Jack Eichel

History

2011-12: Jack Eichel captained the Boston Jr. Bruins of the Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL). In 36 games for that team, he scored 39 goals and added 47 assists for 86 points to go along with 36 penalty minutes. He was held scoreless in three postseason games. In May of 2012, Eichel committed to Boston University for the Fall of 2014.

2012-13: Eichel moved over to the U.S. National Team Development Program (U.S. NTDP) for two seasons beginning with this one. In 35 USHL games, Eichel scored 13 goals and added 14 assists for 27 points. In U.S. National Development Program (USDP) play, for the u17 squad, Eichel played in 36 games, scoring 19 goals and notching 15 assists for 34 points. For the U18 team, he scored 10 goals and 8 assists for 18 points in 22 games. Eichel played in a pair of high profile tournaments during the 2012-13 season, the first being the 2013 World U17 Hockey Challenge. Eichel scored 3 goals in 5 games for Team USA, who won the bronze medal at this tournament. Eichel also played for Team USA at the 2013 u18 World Championship. He scored 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 games, with the U.S. taking home the silver medal.

2013-14: Eichel returned to the NTDP program, playing in 24 USHL games where he scored 20 goals and added 25 assists for 45 points. He was named to the USHL’s Second All-Star Team. Eichel played in 53 games for the USDP U18 squad, scoring 38 goals and 49 assists for 87 points. Eichel again represented the U.S. at two high-level tournaments, the first being the 2014 U20 World Junior Championship. In 5 games for Team USA, he scored 1 goal and added 4 assists for 5 points. Eichel also played for the U.S. at the 2014 U18 World Championship, where he netted 5 goals and added 5 assists for 10 points in 7 games for the gold medal-winning team. He was named one of the Top 3 Players for Team USA at this tournament.

2014-15: Eichel entered Boston University as a true freshman — competing in the tough Hockey East conference — and led the nation in scoring as the Terriers reached the Frozen Four championship game. He scored 26 goals with 45 assists and was +51 with 28 penalty minutes in 40 games. Eichel skated for the USA men’s team in the 2015 World Championship and captained Team USA at the 2015 U20 World Junior Championship, where he scored 1 goal and added 3 assists in 5 games. Eichel played in the 2014 All-American Prospects Game, where he was named the Player of the Game for Team Grier after posting a goal and an assist in his team’s 6-3 win. He was ranked second among North American skaters in the Central Scouting midterm and final rankings and second by ISS Hockey over the course of the 2014-15 season heading into the 2015 NHL Draft. Eichel was chosen in the first round, second overall, of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.

Talent Analysis

While Eichel may not be quite the high-end talent that Connor McDavid is, he is very close. Eichel has the ability to control the game with a high hockey IQ, a good, powerful skating stride, and offensive skills that are second to none among American prospects for the 2015 draft. Eichel has good strength, allowing him to win battles for the puck and control it in space. He may be guilty of trying to do too much at times, but there is little doubt that he will be a top player once he arrives in the NHL.

Future

Eichel will step into the Sabres lineup right away, having signed an entry-level contract a week after being drafted. The Sabres will use Eichel in a secondary scoring role to shield him from the rigors of playing in the NHL in his first pro season. As outstanding as Eichel has been for the 2014-15 season, the Sabres intend to let Eichel develop at his own pace. With veteran center Ryan O’Reilly in the fold, they intend to do just that. There is no doubt Eichel will be the face of the Buffalo franchise down the road.