Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel will miss at least a week with an upper-body injury, coach Ralph Krueger said.
Eichel returned to Buffalo to be evaluated further and missed Tuesday night’s game at Philadelphia.
“We have an upper-body situation that needs some deeper analysis before we decide further,” Krueger told reporters after the Sabres’ 5-4 shootout loss. “He’s definitely out a minimum a week and has been back in Buffalo.”
Eichel will miss at least three more games and likely a fourth, given Krueger’s timeline.
Read More: Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel out vs. Flyers
Eichel notched an assist in his fourth consecutive contest during the Sabres’ 5-2 setback versus the New York Islanders on Sunday. However, he appeared to hurt his neck after a check into the boards by Casey Cizikas late in the third period.
Eichel, 24, missed games on Feb. 25 and 27 with a lower-body injury.
He has just two goals in 21 games, although his 16 assists are tops on the team.
Eichel recorded a career-high 36 goals to go along with team-best totals in assists (42) and points (78) in 68 games last season. He also pieced together a 17-game point streak during the campaign.
He is in the midst of the third season of an eight-year, $80 million contract signed prior to the 2018-19 campaign.
Eichel has collected 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 career games since being selected by the Sabres with the second overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.
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–Field Level Media