Buffalo Sabres Saviour Jack Eichel Will Lead The Sabres To A Stanley Cup

Jack Eichel will represent the U.S. at the 2015 World Championship. (USATSI)

After tearing up the college hockey ranks as an 18-year-old freshman at Boston University, top NHL Draft prospect Jack Eichel is going to try his hand against the pros. No, he didn't announce that he's officially leaving BU ahead of the 2015-16 campaign (though that appears at least likely). He accepted an invitation to play for Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.
Eichel will go head-to-head against NHL players and pros from leagues around the world at the IIHF's annual tournament. It should be an interesting window to Eichel's readiness for professional hockey as he goes up against players he hopes will soon be his peers.
The North Chelmsford, Massachusetts native is the consensus No. 2 pick for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. He will find out his likely destination Saturday night as the NHL holds its lottery to determine the first 14 slots in the NHL Entry Draft for 2015.
Eichel won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player after posting 71 points in 40 games this past season. He is just the second freshman ever to win the Hobey in the history of the award. The talented center also helped lead BU to the national championship game, where the Terriers ended up getting upset by conference rival Providence College just a week ago.
The U.S. roster is light on NHL stars this year as USA Hockey is bringing in a lot of younger players, including four other collegiate players. Also on the roster from the NCAA ranks will be Nashville Predators prospect and Hobey Baker finalist Jimmy Vesey. He led the NCAA in goals this year while playing for Harvard University. Also on the club are Michigan freshman Dylan Larkin, a first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, and University of Minnesota defenseman Mike Reilly (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Yale University goaltender Alex Lyon.
Among the NHLers on the roster, two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings Trevor Lewis, U.S. Olympian and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, Toronto Maple Leafs blueliner Jake Gardiner, Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, Arizona Coyotes forward Mark Arcobello, Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks, Coyotes defenseman John Moore, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jeremy Morin, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Zach Redmond, San Jose Sharks forward Ben Smith, Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy and KHL forwards Dan Sexton and Steve Moses, who was just signed by the Predators as a free agent.
It's not the most stacked lineup, so Eichel should end up playing a prominent role as he tests his mettle in a difficult tournament featuring many NHL players. It should be a great opportunity for the 18-year-old to get some pro reps as he prepares to embark on his NHL career, if he decides to leave BU.
The 2015 IIHF World Championship runs May 1-17 in Ostrava and Prague, Czech Republic. All of Team USA's games are to air on NBC Sports Network either live or on tape delay. The Americans open tournament play May 1 against Finland.