Eichel Signs With Sabres (sabres)

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Eichel Signs With Sabres

By GARTH'S CORNER

Jul 11, 2015 • 8:19 am

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UPDATED:

Jack Eichel has signed his entry level contract.

Goodbye Boston University. Hello NHL super stardom.

Eichel says that he is very excited to get started.

Sabres prospects camp open on Monday July 6. Get your first official look at Jack The Ripper at the annual prospects scrimmage will take place on Friday July 10.

Thanks, Sabres TV

Ryan O'Reilly, you are next!

More to come....

***

Ryan and Cal O'Reilly are as close as two brothers can be.

Sabres GM Tim Murray recognizes that the O'Reilly boys are a dynamic duo. That's why Murray has signed Cal O'Reilly to a two year, $1.4 million deal. It's a one-way deal.

Cal, 28, led the AHL Utica Comets to the 2015 Calder Cup Finals. O'Reilly scored 10 goals and added 51 assists for the Comets. He added 2 goals and 17 assists in the AHL Playoffs.

Cal will play in Rochester.

Ryan O'Reilly is close, very close to signing his Buffalo contract extension. Look for ROR to max out at 8 years and $7.5 to $8 million per season.

***

I sincerely hope that Cody Hodgson's sojourn to Sweden has helped him to correct his physical fitness and his power skating endurance.

A day after being bought out by Buffalo, Hodgson signed a one year deal with the Nashville Predators.

Hodgson's playing time will not be guaranteed by Preds head coach Peter Laviolette. The Preds have center depth and boast of several great center ice men in Mike Ribiero, Filip Forsberg, Mike Fisher, Craig Smith, Calle Jarnkrok and Matt Cullen. Ribiero signed a two year contract extension Wednesday morning.

Former Sabres center Derek Roy was similarly signed by Nashville last summer. He struggled to crack the lineup and when he did was inconsistent. Roy was traded to Edmonton in January 2015.

I'm not suggesting that Hodgson will face the same fate as Roy in Nashville, however, he better bring.

**

Tim Murray is a man of very few smiles. It's not in his nature to walk around with a toothy grin on his face. It's not in his nature to outwardly emote for the world to see. Nor is he prone to gushing about players that are in his employ.

That changed last weekend at the NHL Draft. We got a glimpse of a side of Murray's personality that we have rarely, if ever, seen since he arrived in Buffalo in January 2014.

There's no other way to describe it. Tim Murray is Jacked Up.

It's totally understandable. The past two years of suffering through 30th place finishes in the NHL standings have been hard on Murray, all employees of the Sabres organization, and the fans all over the U.S. and Canada.

Murray said Saturday that drafting Eichel second overall was one of the most memorable experiences in his NHL career. No wonder the Sabres GM is smiling ear to ear.

“It was great. I know what it means to the franchise. I know what it means to the city. I’ve been here a short time, but I know how important it is,… Murray said of the pick. “It was one of the special moments in my drafting career. You don’t get to draft that high very often – nor do you want to. And you don’t get that caliber player very often. It was great.…

Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award as a Boston University freshman. He led all U.S. college players in scoring with 71 points (26G, 45A) in 40 games played. He was the first freshman to win the prestigious Hobey Baker Award since Paul Kariya earned it in 1993.

Eichel was appointed captain for Team USA during the IIHF World Junior Championships in Montreal and Toronto. He inspired his BU Terriers squad to win the Bean Pot and reach the NCAA men's hockey championship game. Eichel's coming out party was when he played a leadership role on Team USA's bronze medal winning team at the IIHF World Championships in Prauie. Playing alongside NHLers Trevor Lewis and Brock Nelson, Eichel scored seven points (2G, 5A) in 10 games played against NHL players.

After he was selected second overall by Murray, Eichel spoke candidly about his emotions and his outlook for his hockey future.

Thanks, Sabres.com

“It’s tough to put into words. Looking back on the entire year, it’s been the best year of my life. This really caps it off,… Eichel said.

“You hear a lot about the draft and everything that goes on here but until you hear your name called and you go on stage and put a jersey on – there’s nothing like it. It’s an unbelievable feeling.…

He’s looking forward to starting his career in Buffalo and playing in front of the one of the most raucous, passionate fan bases in the NHL.

“They’re so passionate about hockey and that means a lot to me,… he said. “To go to a hockey community like that where everyone cares about you and they want to see you do well.…

Eichel played his cards close to his #15 sweater when asked about whether he will be signing with Buffalo and beginning his NHL career or returning to Boston University.

“I guess we’ll see in a few days,… he grinned. “Can’t let the cat out of the bag.…

Eichel has nothing left to prove in college. He is a man playing with boys in the NCAA. His Boston University head coach David Quinn has said several times that the kid has nothing left to prove playing college hockey. Quinn says that he has implored Eichel to sign his contract and turn pro. Eichel will follow his head, his heart and the advice of Quinn and Tim Murray.

I was told last weekend that Eichel will be signing his entry level contract today or tomorrow In Buffalo. In front of a beaming Tim Murray and an excited Dan Bylsma.

Those pyrotechnics that you will be seeing above the Pegulaville skyline will be the pre-Fourth of July fireworks that the American Sniper will be igniting when his Mont Blanc pen scratches his signature across the paper on his entry level contract.

**

Keep an eye out for Patrick Kaleta today. He is an unrestricted free agent. I'm hearing that Montreal, New Jersey and Philly are interested in adding the 29 year old energy man to their rosters.

**

Now would be a good time for Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane to call their former teammate Johnny Oduya and invite him to Buffalo. The UFA D-man and two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks is free to roam about the NHL.

Tim Murrray has a fist full of money and a long term deal for the left shot D-man.

If Oduya resists Murray's offer, then he can give the deal to Francois Beauchemin or Paul Martin.

***

Check back throughout the day for updates.

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