Jack Eichel joined his Buffalo Sabres teammates for the first time this training camp today.
Afterwards, Dan Bylsma said "Jack is Jack".
Bylsma noted that the overall skill quotient increased with Eichel back on the ice.
Bylsma also observed that Jack appears to be more confident now after playing against and with some of the top hockey players in the Universe at the World Cup Of Hockey tournament. Eichel played a leadership role on Team North America. The hope is that Eichel will now bring some of his swagger and experiences back to his Buffalo Sabres.
Eichel said that he Team North America deserved a better fare at the World Cup. He believed in his teammates and coaches so much so that he thought that they would advance to the semifinals. That damn 4-3 loss to Russia and the thrilling OT win over Sweden undermined the chance to move on and advance to the semis.
"Do I think that we deserved to have moved on? Sure I do. I thought we had a great team. But standings-wise, point-wise, we didn’t do enough as a team to move on. Unfortunately the fun ride had to come to an end. We were all a little bit bummed but I’m excited to get back to Buffalo. I’ve been looking forward to this season for a while now. It’s great to have one season under your belt. You just expect more of yourself every day.”
After his first skate, Eichel reflected on the experience of playing under the bright lights against the A-listers of the NHL at the World Cup Of Hockey.
Thanks, Sabres TV
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