Experiences...my first, seeng Jack Eichel

I love hockey. For me, it has all the things that make sports great - finesse, speed, great hand-eye events, team work, strength and toughness. And it has those moments...the type of moments that stick in your mind for days or years...or just forever. And it culminates every season with a championship that leaves the winner not only jubilant for victory but also for thankfulness that it is over - the exhaustion, hidden by the focus on winning, finally allowed to surface and be felt.

Jack Eichel embodies all of this. I've watched him numerous times online and I see those moments. Potentially, in his future, I see ALL of those moments in him.

He has the Jonathan Toews-like skill of being n the right spot and able to finish it. He has sweet hands - think Mario Lemieux-type length being used in that Mario smooth way. He is big - think Rick Nash or Jaromir Jagr - ok, slightly smaller. And he has that other thing - that Gretzky-like awareness - that chess-like breakdown of the game allowing him to be steps ahead of the opposition and the play.

He's only 19. He is green but I can see where all he has now could put him in that small list of greats that have played this sport I love.

So it goes without saying, I had to see this kid play live.

My first impression was his size. He's only 6'2" - not huge. But his presence with the other players in the skate around was noticeable.

As a side-note: I had read somewhere in an interview of a teammate that Eichel brought a humor and lightness to the lockerroom and team n a positive way. In the warm up skate, I saw him joke around with Evander Kane in that very way - it was cool.

In this tilt, Eichel was lined with Sam Reinhart and Zemgus Girgensons, two other of the many Sabres' youngsters. (This team coached by Dan Bylsma has a bright future)

From the start, the Canes were effective at taking away space from this line. It lasted the entire game.

Eichel and company were able to generate a couple of opportunities but for the most part this line was not very effective offensively and worse defensively.

Eichel played well...for a 19 year old. His skating is so efficient, he almost looks like he isn't working. His movements are very smooth, like he wastes no motion. Offensively, he puts himself in spots that are ahead of the play. When he has the puck, he seems slow but the Canes' players seemed slower - his subtle moves aren't slow, just efficient and smooth; the defense is kept guessing, almost frozen.

On two occasions, Eichel, with the puck, made rushes to the net. On one it was from goalie Cam Ward's left, the defenseman on the inside, Eichel moving from the outside in. The other was from Ward's right and similar. Neither rush amounted to much, but Eichel's deceptive speed was threatening and his strength on the puck obvious - this reminded me of a young Rick Nash.

A few other times Eichel actually controlled the puck in the Canes' zone were unproductive but not without skill. Again subtle stick-handling allowed Eichel to put passes into dangerous spots.

Eichel was fun to watch. And even though he didn't have a lot of chances - the Canes' played his line very well. - he still stood out. His play awareness is special and I look forward to watching him develop in this league.

The one catch - either he is far ahead of the game or his own zone play leaves a lot to be desired. On multiple occasions he seemed out of place or uncommitted - or perhaps just committed to offense, making himself ready to turn it the other way. Regardless, the Canes were able to control the puck with his line on the ice - often creating decent chances.

Overall, if Eichel never improves on his own-zone play, this kid will be fun to watch for years. If he does improve, as most greats do, he has a chance to be the greatest of his era. Well, if Connor McDavid lets him.