The Buffalo Sabres are hoping to lock up Jack Eichel to a long-term extension this summer, and according to Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, the feeling is mutual.
“Our conversations with Jack and the group have gone extremely well,” Botterill said Tuesday via Buffalo News. “We’ll continue this throughout the summer and see if we can find a common ground because, from our standpoint, we certainly want to get something done. And everything we’ve heard from Jack and his agents is they want to get something done too.”
Eichel, 20, has one season remaining on his entry-level deal and is expected to garner a paycheque and term similar to the one Connor McDavid will be getting once the 2018-19 season begins. McDavid signed an eight-year, $100-million extension last week, giving him what will be the league’s highest cap hit once it kicks in.
“For any player to be able to get a contract done for a star player, a player who’s a face of the organization is great for our league,” Botterill said. “Connor has had an amazing season and I’m sure people in Edmonton are very excited about having him under contract. I’ve been through some of those discussions before whenever we did Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang. You’re excited to get an elite player under contract.”
The Sabres superstar registered 24 goals and 32 assists for a 56-point rookie campaign in 2015-16, then followed it up with 24 goals and 57 points in 61 games in his sophomore season.
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