Jack Eichel’s injury recovery will be ‘weeks’ for Sabres

Buffalo Sabres fans are still on pins and needles (and, conversely, needles and pins) after star center Jack Eichel fell awkwardly during practice on Wednesday, but there’s a bit more clarity about his injury.

Coach Dan Bylsma told the media on Thursday morning that Eichel is out for the foreseeable future with a “moderate high-ankle sprain,” and that the prognosis is “certainly more weeks than days.”

High-ankle sprains can be just as bad as a broken bone when it comes to rehab. Please recall Sidney Crosby missing 21 games with one in 2008. Bob McKenzie of TSN said the speculation around the Buffalo Sabres was that Eichel would miss a month to six weeks with the injury.

The Sabres open against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, and it’s going to be a different look for both teams. Carey Price is out for the Canadiens. Kyle Okposo, Dmitry Kulikov and, of course, Eichel are out for the Sabres.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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