All eyes are on Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel as teams around the NHL prepare for training camp. McDavid may enter the season with higher expectations, but Eichel will certainly be under a microscope as fans hope he’ll lift the Buffalo Sabres into relevancy. As we’ve seen with other skilled youngsters, Eichel won’t be living on his own during his first NHL season. The current plan has him moving in with teammate Matt Moulson.
Eichel spoke with the Buffalo News and discussed his living situation along with his hopes for the new season.
On moving in with Moulson:
“He had just reached out to me after congratulating me in the draft. He offered it and I think it’s a good move for me. He’s obviously a really good guy who’s been around the league so I’m really excited about it. It’s a really good fit for me.
I know that everyone who knows him well says great things about him. I haven’t heard a bad thing about the guy. The way he offered his house to me shows what kind of person he is. He’s a really generous guy, a good guy to be around.”
You might recall that Sidney Crosby moved in with Mario Lemieux when he first broke into the league – a move which was designed to provide Crosby a mentor who could guide his path upon entering the NHL. No one is comparing Moulson to Lemieux, but it’s clear that Moulson’s home (which is already pretty full with a wife and two young children) should provide an environment which will keep Eichel focused on hockey.
What does Eichel think about the upcoming season? He’s avoiding making any kind of predictions, but he’s optimistic.
“The city of Buffalo, the organization, everyone around the organization is going in with a positive mind. It’s kind of a new look for us as an organization so we’re all really excited about the future in Buffalo and I think it’s good things to come.”
