C Jack Eichel - Boston University, NCAA (2015, 2nd, BUF) III

[CarpeNoctem]

Mcdavid would be better for any team in the league. It's one think to think Mcdavid will bust (which will almost assuredly not happen), but comparing both skill sets a GM takes Mcdavid 100% of the time.

100% of the time? I simply don't agree. Eichel's more NHL ready/ahead in terms of size and strength. That should at least account for 10%.

 

[Bps21*]

Average value I'm guessing. Production relative to the position drafted.

 

[start winnin]

Still can't believe Tim Murray was complaining about the lottery. His blatant roster dismantling to ensure last place gave him a 20% chance of McDavid and 80% chance at Eichel.

You got the outcome that would have happened 4/5 times. Shut up and take your franchise center you big whiner... The draft already rewards a loser mentality enough.

You're clueless, it was Regier who dismantled the team, Murray simply worked with what he was given, if anything the moves he made this year were for the future, he traded a whole bunch of futures for Kane and Bogosian.

Oh unless you were talking about trading 2 UFA backup goalies, then I understand.

 

[rams]

The Sabres are going to be great next year. Eichel is a better version of Pat LaFontaine, that's how good he is.

That would be phenomenal for Sabres. But if Eichel is better than LaFontaine, McDavid is better than Gretzky?

 

[MacOfNiagara]

As for what is best for the Sabres, I am not convinced that McDavid would have been better.
I love Eichel's straight line skating speed, shot and strength over McDavid. He will be a beast to contain.
Especially paired with a Kane / Ellis winger.

Is that you Nolan?

 

[SI90]

Is Eichle able to go straight to the AHL?

Maybe wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for the kid to star out in the AHL to get used to the pro game.

Unless he absolutley tears up the preseason.

 

[Bps21*]

He's not leaving college to ride the bus in Rochester.

And I can't think of the last player as NHL ready as Eichel who didn't go to the NHL. He's on that list of "of course he's good enough for the NHL right away" and it's not a long list.

 

[Paxon]

Is Eichle able to go straight to the AHL?

Maybe wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for the kid to star out in the AHL to get used to the pro game.

Unless he absolutley tears up the preseason.

Any player not drafted out of the CHL or Canadian Junior A leagues is eligible to play in the AHL once 18, so yeah, Eichel could play there. He won't though. He's NHL-ready.

He's not leaving college to ride the bus in Rochester.

And I can't think of the last player as NHL ready as Eichel who didn't go to the NHL. He's on that list of "of course he's good enough for the NHL right away" and it's not a long list.

I agree in principle, however, hypothetically, once he signs his ELC he can't go back to college, so if the team for some reason decided he isn't ready for the NHL, the AHL is the only option.

 

[SI90]

He's not leaving college to ride the bus in Rochester.

And I can't think of the last player as NHL ready as Eichel who didn't go to the NHL. He's on that list of "of course he's good enough for the NHL right away" and it's not a long list.

He's still a teenager and while I agree he looks close to NHL ready, he's still a young kid and hasn't played as many games as the CHL and Euro players.

Also, you might not want to just throw him to the wolves so to speak. If he goes pointless in his first 5-7 games you don't want to deal with all the questioning whether or not he's ready.
Starting him in the AHL doesn't hurt at all. He gets to get used to the pro game with a lot less pressure. Also, Buffalo is a young team and will have a few 1st and 2nd year players in thier line up anyway.

It was just a thought. Not a knock on Eichle in anyway.

 

[TalkingProuder]

He's still a teenager and while I agree he looks close to NHL ready, he's still a young kid and hasn't played as many games as the CHL and Euro players.

Also, you might not want to just throw him to the wolves so to speak. If he goes pointless in his first 5-7 games you don't want to deal with all the questioning whether or not he's ready.
Starting him in the AHL doesn't hurt at all. He gets to get used to the pro game with a lot less pressure. Also, Buffalo is a young team and will have a few 1st and 2nd year players in thier line up anyway.

It was just a thought. Not a knock on Eichle in anyway.

Buffalo's GM has said Eichel is more NHL ready than 99% of prospects he has scouted. He is ready.

 

[bursilym]

Buffalo's GM has said Eichel is more NHL ready than 99% of prospects he has scouted. He is ready.

Feel sorry for eichel playing for a tanking team first seaon

 

[Moskau]

Feel sorry for eichel playing for a tanking team first seaon

Do you feel bad for every first top 5 pick because 99% of them go to tanking teams.

 

[Paxon]

Feel sorry for eichel playing for a tanking team first seaon

How often does an elite prospect go to a team that doesn't currently suck? It hardly ever happens. Seguin went to the Bruins because of the Kessel trade, but otherwise it's quite rare for what should be very obvious reasons.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He's still a teenager and while I agree he looks close to NHL ready, he's still a young kid and hasn't played as many games as the CHL and Euro players.

