Jack Eichel likely might not be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season

It’s known by this point that Jack Eichel won’t be starting the 2021-22 season with the Buffalo Sabres.

But, beyond that, it appears as though Eichel won’t be playing for anybody when the season kicks off just over a month from now.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Eichel still hasn’t had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck and him being medically cleared to play come October seems very unlikely.

Back in May, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres and Eichel had a “contentious” exit meeting at the end of the season. Beyond the team’s overwhelming struggles since drafting Eichel No. 2 overall in 2015, the team was against him having a cutting-edge surgery that would give him an artificial disc replacement in his neck.

And then, in late July, Eichel’s agent released a statement saying that his client “fully anticipated a trade by the start of the NHL free agency period.”

Here’s what Jack himself has to say about the situation…