Eichel notches preseason victor

The dive to the bottom of the standings during the 2014-2015 season was led by the Buffalo Sabres, as general manager Tim Murray clearly wanted to be at the forefront of the McDavid sweepstakes, and seemed pretty disappointed when his team had to settle for Jack Eichel instead (though Eichel is one heck of a consolation prize).

His inexperience was on display too. The Sabres have 15 forwards and nine defensemen with legitimate shots to make the team. I ultimately see Foligno winning out with McGinn settling in on the 4th line and Larsson as the odd man out, but certainly anything could happen here. O’Reilly will be the top center, likely playing with Kane and Tyler Ennis. “Of course it was the first day, it takes time to know a guy the way he plays and get the click going”, he said.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to forget that pass. It was so ideal”, Martin said. “I just tried to protect it down the ice and I was able to get a shot off and luckily it went in”.

“Frankie spent a little time with us [in Providence] past year, so he’s around the pro game – I think it helped him out”, P-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters.

“The kid makes plays”, Bruins GM Don Sweeney said of the 5-foot-9-inch, 160-pound center.

It’s so incredibly early, and this team has only been officially in session under the coaching staff for 3 days before today, so it is hard to put much stock in anything on display Monday night. The question is who plays the offside and how do the other 3 slot on the right side.

The Blue also got a goal from Mark Pysyk. “He’s an incredible player and I look forward to being with him in this camp”.

Eichel also sounded mature beyond his years about how the Sabres won’t undergo a 180-degree change overnight.

Lehner is expected to be the Sabres’ starting goaltender. “If I play good, I’ll play”. All three bring different things to the table. Ruhwedel in my mind is a top level AHL defenseman but nothing more, he and McCabe will be successful together for Rochester this season. So the results were split, but the points would have gone to Buffalo if this were the regular season. He took home the first star, after raising his game in the third period. He had the benefit of skating alongside Moulson, with whom he is living this season. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to be himself around the veterans. These are dependent on some conditions.