Also, you might not want to just throw him to the wolves so to speak. If he goes pointless in his first 5-7 games you don't want to deal with all the questioning whether or not he's ready.
Starting him in the AHL doesn't hurt at all. He gets to get used to the pro game with a lot less pressure. Also, Buffalo is a young team and will have a few 1st and 2nd year players in thier line up anyway.

It was just a thought. Not a knock on Eichle in anyway.

Firstly, its Eichel not Eichle just FYI.

Also, he's not "close to NHL ready". He is NHL ready. I would bet my house on it.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Is Eichle able to go straight to the AHL?

Maybe wouldn't be the worse thing in the world for the kid to star out in the AHL to get used to the pro game.

Unless he absolutley tears up the preseason.

If Eichel isn't playing for that godawful roster next year game 1 I'll eat my head.

In fact I'll be shocked if he's not there #1 C opening night.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

100% of the time? I simply don't agree. Eichel's more NHL ready/ahead in terms of size and strength. That should at least account for 10%.

Fully disagree; if McDavid was 5'10 160 and Eichel was 6'2 190, maybe it accounts for 10% of the consideration when taking projected ceiling difference into account. However, we're talking a guy who's 6'1 185 vs 6'2 195. Is Eichel more physically ready? Sure. Is an inch and ten pounds enough to pick him over someone who is unanimously considered the better prospect and player? Hell no.

 

[tfong]

Buffalo's GM has said Eichel is more NHL ready than 99% of prospects he has scouted. He is ready.

Isn't that what they said about Grigorenko though?

 

[Havok89]

Isn't that what they said about Grigorenko though?

No.

And different GM.

 

[Paxon]

Isn't that what they said about Grigorenko though?

First of all, management is completely different from the management that drafted Grigorenko and started him in the NHL. Secondly, no one said anything remotely close to that quote about Grigorenko at the time.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

Grigorenko had NHL size at 6'3" 200lbs, but that's about the end of the comparison as far as NHL ready goes.

Grigs is a big boy, he just didn't have the game yet. At least he seems back on track now, finally.

Eichel has all the tools, and the size. He's ready right now.

 

[ZeroPT*]

why do people always call him eichle? I've seen like 5 different posters say that since the lotto

 

[tfong]

First of all, management is completely different from the management that drafted Grigorenko and started him in the NHL. Secondly, no one said anything remotely close to that quote about Grigorenko at the time.

http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/grigorenko-latest-prized-prospect-in-sabres-stable/

Why does Regier think Grigorenko could possibly play in the NHL immediately?

“First is his size, his skating ability, his skill level,” he said. “I think with younger players … when you have the things that he has, the biggest things revolve around the maturity level, that individual on the ice, that ability to think the game. You’re now playing against men. You have to compete for the puck at a very high level and a consistent level.

That's a pretty similar train of thought I think. Nothing against Eichel of course, but yeah it's been said before for other players too.

 

[Paxon]

http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/grigorenko-latest-prized-prospect-in-sabres-stable/

That's a pretty similar train of thought I think. Nothing against Eichel of course, but yeah it's been said before for other players too.

Like I said, that isn't remotely comparable to the quote in question. Regier doesn't even imply that Grigorenko is NHL-ready in that article, just that he might be. Regier also said:

“In Mikhail’s case, it will be driven by him, driven by training and exhibition games and a sense of where he fits and how he fits, and not just the opportunity, but we have a responsibility and an obligation to put him in a position to succeed – not just on the short-term, but the long-term as well,” Regier said.

How is that anything like someone saying that Eichel is more ready than 99% of players he's scouted? It's just not similar. It's also irrelevant considering it was a completely different person who said it. Anyone who doesn't think Eichel is ready for the NHL either hasn't seen him or doesn't know the first thing they're talking about. Eichel and Grigorenko aren't similar, the quotes aren't similar, and the Sabres have a different GM. Eichel is as ready as McDavid if not moreso.

 

[canuck2010]

Grigorenko had NHL size at 6'3" 200lbs, but that's about the end of the comparison as far as NHL ready goes.

Grigs is a big boy, he just didn't have the game yet. At least he seems back on track now, finally.

Eichel has all the tools, and the size. He's ready right now.

Not saying he's not a good player but I wonder if Eichel is really ready. He seems quite passive on the ice and I wonder if he has ever been punched in the nose. NCAA is quite a different animal in my opinion.

 

[AD1066]

Not saying he's not a good player but I wonder if Eichel is really ready. He seems quite passive on the ice and I wonder if he has ever been punched in the nose. NCAA is quite a different animal in my opinion.

What I don't understand is why this question keeps popping up re: Eichel and not McDavid. Both have the size and skill to play in the NHL immediately IMO.

Edit: This is not someone whose physical maturity I would worry about:

On the latest round of strength testing, he front-squatted 320 pounds, cleaned 335 pounds, had a close-grip bench press of 250 pounds, a pull-up max of 25 reps, and body fat percentage of 6.3 percent.

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