BUFFALO – For the first time since sustaining a high left ankle sprain Oct. 12, Sabres center Jack Eichel practiced with contact today.
“There was some contact, so to speak,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. “He was bouncing in and out of guys. I think, yeah, it’s another step.”
It’s another step toward Eichel’s return. Eichel joined his teammates on the ice prior to Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Detroit, his first team skate in six weeks.
Today’s session inside KeyBank Center was a true practice.
“This is another level of practice today, which was we didn’t have five-on-five, per say, for him, or one-on-one or battle-drill situations,” Bylsma said.
Eichel, 20, won’t accompany the Sabres to Washington for Friday’s game. Instead, he will skate on his own at KeyBank Center.
The second-year pro could return next week.
