As NHL teams begin to draft preliminary offseason plans to improve for the 2021-22 season, many have assuredly shortlisted a certain franchise center who may be eager to move on from his chronically losing franchise. Indeed, what does the future hold for Aleksander Barkov?
Sorry, were you thinking of someone else?
Yes, Jack Eichel will enter the offseason as the top storyline. His marketability as an American and the ugly manner in which his tenure in Buffalo appears to be ending justify that, and make no mistake: He's a game-changing, All-Star center who completely alters the complexion of any acquiring team for the better.