Eichel's agent calls report of extension ultimatum 'ridiculous'
Jack Eichel's agent is denying a report claiming his client won't re-up with the Buffalo Sabres if Dan Bylsma remains head coach.
"I don't know where anyone is getting these reports, but they are ridiculous in a word," Peter Fish told John Vogl of The Buffalo News on Wednesday.
Multiple sources told WGR 550's Paul Hamilton that Eichel has no desire to sign a contract extension with the Sabres this summer if Bylsma is still employed by the club, but the 20-year-old's representative said there's no ill will between his client and the coach or general manager Tim Murray.
"Jack, he left Buffalo, he thought he had a real good meeting with coach Bylsma and a real good meeting with Murray," Fish said. "When he got home to Boston, he was genuinely excited with the thoughts that maybe they're just a few players away from getting into the playoffs."
The agent said he and Eichel plan to meet with the GM again.
"We hope to be having talks with Tim Murray when the time is right here, and ... (Eichel would) like nothing better than to bring the Stanley Cup to Buffalo because it's a great city. They're a passionate fan base. A lot of fans are a lot like Jack in the way he grew up in his family," Fish said.
"So I just don't know where this is coming from, and quite frankly it's someone who's got an axe to grind for some reason who doesn't know him and doesn't understand him."
Eichel just finished the second season of his three-year, entry-level contract. Bylsma has three years remaining on the five-year agreement he inked in 2015.
The Sabres missed the playoffs for the sixth straight campaign and for the second time in as many seasons since Eichel debuted with the club after being selected second overall in the 2015 draft.
"His frustration level, absolutely off the charts," Fish said. "He's a competitive kid. He hates to lose. I don't know if people know that about him. He does not like to lose. Sometimes his frustration in a game, he's not happy they're not winning. That’s just the bottom line."
The agent also accused reporters of speculating about his client "just by looking at Jack in a press conference" and said he was "sick to (his) stomach" over some of the reports he's read about Eichel.