Buffalo Sabres star forward Jack Eichel suffered an ankle injury in practice Wednesday morning and had to be helped off the ice.
The severity of Eichel's injury is not yet clear. Video shows him writhing in pain after going down in front of the net after getting tangled with teammate Zemgus Girgensons. He was brought to his feet and taken off the ice for evaluation.
Eichel, 19, was the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. He is considered one of the best young players in the league, having scored 24 goals and 56 points in his rookie season.
The Sabres open the season Thursday night with a home game against the Montreal Canadiens.
UPDATE: The Sabres announced late Wednesday afternoon Eichel has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. The team says as of now, no timetable has been set for his return.
