Rumour: Sam Reinhart is heading back home

A new captain will be needed in Buffalo. The bridge connecting Eichel and the Sabres is fully engulfed in flames, and it's unlikely that it will be saved. Eichel has been a fitness nut since he was a teenager, and he's enraged when the team tells him what he can and can't do with his body. The faith has been broken. And that's just one perspective. Eichel is obviously eager to move on after six seasons without even making the playoffs. He's all but gone.

Jack Eichel: "I have a lot of thinking to do in this offseason. I think that there's a lot that I have to consider. But for now, obviously, I'm here." https://t.co/QE7sPn4LZu— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) May 10, 2021

Jack Eichel on him and the Sabres: "I've got to do what's best for me and they've got to do what's best for them. ... There's a lot to process. ... I'm sure these conversations will be had and things will go from there." pic.twitter.com/txopjhGS49— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) May 10, 2021

And if that wasn't bad enough, former 2nd overall pick Sam Reinhart seems to also have one foot out the door.

Check out these quotes from Reinhart on his future with the team:

"In terms of future, don't really have much for you right now. I'm going to take some time and that stuff's going to get figured out when the time comes... No one wants to go through a rebuild, especially going into next year turning 26 at the start of it or close to the start of it. It's tough not being able to play meaningful games down the stretch."

From Friedman's most recent 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet:

''Eichel overshadowed everything else from Buffalo, but two other year-end media goodbyes were notable. Sam Reinhart didn't reveal much and looked like he'd rather be eating lit cigarettes. Asked if he wanted to stay, he replied, «I don't really have much to say right now. Gonna take some time, that stuff's going to get figured out when the time comes''

Rasmus Ristolainen said that if Adams traded him, «I'm fine with that.»

That's really, really bad. Reinhart was 10th in the league with 25 goals. Ristolainen had every excuse to bail on the year after a rough case of COVID. Both of them played hard, even when there was no playoff spot to play for. Reinhart's been there six years, Ristolainen eight. Those are two guys the Sabres invested in, and, one year from unrestricted free agency, both can't wait to leave.

More than one western Canadian team would love to have Reinhart, born and raised in West Vancouver.

Credit: HockeyFeed