The standoff between the Buffalo Sabres and star center Jack Eichel has progressed past the point of usefulness for all involved.
It's degenerated into public discourse for a matter than should have remained internal; now we have a general manager bragging about leverage, and agents sending Notes app missives to local media in response.
It's a played out drama that's a deterrent to Eichel getting healthy and a detriment to the Sabres' ability to recoup assets for someone who is likely to never play for them again.
I respect that it's a complicated matter due to Eichel's neck injury, his contract (with five years and $50 million remaining) and the pandemic economy of the league.