be traded soon.

Although nothing points to him coming to Montreal, I still think he would be a great addition to the team.

Eichel has a big frame, standing at 6’2 and 213 lbs, and he’s only 24 years old, as opposed to Danault, who’s 28 years old. Danault has been using his experience to help and teach his fellow young centermen Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Jake Evans. However, with Suzuki’s development going better than expected, I think the Canadiens would be more than just fine with Eichel in the lineup and Danault out, that is if he wants to be traded. Otherwise, I am just as happy with Danault staying with the Canadiens.

Now, the reason Eichel wants to be traded, or at least one of the reasons, is that he has a herniated disk in his neck and wants to get surgery, but from what he said, the team isn’t allowing him to get it. If he gets traded, I’m expecting him to get it as soon as possible, to then be able to come back and play next season.

He only played 21 games this season, registering two goals and 16 assists for a total of 18 points. Last season, he scored 36 goals and 42 points for a total of 78 points in 68 games. That’s an average of just a bit over a point per game.

Danault’s numbers are a lot lower, scoring five goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 53 games in the regular season.

This year, Eichel averaged about 3 shots on goal per game, which is well above Danault’s average of 1.3 shots per game.

However, Danault is popular for his ability to shut down star players, and that’s his biggest contribution to the Canadiens – think of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews this season and postseason. But there’s no doubt that a healthy Eichel could do that and more.

The Canadiens could really use a goal scorer, other than Tyler Toffoli and probably Cole Caufield in the near future, and Eichel could be just that.

I know these are a lot of ifs, and after all, who knows if General Manager Marc Bergevin is even interested in acquiring Eichel, or if Eichel would be willing to head to Montreal.

But no matter the situation, there is always a solution. If Bergevin wants him and he’s willing to move here, there are multiple deals that could be made. After all, the Canadiens will have a lot of free agents at the end of the season and have a lot of round picks available, to work on a possible trade.