Roster Review: #15 Jack Eichel

dudacek · September 5, 2015

And finally:

#15 Jack Eichel C (three years left at $925,000 per, age 18)

Boston University 40/26/45/71/51/28

USA WJC 7/1/3/4/NA/6

USA Worlds 10/2/5/7/NA/8

Jack Eichel arrives in Buffalo as the second-most highly touted prospect in a decade, the most dominant NCAA freshman in a generation, and the most-hyped Sabre since number 11 came up on the roulette wheel.

Big, strong, fast, athletic, a character kid — he checks all the boxes. There is nothing to dislike about Eichel and no one in Buffalo who doesn't love him. There seems to be only two questions: "how quickly he will rise to elite status" and "but Buffalo."

There’s little to his story that hasn’t already been told to a fanbase eager to see him write his first chapter in blue and gold.

That does it for the roster review series. One week until the prospects hit the ice.

Have a nice Labour Day weekend. Thanks for having me on.

Links to the rest of the series:

Mike Weber: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23569-roster-review-6-mike-weber/

Evander Kane: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23572-roster-review-9-evander-kane/

Carlo Colaiacovo and Matt Donovan: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23576-roster-review-carlo-colaiacovo-matt-donovan/

Jamie McGinn: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23581-roster-review-88-jamie-mcginn/

Ryan O'Reilly: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23583-roster-review-90-ryan-oreilly/

Sam Reinhart: http://forums.sabrespace.com/topic/23589-roster-review-23-sam-reinhart/

Edited September 5, 2015 by dudacek

Neo · September 5, 2015

Dudacek ... once again, awesome summer. I suspect we're all thankful.

I voted 50 points and a top six rotation. I think that would be outstanding. He's young and will carry the weight of expectation without much of a proven four line supporting cast. I don't see production numbers at 60 or above, and that's no criticism.

I also voted Gilbert. It's not that I'm reminded of Gil, but I think the circumstances and expectations are similar. If we were born in 1970, we certainly died and are now reborn in 2015. He's young, but he'll be given time to mature with the franchise. I think if we get glimpses throughout the year, it's a success. Harder than glimpses will be consistency. Eighty two games is a long season and he's a young man. I'll wait patiently for that, too.

If we see that Kane, O'Reilly, Lehner and other veteran additions ready to play now, and if we see continued development among the young, then simply glimpses from the newly arrived will make me very happy. Development, in a more concise way to say it.

wjag · September 5, 2015

I gave him rookie numbers.

Hoss · September 5, 2015

I gave him rookie numbers.

Last season seven rookies had more than 40 points. A true rookie dman had 39. It's not crazy to expect better.

wjag · September 5, 2015

Last season seven rookies had more than 40 points. A true rookie dman had 39. It's not crazy to expect better.

It's not crazy to expect better, but...

Just looked it up ... Stamkos had 46

Edited September 5, 2015 by wjag

Thorny · September 5, 2015

Let me echo others by thanking dudacek for this great series and the effort in putting it together. Well done.

I was always ecstatic about Eichel, but his performance in the Worlds is what took it to another level for me. He skills stood out in a big way, against adults, many of them NHL hockey players, some of them stars, as an 18 year old. That, more that anything told me he was ready to contribute on the big stage. Eichel is headed for super-stardom, and he'll be that fast, powerful, playmaking, goal-scoring, intensely competative franchise cornerstone we have waited for for a long time.

This coming season, I voted for 50ish points, which, echoing Neo, would be a great rookie season. If he comes in below that, and is in the 40s, I'm not going to be dissapointed, Eichel has a big challenge ahead of him this year. As mentioned, Stamkos had 46. There is no way I can reasonably see Jack coming in below 30 points, he's just too talented.

TrueBlueGED · September 5, 2015

I'm putting my money around 60. That may be slightly optimistic, but I think acquiring O'Reilly was huge. Eichel can now feast on offensive opportunities and lesser opponents, especially at home. I'm looking forward to a MacKinnon-like rookie season.

Neo · September 5, 2015

I'm also looking at it another way, handicapping overall roster talent and scoring. If he finishes in the top scoring mix behind Kane, O'Reilly and Ennis, say with Girgensons, Larsson and Moulson, I'll be very happy. Bar too low?

