Buffalo Sabres: When Will Jack Eichel Actually Return to Action?
By Paul Taylor
Jack Eichel is finally skating with his teammates again, but the Buffalo Sabres are still not prepared to set a timetable for the center’s return to the lineup.
As we come to the quarter-way point of the season, it’s clear that the Buffalo Sabres are struggling. With the fewest goals in the NHL, they currently find themselves in 15th place in the Eastern Conference.
However, if you want to take the glass-half-full approach, the Sabres are only four points out of playoff spot as of Thanksgiving morning. When you consider the amount of injuries the roster has already suffered this season, this can actually be considered somewhat of a Thanksgiving miracle. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist it.)
In that respect, Sabres fans received some good news on Wednesday, regarding Jack Eichel. As reported by Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News, Eichel was on the ice for the morning skate, ahead of the team’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
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This represented the first time the 20-year old had skated with his teammates, since he suffered a high ankle sprain on the eve of the season opener. As Harrington noted, he participated in most drills, skating quickly and not appearing to lag in his speed, or ability to work his edges or turn.
Speaking to the media after practice, Eichel said: “It’s nice to get out there with a bunch of other people instead of myself.
“You miss playing but you (also) miss your time with the guys, being in the locker room at the same time as them, just being around them. It’s tough to not be on the same schedule as them. It’s nice to get back in the swing of things.”
Sabres’ coach Dan Bylsma was understandably also happy to see his young center back out on the ice with his teammates: “It was a chance to get back at a practice, albeit a morning skate, to be out there with players, commotion, movement, motion in a different way for him.
“It’s a good sign for everybody for him to be able to get out there and do that. Hopefully he can progress in the next few days to more levels of practice.”
Of course, everyone is wondering when Eichel will actually be in a position to get back to playing? In theory, he is right on schedule, as per the original six-eight recovery prognosis, but Bylsma smartly refuses to put any pressure on the situation by setting a timetable.
Bylsma said: “I’m not putting a time frame on it, but we’re starting to see the end of him getting back to practice. We’re starting to see the end is getting near.”
One thing Bylsma did hint at, was that Sunday could see Eichel’s first full practice with the team. For now though, the 2015 second overall draft pick will have to continue being frustrated by not being able to help his teammates on the ice.
Eichel said: “When the team is struggling you want to be out there trying to help them and do what you can. When you’re not able to do that, it’s pretty tough on you and it’s even tougher on them.
“Knowing the guys in here and the resilience in this organization, I think we’ll be fine. We’ve got a lot of season left in us and we just want to put our best foot forward.”
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Obviously it’s still not clear at this point, but when do you predict that Eichel will return to action for the Sabres? Further, what are your thoughts on the team being in a position to challenge for the playoffs this season? Let us know in the comments section.