During a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders in March 2021, Eichel herniated a disk in his neck that the Sabres believed would only sideline him for around two weeks. He was subsequently forced to miss the ensuing 11 games, however, leading him to consult with an independent specialist.
Upon further review, medical experts suggested that Eichel undergo an artificial disk replacement (ADR) — a risky procedure that no NHL player had gone through.
Eichel herniated a disk in his neck during a 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders in March 2021. After an initial diagnosis, it appeared that his injury was worse than first feared; the early diagnosis was he would miss just two weeks. But he remained out as the Sabres went on to lose the next 11 games without him.
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The Sabres, meanwhile, preferred that Eichel have an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). When the American pushed back, he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Reflecting on his exit from Buffalo, Eichel said: “I think about my time in Buffalo, it obviously ended a little bit messy. But I hope [fans] can look past some of the things that happened, maybe in the last year, and think about the previous five, six years that I was there and everything that I tried to do for the community, everything that I feel like I put forth on the ice as a hockey player, and know I just tried to do as much as I could for the city.”