In the summer of 2021, there were some rumors circulating that the Calgary Flames were actively pursuing Jack Eichel through trade. The Buffalo Sabres were reportedly interested in Matthew Tkachuk as part of any potential deal. Eichel confirmed on the Empty Netters podcast the Flames were heavily involved in trading for his services.
Ultimately, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, with the Flames as one of the final contenders. The Golden Knights acquired him by sending Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a top 10 protected first-round pick in 2022, and a second-round pick in 2023 to the Sabres. Despite undergoing a neck procedure shortly after the trade and playing only 34 games in his first season with the Golden Knights, Eichel had a stellar 2022-23 campaign. He led the team in both regular-season and playoff scoring, contributing significantly to the Golden Knights winning their first ever Stanley Cup.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity raises questions about what might have been for the Flames had they secured Eichel. In hindsight, acquiring Eichel could have significantly bolstered the Flames center ice position and potentially altered the team's trajectory.
