Eichel (neck) could be cleared for full-contact practice after the All-Star break, David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eichel, who began skating with the Golden Knights on Jan. 12, figures to need a fair amount of full-contact practice before returning from long-term injured reserve. The neck injury has sidelined the 25-year-old all season, but he appears close to making his Las Vegas debut.

Eichel (neck) joined his new teammates on the ice in a non-contact jersey for Tuesday's morning skate, The Athletic's Jesse Granger reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eichel remains without a definite timetable for his season debut after undergoing artificial disc replacement surgery Nov. 12, but his presence on the ice Tuesday, albeit in a limited fashion, was nonetheless a huge step in the right direction for the former Sabres center. Eichel will meet with the Golden Knights' training and coaching staff later in January to evaluate the progress he's made in his rehab, at which point a more definite timetable for his return to game action could be released.

Eichel (neck) is expected to return to play this week, per Ben Gots of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

EDGE Analysis

Eichel underwent disk replacement surgery for his neck in November. He is expected to make his return to the ice as soon as this week and play his first game of the 2021-22 season.

Eichel's (neck) disk replacement surgery Friday was "successful and without complications." He is expected to make a full recovery.

EDGE Analysis

Eichel hasn't appeared in an NHL game since March 7 and is now finally on his road to recovery after a successful surgery. At best, he can return sometime in late February. A more clear timeline for his return should be available in early 2022.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed Thursday that Eichel (neck), whom the team acquired from the Sabres earlier in the day, will undergo artificial disc replacement surgery. Eichel is expected to be ready to return to game action in the next 3-to-5 months.

EDGE Analysis

The Sabres' unwillingness to approve Eichel's request for the surgery in question was a major point of contention between player and team before Buffalo ultimately sent him to Vegas in a blockbuster deal. With the Golden Knights deferring to the medical conclusions reached by Eichel's camp, he'll soon undergo surgery and, in a best-case scenario, return for the final two months of the regular season. He could also remain on long-term injured reserve until the playoffs, should the Golden Knights qualify. Either way, Eichel will undoubtedly take over as the Golden Knights' No. 1 center and slide into a spot on the top power-play unit once healthy.

Eichel (neck) was traded to the Golden Knights from the Sabres in exchange for Alex Tuch (shoulder), Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick. In addition to Eichel, Vegas will also receive a 2023 third-round pick, Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the deal finally done, Eichel should be expected to undergo neck surgery soon, so fantasy players still shouldn't be expecting him back on the ice in the short term. Still, the 25-year-old center racked up 18 points in 21 games last year and figures to offer point-per-game production once given the all-clear. Once healthy, Eichel figures to immediately take the first-line center role in addition to linking up with the No. 1 power-play unit.

Eichel (neck) failed his training camp physical and has been stripped of his captaincy, The Athletic NHL reports.

EDGE Analysis

General manager Kevyn Adams told reporters Thursday, "I feel the captain is the heartbeat of your team. I felt we needed to address that." At this point it's safe to assume Eichel will never play another game for the Sabres, but a trade still doesn't seem imminent. The Sabres and Eichel's camp still disagree on the correct course of action to repair the herniated disk in the star center's neck. Eichel is dead set on undergoing an artificial disk replacement procedure, whereas the Sabres believe fusion surgery is the best course of action. At this point, it seems evident Eichel will refuse to address his injury via surgery until he's traded, and there's still no telling when that might happen. Eichel will start the season on injured reserve, and it looks like he may be in real danger of missing the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign.

Eichel (neck) and the Sabres have differing opinions about the next steps in his recovery with the center favoring surgery, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eichel missed the final 33 games of the season due to his neck problem and it seems he is no closer to a solution. Once cleared to play, the 23-year-old Massachusetts native should get back to being a 20-30 goal scorer and serving as the focal point of the Buffalo offense.

Eichel will continue to rehab the herniated disc in his neck in hopes of avoiding surgery, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was initially believed that Eichel would undergo surgery to address his neck injury in the near future, but it sounds like he'll instead continue to try to correct the issue via rehab until being reevaluated in May. Another update on the 24-year-old pivot's status should be released after he's reevaluated by the Sabres' training staff in May.

Eichel will miss the remainder of the campaign due to a herniated disc in his neck. He is expected to be healthy and ready to play at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.

EDGE Analysis

This is a lost season for the Sabres, so Eichel is expected to undergo surgery soon instead of trying to return in 2020-21 so he can begin training in preparation for the 2021-22 campaign. Eichel was limited to just 21 games this year due to injuries, but he was still productive when healthy, racking up 18 points over that span. He'll remain a highly desirable fantasy asset heading into next season.