Jack Eichel isn't even a member of an NHL franchise and he already has a tough decision to make.
The consensus No. 2 overall pick will likely be spending his future in Buffalo with the Sabres, becoming buds with Evander Kane and Tyler Ennis, but when he'll be doing that is a question only he can answer.
Eichel's alma mater Boston University - who he helped guide to the national championship game before losing to Providence - wants him back next season and the school is coming at the youngster with a full-court press for his services, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
BU announced on Friday that Eichel would be an assistant captain for the 2015-16 squad if he were to return, using another ploy to try and sway the youngster into coming back to the team.
Eichel could decide that the idea of winning a national title is too much to pass up or that he could benefit from spending another season developing in BU's program, but it is the NHL and he'll likely have the opportunity to play right away with the Sabres.
"It would be another great year of development, college hockey and life with Coach (David) Quinn," Eichel said after the Frozen Four. "There are positives to it any way you look at it. At the end of the day, when a decision has to be made, I will make it with my family and with my heart. I don’t want to be somewhere that I don’t want to be."
Sabres GM Tim Murray would love for Eichel to come to Buffalo, but won't be making up his mind for him.
"I have no expectation. He’s not our property," Murray said. "I haven’t spoken to him. That will be probably the second thing I say to him after the draft: ‘Congratuations and what are your plans?'
"I wouldn’t tell him he had to leave," Murray continued. "I would give him the pros and cons of going back in my opinion. Unless there’s a personal reason, a family reason, guys of his caliber … hockey-wise, there’s probably not a great reason to stay in school."
The 18-year-old was the nation's top scorer, recording 26 goals and 45 assists in 40 games.
