The trade that the hockey world has been waiting for for what seems like a year now has finally happened, as Jack Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in the wee hours of Thursday morning. While there had been rumours – very recent rumours – of Eichel going to Calgary, the Golden Knights eventually won out with their trade package.

The package going back to Buffalo for Eichel is as follows:

Let's not waste time breaking this down.

To Vegas

So, the Golden Knights get the elite centre they've been after for five years now. It seems like they had been kind of dragging their feet on the trade front, but the recent injury to William Karlsson, combined with the team's bad start to the year, likely lit a fire under them.

The question is what Eichel the Golden Knights are getting, and the usefulness. He still needs his disc replacement surgery in his neck, and the team is in last place in the division with a slew of injuries. There is no guarantee that the team is even in the postseason for Eichel to make an impact in the spring, and then we're looking at nearly two full years removed from the game and the aging Vegas core getting a year older if they aren't in the playoffs now.

Should Eichel return before the season is over and the team is in a playoff position, we are looking at a game-changing addition for Vegas. Remember that Eichel has driven Victor Olofsson to a 20-goal season (in 54 games), Jeff Skinner to a 40-goal season, and Sam Reinhart to multiple 20-goal seasons. He is used to taking good players and elevating them with a mix of his playmaking and vision. He makes Marchessault a perennial 30-goal threat if he skates there, or he makes Pacioretty a 40-goal threat on the top line.

This also moves every other centre into a proper position. If Eichel skates with Pacioretty/Stone, then the Misfit line is a true second line, while Chandler Stephenson and Evgenii Dadonov can run the third line. That is of importance here: it gives Vegas a true 1C, but also allows their other centres to play their true roles.

It all hinges on Eichel's health. If he can come back and be the guy he can be, Vegas just acquired a top-10 player in hockey. It is a matter of his health, and when he'll return.

To Buffalo

Alex Tuch looks to be out through the Olympic break with his shoulder surgery so there's not much for impact right now. When he returns, he's a guy who can bring a little everything. He is a decent shooter, a good playmaker, decent defensively, and is signed for a reasonable cap hit. It is a matter of where he fits when he is healthy. Presumably it is in the top-6 and on the top PP unit, but that is months away so it's just conjecture for now.

The addition of Peyton Krebs is interesting. My personal opinion on Krebs is that he's always been overrated as a prospect. However, our expectation at Dobber Prospects is still that he's going to be a first-line talent, and I'll defer to the prospect experts here. I don't think he's much more than a two-way second liner, but people who do this stuff daily think there's more upside. I suppose the difference on whether this deal is good for Buffalo or not depends who has the right read of Krebs. One thing I will say: it always concerns me when a team is willing to trade a recent first-round pick. No one will know the player better than the team that drafted and developed him.

In theory, the Sabres could have just received two first-line wingers for Eichel, plus the draft picks. Or they could end up with an injured second-line winger, a busted prospect, and two picks. This trade won't make the team that much better right now, but at the end of the season once their prospects are called up, we'll get a look at the Buffalo future.

Who this helps

Jack Eichel

Max Pacioretty

Mark Stone

Who this hurts

Rasmus Asplund

Chandler Stephenson

Nolan Patrick