The Buffalo Sabres haven’t made any progress of late in their efforts to sign Jack Eichel to a long-term contract extension.
In the event that a long-term deal cannot be reached, Eichel is prepared to play the season out.
Eichel’s agent, Peter Donatelli, discussed Eichel’s position in an interview Matthew Bove of WKBW.
“Right now, Jack is planning on starting the season,” Donatelli said.
“Whether or not he has a contract extension prior to the season, we do not know and is not his main focus going into camp.”
“I have no problem playing the year out,” Eichel told Paul Hamilton of WGR 550, according to Bove.
“I’m adamant about staying a Sabre, I want to bring some new excitement to this town and the contract thing will take care of itself.
“I look at myself to be one of the leaders on this team and a guy that’s going to push this organization to the next level. So I’ve got to be a guy that everybody leans on and I’ve got to be better on and off the ice.”
Buffalo GM Jason Botterill stated that he’d like to re-sign Eichel for eight years, the maximum contract term permitted by the NHL.
