There will be an abundance of youth on the Air Canada Centre ice when the Buffalo Sabres visit the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday, but the best young player on either team won’t be suiting up.
Jack Eichel is dealing with the flu and will not play, Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters in Toronto.
The 19-year-old picked up an assist Friday in a 3-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Eichel sits second in rookie scoring with 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists) in 72 games and has one goal in two career games against the Maple Leafs.
Earlier in the day the Sabres recalled centre Daniel Catenacci from the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Catenacci, a native of Richmond Hill, Ont., has gone pointless in 10 games with the Sabres this season. The 23-year-old has nine goals, 11 assists in 42 games with the Americans this season.