"I think it is something that I want to make very clear, we have no intentions and we're not shopping Jack or talking to teams looking to do anything with Jack," Adams told WGR 550 in Buffalo. "People call and ask questions and you have conversations. "
Adams was responding to a report Monday in which Eichel's agent, Peter Fish, told Bob McKenzie of TSN that Eichel wanted to remain in Buffalo.
"I hear that (trade talk) a lot," Fish said. "Jack wants to win, he's frustrated (not winning) but, no, he doesn't want out. Jack is preparing to head to Buffalo at some point here and prepare for the season, whenever that may be. That's all he controls."
The 23-year-old center has played 354 games for Buffalo since it selected him No. 2 in the 2015 NHL Draft. The Sabres (30-31-8) finished 13th in the Eastern Conference this season and extended their Stanley Cup Playoff drought to nine seasons, the longest active streak in the NHL.
"Listen, I'm fed up with [losing]," Eichel said in May. "I'm fed up and I'm frustrated ... I'd be lying if I said I'm not getting frustrated with the way things are going. ... It's definitely not an easy pill to swallow right now. It's been a tough couple of months, it's been a tough five years with where things have went."
Adams was hired as Sabres general manager on June 16, replacing Jason Botterill.
"Had a great call with Jack this morning just to start to talk to him a little bit," Adams said then of the Sabres captain. "I'd be lying if I didn't tell you after a few hours on the job that the (to-do) list is long. You can only tackle one at a time."
Eichel has six seasons remaining on an eight-year, $80 million contract ($10 million average annual value) he signed Oct. 3, 2017.
"I'm a competitor," he said. "I want to win every time I step on the ice. I want to win the Stanley Cup every time I start a season. I've already started to prepare for next season. I'm already back on the ice, I've already started training to try to better myself for next season, whenever that is."
Eichel scored 78 points (36 goals, 42 assists) in 68 games, including a 17-game point streak from Nov. 16-Dec. 17 (16 goals, 15 assists), the longest in the NHL this season. His goals were an NHL career high, and he was four shy of his high in points (2018-19).
The Sabres acquired center Eric Staal in a trade with the Minnesota Wild for forward Marcus Johansson on Sept. 16.
"Jack is still a young guy and a young guy in the League with high expectations," Adams said, "and a lot of feeling like, 'OK, I'm the captain.' Eric has gone through all of these things, so I think in a way he will be able to help Jack also."
