The Buffalo Sabres locked up the face of their franchise Tuesday, inking Jack Eichel to an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $10 million, the team announced.
Eichel is going into the last year of his entry-level contract, and would have been a restricted free agent after the 2017-18 season.
Assuming his contract kicks in at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, his $10-million AAV will be tied with Anze Kopitar for the NHL's fifth-highest mark, behind Connor McDavid, Carey Price, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane.
Eichel, 20, recorded 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games a year ago.
