There's been a raging battle on social media in the past week, even years. No, it isn't Republican or Democrat, nor is it if a hot dog is a sandwich. It's who won the Jack Eichel trade between the Vegas Golden Knights and Buffalo Sabres.
In case you're wondering what's being referenced, the Golden Knights acquired Eichel in 2021 from the Sabres for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (Noah Ostlund), and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (traded to Minnesota, who drafted Riley Heidt). The Golden Knights also received a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, spent on Mathieu Cataford.
Bear in mind that November 4 is the three-year anniversary of the trade, where the superstar center came to Las Vegas. It was a franchise-altering move that eventually got the team over the Stanley Cup hump in 2023. How, you might ask?
Well, Eichel scored six goals and 20 assists during the 2023 Stanley Cup run. He was second for the Conn Smythe trophy behind Jonathan Marchessault (80 points), finishing with 56 points in voting. It's easy to see why fans would believe his new team was the winner.
However, there were naysayers after the deal went down. Take this fan as a perfect example.
jack eichel leaving buffalo to compete for a playoff team and then not making the playoffs is objectively the funniest thing to happen this season and no i will not be taking questions or comments
— i love a big leaf (@joaospasteis) April 25, 2022
This was after the Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Ironically, Eichel won the Stanley Cup the next season, bringing the title to Sin City. The deal brought many people out of the woodworks, debating on whether the Buffalo Sabres or Vegas Golden Knights won the trade. So... who was the victor?
Let's examine the Buffalo Sabres side of the Jack Eichel trade
The Sabres got Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs from the Golden Knights in the deal. So far, he's scored 74 goals and 112 assists in four seasons in Buffalo. Sounds pretty good, right?
However, the winger had an outstanding 2022-23 campaign, scoring 36 goals and 43 assists. It's the only season where he's scored more than 60 points in his NHL career. Meanwhile, Krebs has produced 21 goals and 47 assists during his four-year tenure. It's been a quiet run for the former first-round pick, who hasn't stood out with his latest club.
But what about Noah Ostlund and Riley Heidt? Ostlund is currently with the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He did try out for the Sabres's main roster, ultimately falling short. Meanwhile, Heidt is playing for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. He's still developing his craft and will appear within the Wild organization soon.
Overall, there's still some moving parts with the Sabre side of things. Tuch has been the most productive of the assets, even producing the most points of all trade pieces involved. However, injuries, disappointing play, or players still being raw have rendered little or negative judgment on the trade. It will need a few more years before fans truly see what came from the deal. As it stands, it looks lukewarm.
So what about the Vegas Golden Knights and Jack Eichel?
Well, there's winning the Stanley Cup, which was big for the Vegas Golden Knights. Without Jack Eichel's 26 points in the playoffs, would the Golden Knights be champions during that run? It's safe to say there wouldn't be a parade on the Las Vegas Strip in June, nor would there be a kept promise in six seasons.
There's also this season that gives the Golden Knights another victory. The former second-overall pick has 16 points and he's on pace for 109. He's made his linemates, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev, much better. Through setting up countless scoring opportunities for both even strength and power play, Eichel has looked comfortable.
But what's lost in the trade is Mathieu Cataford. He was the pick used when the Golden Knights got an additional pick from the Buffalo Sabres. So far, he's been as good as advertised in the amateur leagues, scoring 40 goals and 50 assists in 65 games with the Halifax Steelheads last season. He even earned QMJHL MVP honors, adding more accolades to his young career.
Currently, the Golden Knights are the victors of the trade because Stanley Cups are king. That's especially true when the key piece produces in the Stanley Cup playoffs, giving his franchise their first championship. The same can't be said in Buffalo, where they're still waiting for their team to crack its postseason drought dating back to 2010-11. At least this debate isn't as combative as pineapples on pizza.