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"Across the board we are frustrated. We are not
where we want to be," Krueger said in a conference call with
reporters on Friday. "... It also shows that our core has a
youth that is willing to reach for higher standards and now we
need to do the work that backs that up."
In a 27-minute conference call of his own on Thursday, Eichel
laid his feelings on the line.
"Listen, I'm fed up with the losing and I'm fed up and I'm
frustrated," he said. "You know, it's definitely not an easy
pill to swallow right now."
The Sabres (30-31-8, 68 points) were one of seven teams to miss
the playoffs after the NHL deemed the regular season complete on
Tuesday. Buffalo has missed the playoffs in each of the past
nine seasons, which marks the league's longest active streak.
Eichel, 23, recorded a career-high 36 goals to go along with
team-best totals in assists (42) and points (78) in 68 games
this season. He also pieced together a 17-game point streak
during the campaign, which was cut short on March 12 when the
NHL paused for the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's been a tough couple of months. It's been a tough five
years with where things have (gone)," said Eichel, who was
selected by the Sabres with the second overall pick of the 2015
NHL Draft.
Conversely, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who was
selected with the top pick of that draft, is headed to the
playoffs for the second time in his career.
"It's real difficult (to see that)," Eichel said of seeing other
stars reach the playoffs. "Like I said, I'm a real competitive
guy. I want to win at everything I do. It's been five years
here, I haven't played in the playoffs, so it's difficult. It's
tough."
Eichel, who was the 2015 Hobey Baker Award recipient as the top
men's hockey player in the NCAA while at Boston University, has
collected 337 points (137 goals, 200 assists) in 354 career
games with the Sabres.
--Field Level Media
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