French Collection · September 5, 2015

If I recall correctly, Stamkos had Barry Melrose as a coach for the first 16 games, and he didn't trust the scrawny kid. Joe Thornton's rookie season was nothing to write home about (7 points in 55 games). I voted for 50 points and he should get that.

Sabres Fan in NS · September 5, 2015

Thanks, duda, for all your awesomeness in setting all of these up.

I voted 50'ish and Oh La La Pierre esq career. There was and will only be one Burt.

nfreeman · September 6, 2015

Great work on these dudacek. Much appreciated.

Taro T · September 6, 2015

50 and top 6 fixture is the expected value this year.

He won't be Perreault but of the 3 mentioned that is his closest comparable. He has too much drive to end up 'just' Turgeon. The worst that I expect from him is something comparable to Lindros. The dream is a slightly lower scoring (due to the era) Lemieux.

This kid is special. (And not in the trying to avoid the 'r-word' way either. ;))

ubkev · September 6, 2015

50 and top 6 fixture is the expected value this year.

He won't be Perreault but of the 3 mentioned that is his closest comparable. He has too much drive to end up 'just' Turgeon. The worst that I expect from him is something comparable to Lindros. The dream is a slightly lower scoring (due to the era) Lemieux.

This kid is special. (And not in the trying to avoid the 'r-word' way either. ;))

Yup!

I hoping for a Jagr like career, but played entirely for the Sabres.

Thorny · September 6, 2015

50 and top 6 fixture is the expected value this year.

He won't be Perreault but of the 3 mentioned that is his closest comparable. He has too much drive to end up 'just' Turgeon. The worst that I expect from him is something comparable to Lindros. The dream is a slightly lower scoring (due to the era) Lemieux.

This kid is special. (And not in the trying to avoid the 'r-word' way either. ;))

That would be a hell of a worst case scenario. Minus the injury issues of course, getting Lindros production would be a great achievement for Jack. The guy averaged 1.13 points a game. And a lot of that was in the dead puck era. Sometimes I think some people (not you, Taro) forget just how good Lindros was. Higher PPG than Perreaut even. I agree though, I think Eichel definitely has the capability to generate Lindros like numbers.

Speaking of which, why isn't Lindros in the Hall of Fame?

Neo · September 6, 2015

50 and top 6 fixture is the expected value this year.

He won't be Perreault but of the 3 mentioned that is his closest comparable. He has too much drive to end up 'just' Turgeon. The worst that I expect from him is something comparable to Lindros. The dream is a slightly lower scoring (due to the era) Lemieux.

This kid is special. (And not in the trying to avoid the 'r-word' way either. ;))

I understand the eras. Still, you made me look. Mario had 715 points in his first five years as well as a Calder, five All Star games, four Harts, two Lady Byngs and two Art Rosses*.

I'd forgotten how crazy it was.

* (Chicago Manual of Style for the plural of Ross; who knew!)

Taro T · September 6, 2015

That would be a hell of a worst case scenario. Minus the injury issues of course, getting Lindros production would be a great achievement for Jack. The guy averaged 1.13 points a game. And a lot of that was in the dead puck era. Sometimes I think some people (not you, Taro) forget just how good Lindros was. Higher PPG than Perreaut even. I agree though, I think Eichel definitely has the capability to generate Lindros like numbers.

Speaking of which, why isn't Lindros in the Hall of Fame?

To the bolded: Right? :)

On why Lindros isn't in the HoF, I'd go w/ 4 reasons, the 1st being the big one and the 2nd getting more play than it should (the last 2 just being 'icing on the cake' so to speak.

1. Injury plagued career. Only played 13 seasons and only topped 70 games 4 times. 2 of those came as a Rag after he'd sat a full year. Never quite lived up to the 'the next one' billing.

2. The league never forgave him for taking his ball and going home in '91.

3. Never won a SC, only made 1 final and got beat bad there w/ only 3 trips beyond the 1st round.

4. The thing he is most remembered for is Scott Stevens nearly decapitating him and knocking him out of a full season. Shoulder meet Chin. Eric meet Klaus. (The next most memorable thing was the holdout.)

Neo · September 6, 2015

5. Slew foots Matthew Barnaby. I jest.

Interesting take on Lindros and HOF:

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2014/06/24/eric-lindros-open-and-shut-case-for-the-hockey-hall-of-fame/

nfreeman · September 6, 2015

I understand the eras. Still, you made me look. Mario had 715 points in his first five years as well as a Calder, five All Star games, four Harts, two Lady Byngs and two Art Rosses*.

