Eichel: Management understands, shares frustration over lack of team progress

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel affirmed that he and management are on the same page when it comes to their feelings about the club's lack of progress in recent seasons.

"I spoke with both Ralph (Krueger) and Jason (Botterill) about it and they understand the frustration and they're frustrated too," Eichel told TSN's Darren Dreger. "I'm not the only guy that's doing it, I might have expressed my opinion a little more bluntly but that's just how it is."

Eichel voiced his disappointment in May when speaking about missing the playoffs for a fifth straight season: "I'm fed up with the losing and I'm frustrated," he said. "It's been a tough past couple of months and a tough past five years."

The 23-year-old pivot believes the open line of communication is a positive thing and that everyone needs to be held accountable.

"I mean, I think if they don't hear that from guys then that's when you start to worry. If guys are OK with the fact that we're not winning, that we're not putting ourselves in the postseason season after season, that's where you get to find an issue."

Eichel led the Sabres in scoring for the fourth straight campaign, racking up 78 points and a career-high 36 goals in 68 games.

Buffalo owns the longest playoff drought in the NHL at nine seasons.