The Buffalo Sabres and Jack Eichel have agreed to an eight-year $80 million dollar extension. Eichel becomes the highest paid player in franchise history with this new deal.
🚨 We’ve agreed to terms with @Jack_Eichel11 on an 8-year extension with an AAV of $10 million. pic.twitter.com/9L8hLcVFzP
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 3, 2017
Reports also indicate that Eichel will be given the captaincy as well. The 20-year-old would become the 27th captain in team history if that report turns out to be accurate.
Eichel was drafted second overall in the 2015 NHL draft and instantly became the face of the franchise. After an injury-shortened season last year, the Boston native is in line for a breakout 2017-18 season.
This extension puts the center squarely among the highest-paid players in the League. Connor McDavid leads the way with a cap hit of $12.5 million, with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Carey Price at $10.5 million, and then Eichel and Anze Kopitar at $10 million.
Now, with one of the biggest storylines of the offseason put to bed the club can focus on the season which begins Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.