UPDATE (12:15 p.m. ET): Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma revealed Jack Eichel suffered an ankle injury during practice. That’s all Byslma would say for now.
Dan Bylsma: “He has an ankle injury. At this point, not a lot to tell.”
— TOM MARTIN (@TwoCirclesTom) October 12, 2016
ORIGINAL STORY: The Buffalo Sabres had relatively high hopes entering the 2016-17 season, but things are off to an inauspicious start before the puck drops on the new campaign.
Sabres star Jack Eichel went down in obvious pain at practice Wednesday, appearing to suffer a nasty-looking leg or ankle injury.
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 (@TwoCirclesTom) October 12, 2016
According to reports, it sounded just as bad as it looked.
Breaking: Loud scream by Jack Eichel as he goes down. Unable to put weight on left leg. Helped to room. pic.twitter.com/HVZQT8ewXs
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) October 12, 2016
Stunned silence in Sabres' arena as practice came to halt. Entire team circled Eichel on way to hallway. Team slowly getting back to work.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) October 12, 2016
It’s still far too early to speculate on the injury’s severity or whether Eichel will miss an extended period of time, but it obviously didn’t look good.
Eichel had a very impressive rookie season. The No. 2 pick in last year’s draft wasted no time making an impression, as he scored 24 goals and added 32 assists in 81 games last season.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
