Updated:
Eichel High Ankle Sprain https://t.co/iMI8x611gr pic.twitter.com/3VnaQwkC6p
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 12, 2016
The Buffalo Sabres have announced Jack Eichel has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. As of now, no timetable has been set for his return.
It's possible that the high ankle sprain will sideline Eichel up to eight weeks.
Will we see Eichel back on the ice before Thanksgiving weekend?
The Sabres play in Washington on Black Friday November 25. That's 21 games away.
Will Eichel be forced to sit out until Thanksgiving? That depends on how the 19 year old responds to off ice rehab and the actual severity of the sprain.
One cannot compare Eichel's high ankle sprain to that of Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, who missed three months last season due to his injury that he suffered when he toe-picked in a large rut in the ice outside of his goal crease on opening night 2015.
The back story on the Lehner injury is that he suffered a serious concussion in February 2015 that forced him to stay away from all skating and exercising until August 2015. In other words, Lehner's leg and ankle muscles had atrophied considerably due to the six month layoff from hockey. Once he was cleared to satrt skating in August 2015, Lehner was pushing himself hard to regain his playing weight and his cardiovascular conditioning. Lehner needed three months to recover due to his poor conditioning due to the concussion.
Eichel is not in the same boat as Lehner. Eichel reported to Buffalo training camp in tehe best physical shape of his life having competed hard all summer long. Eichel starred for Team North America at the World Cup Of Hockey.
Comparing Lehner's injury to Eichel's flawed logic.
Nonetheless, Eichel is a tough kid who is in superior physical condition.Knowing the head string New Englander, I say he will bull dog his way through his physical therapy and will be back on the ice sooner than later.
The Sabres host Montreal on Thursday night. They then head out to the road for a Sunday night tilt in Edmonton. They play Tuesday night in Calgary and Thursday night in Vancouver. Then it's off to Philly on October 25 and back home to host Minnesota on October 27.
Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma will have some work to do tonight.
Which center will replace Eichel on the number one line between Evander Kane and Samson Reinhart?
Who will center the second line?
Will Bylsma move O'Reilly to center on Line 1? Or, will he slide Reinhart, a natural center, to the L1 pivot?
How about natural centers Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons?
Maybe Bylsma promotes training camp hero Derek Grant to center the top trio in Eichel's absence.
Eichel finished last season with 56 points, including a team high 24 goals.
Buffalo's top six forward group is a M*A*S*H unit right now.
July 1 unrestricted free agent acquisition Kyle Okposo, who will sit out the home opener with a bruised right knee that sustained in practice 11 days ago. Ryan O'Reilly skated Wednesday, however, has not yet been cleared for battle on Thursday. ROR suffered back spasms in an exhibition game 10 days ago.
The Buffalo blue line has its walking wounded as well with Zach Bogosian and admitted Kulikov finally returning to practice on Tuesday after suffering groin and back injuries, respectively.
Much more to come....
** A somber Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma just met with media to discuss Jack Eichel's injured ankle.
"You’re looking at one of your key players, one of your best players going down in pain on the ice. It’s not a good thing."
Jack Eichel will be evaluated by team doctors this afternoon.
"We’re going to let it calm down here and get it evaluated and see the extent of him turning his ankle there."
This is seconds after Eichel hit the ice. He screamed and then fell. It's obvious how much pain he's in. Extent still unkown #Sabres @WKBW pic.twitter.com/KPOYzQMRAy
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 12, 2016
More to come....
**
11:45 am Buffalo.
I am at the Sabres practice, where Jack Eichel left after suffering what looked to be a very serious leg injury. He was in a ton of pain and is presently being examined.
Updates will follow as soon as possible.
stay tuned
The following video is from Tom Martin's twitter..
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
UPDATE: 12:15 PM
During end of practice power-play drill, Eichel suffered left ankle injury when when was tangled up with Zemgus Girgensons. No battle, no contact. Eichel lifted Girgensons, stick, pivoted and ankles twisted while skating in front of the
His teammates immediately waved to bench for the trainer after Eichel yelled aloud. Eichel writhed in pain on the ice.
Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma addressed media after the practice. It's a left ankle injury. Still too soon to diagnose. Eichel will be evaluated this afternoon by team orthopaedic doctor.
Newly acquired Sabres forward Kyle Okposo was also injured in a power play drill at the end of a practice.
Okposo suffered a right knee injury when he was drilled by a point shot on his knee
Okposo will be in morning skate Thursday.
Okposo Will not play against Montreal