I'd forgotten how crazy it was.

* (Chicago Manual of Style for the plural of Ross; who knew!)

First, Strunk and White is the official SabreSpace arbiter of language usage. The Chicago manual is its hick cousin from the sticks.

Second, that is a pretty GD impressive record for Mario bb

Neo · September 6, 2015

Agree and agree! I laughed!

Thorny · September 6, 2015

To the bolded: Right? :)

On why Lindros isn't in the HoF, I'd go w/ 4 reasons, the 1st being the big one and the 2nd getting more play than it should (the last 2 just being 'icing on the cake' so to speak.

1. Injury plagued career. Only played 13 seasons and only topped 70 games 4 times. 2 of those came as a Rag after he'd sat a full year. Never quite lived up to the 'the next one' billing.

2. The league never forgave him for taking his ball and going home in '91.

3. Never won a SC, only made 1 final and got beat bad there w/ only 3 trips beyond the 1st round.

4. The thing he is most remembered for is Scott Stevens nearly decapitating him and knocking him out of a full season. Shoulder meet Chin. Eric meet Klaus. (The next most memorable thing was the holdout.)

All good points.

To 1., I hope that in time, more of the voters will appreciate his career for what he did accomplish, and not fault him for not accomplishing what they expected he would. Even if he never became the "next one", he still had a really good career. Hate to see him buried because of the weight of expectations.

To 2., Definitely true, but again, hopefully he eventually gets in, in spite of that.

To 3., Can't argue anything there.

And 4., More truth.

I still think he deserves to get in, personally. I think he will in time. In spite of how he comes off as a person, to have a guy that accomplished what he did not in the Hall would be a shame. Thoughts/predictions?

JohnnyK · September 6, 2015

Simple everyone hates Lindros

unless he is on your team!!!!

Then the question is how many Lindros jerseys do you have...well I have one more than that!!!!

ps back to the best Sabres team ever!!!!

or at least in a long time

Go Sabres!!!!

ubkev · September 6, 2015

All good points.

To 1., I hope that in time, more of the voters will appreciate his career for what he did accomplish, and not fault him for not accomplishing what they expected he would. Even if he never became the "next one", he still had a really good career. Hate to see him buried because of the weight of expectations.

To 2., Definitely true, but again, hopefully he eventually gets in, in spite of that.

To 3., Can't argue anything there.

And 4., More truth.

I still think he deserves to get in, personally. I think he will in time. In spite of how he comes off as a person, to have a guy that accomplished what he did not in the Hall would be a shame. Thoughts/predictions?

Lindros is one of the biggest douche bags ever! But he was still great at hockey and I feel that he should definitely be in the Hall.

I bought a pack of old hockey cards the other day and came up with a Lindros Rookie card. That brought me back. Man, hockey was awesome when I was seven.

Go Sabres!

Taro T · September 6, 2015

All good points.

To 1., I hope that in time, more of the voters will appreciate his career for what he did accomplish, and not fault him for not accomplishing what they expected he would. Even if he never became the "next one", he still had a really good career. Hate to see him buried because of the weight of expectations.

To 2., Definitely true, but again, hopefully he eventually gets in, in spite of that.

To 3., Can't argue anything there.

And 4., More truth.

I still think he deserves to get in, personally. I think he will in time. In spite of how he comes off as a person, to have a guy that accomplished what he did not in the Hall would be a shame. Thoughts/predictions?

Hard to say if he'll get in. If Housley's there, it's tough to make a case against him (& about 100 other guys).

I expect he'll eventually get it but could easily see him waiting 5 more years.

LGR4GM · September 7, 2015

I am in the 40ish pt camp. Our leading scorer last season was Tyler Ennis, he had 46pts. If Jack hits 46 pts I will be exstatic but realistically it will take 20-30 games for this team to settle in. Every single person has brand new linemates. The entire roster is different. We are adding Eichel, Reinhart, Kane, and ROR to the top 9. That is what? 44% turnover in our top 9. That is a lot of change over the course of one season.

Rasmus_ · September 18, 2015

Beautiful!

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Roster Review: #15 Jack Eichel

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