Five Teams That Should Trade for Jack Eichel Right Now

The premier soap opera in the National Hockey League calls Buffalo home, though it may not much longer.

The saga, feud, kerfuffle...whatever phrase suits you...between the Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel has dragged on into the summer months. As the rumor mill continues to swirl, no significant headway has been made toward a deal, at least, as of right now.

That being said, Eichel has the potential to be a top player in all of hockey, if he's put in the right situation. There are teams that can give Eichel the fit he needs to thrive, and also pay the price necessary to acquire him. Here are five team that fit the mold for me.

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1. Anaheim Ducks

This team is loaded with young talent, and on the edge of being a contender. Instead of waiting for a few years for their young stars to develop, the Ducks would be wise to package prospects and picks for a top line center in Eichel, in order to speed their rebuild along, and give their young talent a north star to follow in their quest for a championship.

2. Los Angeles Kings

Another team in California with potential and money. The Kings won two Stanley Cups in the early 2010s, but the vast majority of their lineup has been re-built between now and then. They also have a glut of young talent, but also have a few stars like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, who still have gas left in the tank for one more run.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets just need to refresh. They need new stars, new energy, new voices in the locker room. The Sabres need defense badly. Could Columbus' Seth Jones be part of a package for Eichel, who would head to a team in need of a top line center just as badly? It's intriguing.

4. TIE: Ottawa Senators & Calgary Flames

Both teams need Eichel, but for different reasons. Neither team has been directly connected to Eichel and the Sabres, so this is pure conjecture. Ottawa vastly over-achieved this year, and have a prospect-and-pick base similar to the Ducks. Calgary falls more into the Columbus situation, where they need a re-set, and Sean Monahan heading out of town for Eichel could help revitalize slumping star Johnny Gaudreau.

5. Seattle Kraken

LET'S GET WEIRD! They have something no other team has...everything. They will be drafting their own roster completely from scratch, and likely, acquiring draft picks in the process. Package their picks, other teams' picks and their new players for a once-in-a-generation star? Why WOULDN'T you do that?