Rangers, Sabres have been in touch recently about Eichel

Per Larry Brooks, the Rangers have been in touch about Jack Eichel, which is showing increased interest from prior reports. Per Brooks, the Rangers and Sabres have had preliminary talks about Eichel. It is worth noting that the Blueshirts’ interest in Eichel was mostly during Jeff Gorton’s tenure, and Chris Drury isn’t nearly as committed to bringing him in.

That said, for the right price, anyone can be had. The deal breaker last year was the #1 overall pick (Alexis Lafreniere), so that’s still off the table this year. K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko were also called out as deal breakers. I’d assume Igor Shesterkin is also a deal breaker. That leaves some combination of Nils Lundkvist or Braden Schneider, Zac Jones or Matthew Robertson, and Vitali Kravtsov. Note that its one of each position, not all five players.

That price last year is also without the current injury and lack of leverage from Buffalo, for what it’s worth.

As mentioned here, the need for a center isn’t really until the end of next season when both Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome are up for new contracts. The Rangers can ride this out and see where it goes.