Sabres' Eichel looks to improve upon '2 mediocre seasons on a losing team'

Jack Eichel wasn't mincing words at the outset of Buffalo Sabres training camp.

Entering his third NHL season after being selected second overall in 2015, the 20-year-old is out to prove he's someone the club can indeed build around.

"I think I have a lot to prove," Eichel said Thursday, per Joe Yerdon of NHL.com. "Actually I think I've proven nothing, so it's a huge year for me personally and as a team.

"If you look at what I've done, it hasn't been a whole lot; two mediocre seasons on a losing team," he added, "so we just need to be better as a group this year, and I think everyone went home with the mindset this summer that we wanted to get better and head into the season and hit the ground running."

In fairness, Eichel did miss a chunk of games last season with an ankle injury suffered late in camp, but registered 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games. That 0.93 point-per-game average ranked him 11th among players with at least that many appearances.

Still, he and the Sabres are expected to at least be in contention for a playoff spot this season, and Eichel knows it's on him to step up and lead the way, especially as he attempts to secure a long-term, big-money contract extension.

"It's the third year, so if there's ever a time to start winning and being a good team in this league, it's right now. I think all the guys are pretty sick of losing and not playing in the playoffs."