Official: Buffalo Sabres shipping Jack Eichel to Las Vegas Golden Knights

Andrew Hyman
Photo: AP. FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2021, file photo, Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel skates during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Buffalo, N.Y. Eichel will travel to Buffalo for his pre-training camp physical this week amid questions of whether he'll be cleared to play, and his future with the team in limbo, a person with direct knowledge of the player's plans told The Associated Press on Saturday, Sept. 18.[(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)]

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHEC/AP)— Former Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, and team captain Jack Eichel is heading to Vegas. The team Thursday shipped the center to the Las Vegas Golden Knights, first reported from TSN. The Sabres have since confirmed the blockbuster move.

In exchange for Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick, the Sabres will get forward Peyton Krebs, forward Alex Tuch, a top-10 proteced 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 second-round pick.

The Sabres and Eichel spent the last several months at odds over how to treat a herniated disk he suffered after being checked into the end boards in a game against the New York Islanders in March. Eichel favored having artificial disk replacement surgery. The Sabres were against him having the procedure because it has never been performed on an NHL player, and preferred him having the disk fused.

Buffalo thanked Eichel, who was drafted second overall in 2015 by the Sabres, for his contributions with the franchise.

According to hockey reporter David Pagnotta, Eichel will move forward with the disk replacement surgery, and he will be expected to return after the Olympic break.

He was stripped of his captaincy in September. Eichel has five years left on an eight-year, $80 million contract. He has yet to play a game this season.

This is a developing story.