The Buffalo Sabres will be starting the season without their star young player Jack Eichel, as the sophomore player goes down today in practice with a nasty ankle injury.
The Buffalo Sabres can’t really catch a break – no pun intended. Last season the team was supposed to get off to a great start, and start turning the page on what was a horrible experience in the teams history. They ended up playing the year without their starting goaltender Robin Lehner.
It looks like this season could start out the same way, except now it is their sophomore sensation, Jack Eichel.
VIDEO: Jack Eichel goes down at #Sabres practice, has to be helped off the ice. Looks like left ankle. pic.twitter.com/ntUj3asIGE
— Tom Martin (@4TomMartin) October 12, 2016
Eichel was playing in front of the crease, and it looks as if he was trying to turn away from the defenseman to follow the puck, his ankle had another direction it wanted to go in as he tripped over the defenseman’s skate.
Eichel was in obvious pain as he screamed rather loudly as he fell. He had to be helped off the ice, he could put no weight on the injured ankle.
The Buffalo Sabres have plenty of talent heading into the season, and they should be able to overcome an injury to Eichel.
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In 81 games last year, the young star had 24 goals and assisted in 32 more; picking up 22 penalty minutes on the season.
There is no update from the team on the severity of the injury at this time, but losing a 20 goal scorer off your roster when 20 goal scorers are at a premium for the Buffalo Sabres is a hurdle they will have to overcome. Eichel was one of just four 20 goal scorers last season.
Who will step up for the Buffalo Sabres and take the place of Jack Eichel? It appears as thought the Sabres will have to dip into the Rochester Americans earlier in the season than they may have wanted.
While the NHL opens up the regular season tonight, the Buffalo Sabres do not start until tomorrow when they face off against the Montreal Canadiens.
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