Buffalo Sabres have confirmed on their Twitter profile that they have reached an agreement with center Jack Eichel who signed 8-year, $80 million extension with the team. The new deal will keep Eichel in Buffalo through the 2025-26 season and has made him one of the top paid players in NHL in 2017.
🚨 We've agreed to terms with @Jack_Eichel11 on an 8-year extension with an AAV of $10 million. pic.twitter.com/9L8hLcVFzP
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 3, 2017
“This city means so much to me, and I like to think I mean a lot to this city as well,” – Eichel said speaking at a press conference on Wednesday. “This organization has been nothing but great to me since the first day I walked in the doors. I have nothing but great things to say about Buffalo. I think I really owe it to them and I think I owe it to myself to do something special here with the group of guys that we have in the room and the organization and the people that are here now.” Eichel also added that his intention is to become a leader and someone who people can rely on.
Eichel played amateur hockey with the Boston University, where he won the Hobey Baker Award becoming only the second freshman in history to receive the same honor. He played 40 games and finished the season with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points. His performances brought him numerous awards and honors including Hockey East scoring champion, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
After declaring for 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Eichel was drafted 2nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres. After scoring a goal in his first NHL game, Eichel finished the 2015-16 season on the high note with 24 goals, 32 assists and 56 points in 81 games. Severe high ankle sprain injury kept Eichel 2 months off the ice in the 2016-17 season, and he managed to play 61 games. Despite playing 20 games less, he finished the year with 24 goals, 33 assists, and 57 points.
