Plenty of digital space has been occupied over the past two-plus years on the fallout from the 2021 Jack Eichel blockbuster, one of the biggest NHL trades in recent memory. Much of it, understandably, has centered on Eichel, not only the marquee attraction of the deal between the Vegas Golden Knights and Buffalo Sabres, but also the divisive figure at the center of the split from Buffalo that prompted the trade.
While Eichel was the centerpiece, there was plenty more to that trade than just the Golden Knights’ leading scorer. As a refresher, here is the entirety of the swap, which was fully conveyed as of the 2023 Entry Draft:
While Vegas has obviously been quite satisfied with the rewards that a healthy Eichel has reaped, the Sabres did pretty well to land an immediate frontline contributor in Alex Tuch and a 22-year-old NHL mainstay in Peyton Krebs. On the occasion of Buffalo’s 5-2 win over the Golden Knights on Friday night, let’s check in and see how Tuch and Krebs have fared in Western New York:
Alex Tuch
On individual stats alone, Tuch has been the biggest producer to emerge from the trade to date. The 27-year-old winger, who recorded a goal and an assist on Friday night, now has 136 points in 149 games as a Sabre. Comparatively, Eichel has scored 127 points as a Golden Knight, albeit in 16 fewer games.
To no surprise of those who saw him develop in Vegas, Tuch has continued along his ascent to reach a new level of success in Buffalo. He needs just three points to match his total scoring output during his tenure in Vegas, despite having played 100 fewer games with his current squad. Last year saw the New York native break out for a career-best season of 36 goals and 79 points.
Peyton Krebs
While Tuch held plenty of appeal as a young player who had already enjoyed some NHL success, Krebs might have been a more important piece as a high-end prospect who had been a first-round pick (No. 17, 2019) just two years prior to the trade. Two years later, and Sabres fans are still waiting for that promise to be fully realized.
Still only 22 years of age, Krebs has struggled to find his footing offensively since becoming a full-time NHLer. The 2022-23 season marked his first of regular duty in the league, but his 26 points only marked a four-point improvement from the season prior, when he played 26 fewer games. This season, meanwhile, has seen the former Kootenay Ice star’s pace dip a bit, as he currently has just two goals and five points in 30 games.
The Prospects
Let’s not forget that the trade also involved Vegas’ 2022 first-round pick and their 2023 second rounder. The 2022 first ultimately conveyed at No. 16 and was used to select Swedish center Noah Ostlund, while the 2023 second was eventually sent to Minnesota in the Jordan Greenway trade and became Riley Heidt.
As is often the case for young players, Ostlund has struggled to adapt to the top tier of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The 19-year-old earned a promotion after posting eight goals and 26 points in 37 games with Djurgardens IF in the first division, but has only registered four goals and seven points in 17 games with Vaxjo this year. He will, however, get a big opportunity to gain momentum and exposure as one of the biggest names on Sweden’s World Juniors roster.
Heidt, meanwhile, is in the midst of a massive Western Hockey League (WHL) season with the Prince George Cougars. The under-sized Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native is currently tied for the league lead in points, having notched 63 in just 31 games.
It might not feel like it in the aftermath of Friday’s 5-2 loss, but the Eichel trade has really been a win-win transaction. For Vegas, a revitalized, healthy and happy Eichel has been the No. 1 franchise center they had hoped to land and, most importantly, helped deliver the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. For Buffalo, ending a miserable, embittered relationship with their former star has also meant acquiring a highly productive hometown hero and some remaining upside in Krebs and Ostlund.