First, Eichel can't be the whole team.
After the season Buffalo has got to cut bait on the fatally flawed inconsistent guys who gum up the works. Losers like Girgensons, Sheary, Okposo, Bogosian, Ristolainen, Wilson, Scandella, Hunwick, Nelson, Sobotka and Larsson and possibly others have got to go. Buffalo needs to do a much better job evaluating talent.
The Sabres need better, tougher, smarter and faster players to make Eichel more effective. They need more rugged players who can open up the ice, not wispy guys who cower away from contact. They need guys who can pass tape to tape effortlessly as if second nature and shoot accurately WHILE UNDER PRESSURE. This is the NHL, where the rinks are small and players are big. Players need to do things constantly while under pressure. Maybe they need a skill coach for shooting and passing because over and over again, I see consistent failures in those two critical skills which mucks up the flow of the game. So they need skill.
Buffalo needs to develop guys and insert them WHEN READY into a core of guys with experience who know each other's tendencies. The vets have to still be useful as players and lead by example and not just talk. The vets must also do their part to stabilize the locker room, so the team doesn't get too high or low as Okposo said. Unfortunately he can't lead by example anymore....I think the lack of leadership has forced Eichel into a leadership role prematurely. He is guilty of immaturity, although it's not his fault. It's the fault of the organization, which has failed to build an effective chemistry around him. They need intangibles.
Last, Buffalo needs GREAT not good goaltending. They always have and always will need this in order to stay competitive because there are too many breakdowns. You can count on this.
Then again, maybe Eichel doesn't give a crap, isn't motivated and would rather be somewhere else. That's what too much losing does to young players. It ruins them.
