On November 4th, the NHL was awoken with a startling trade alert, that Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel was traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. From Eichel’s clear unhappiness playing for the former last place team, he has scored a quick pass right into playoff territory.

Eichel, the former captain of the Buffalo Sabres has not been shy with his dissatisfaction with the New York team, stating last season that “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frustrated with how things are going.” With the Sabres straying further and further from a chance in the playoffs, the young player has been desperate for a way out of the club. Eichel has not had a dry record, however, with his first six seasons providing the player with 139 goals and 216 assists after being drafted second pick in the 2015 draft by Buffalo.

From the trade, Buffalo received Golden Knights players Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, along with a 2022 first-round pick and 2023 second-round pick. On the Sabres behalf, they traded Eichel along with a 2023 third-round pick. Now that the young player has been given his desperately wanted opportunity, it is now up to time to see what he may do while playing for Vegas.

There have also been a few other changes regarding the New Jersey Devils roster to add on to the Metropolitan Division changes. To many fans’ excitement, goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was activated off of the injury reserve recovering from a lower body injury. However, other goaltender Scott Wedgewood was placed on waivers by the Devils soon after, and was claimed by the struggling Arizona Coyotes. With the Coyotes’ a record of 0 wins and 9 losses already into the season, Wedgewood may provide a boost to goaltending on the team, despite struggling on the Devils.

Adding on to changes regarding the Devils roster, Jack Hughes is seemingly not returning to the ice anytime soon. From sustaining a shoulder injury against Seattle, the young player has been off since then, and will be evaluated in the weeks to come, most likely his earliest return to be in December. Along with other injuries, Dougie Hamilton of the Devils sustained a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks, now being listed as day-to-day. Coach Lindy Ruff has described this injury as “common” and that he should make a return soon.

Despite these detrimental changes to the team, yesterday Alexander Holtz was called up from the Devils AHL affiliate the Utica Comets. Holtz, after having a successful preseason, was cut from the final roster in a controversial decision by the Devils team. Most likely with the several injuries, Holtz has now been promoted to NHL play once more to hopefully benefit the team’s play, with his season debut possibly being as early as tomorrow against the Los Angeles Kings.

Overall, the Metropolitan division has been making moves already into the season, being known as the hardest and most competitive division with most of the playoff teams residing in the division. With the whole season right ahead of the league, things will soon change from these decisions to come.