Sabres center Jack Eichel clearly isn't the type of person to mince his words.
During an end-of-season press conference Monday, Eichel said too many guys in the dressing room are simply happy to just be in the NHL, which is part of the culture that needs change, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.
Eichel has plenty of reasons to be frustrated. First off, the Sabres aren't going to the playoffs for the second straight season. Secondly, Connor McDavid, who was picked ahead of him in the 2015 NHL Draft, won the Art Ross Trophy, will likely take home the Hart Trophy, and will be going the postseason. Lastly, Eichel missed out on a $2-million bonus by 0.01 point.
"I think guys want to win, but there's a difference between saying you want to win and actually wanting to win and putting the work in and dedicating your life to it," said Eichel, per John Vogl of the Buffalo News.
Statistically speaking, Eichel did his part this season. He led the team with 57 points despite missing 21 games due to injury. Aside from Ryan O'Reilly, nobody else on the team was able to crack the 50-point plateau.
The Sabres' rebuild has gone slower than expected. It has to be frustrating for Eichel to see a division rival like the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are earlier in their rebuild, make the playoffs before his team.
With a young core featuring Eichel, O'Reilly, Sam Reinhart, and Evander Kane up front, Rasmus Ristolainen on the back end, and Robin Lehner in net, a playoff berth can't be too far away.
