In a release issued Thursday, the company announced the player drafted second overall in June will exclusively wear its equipment. Bauer will also develop an Eichel line of performance and lifestyle clothes.

Eichel played for Boston University last season, and became only the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s MVP. The center had 26 goals and 45 assists to lead the nation with 71 points in 40 games.

Eichel and top pick, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, have both been described as having once-in-a-generation type of talent.

In June, McDavid signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer’s rival, CCM Hockey.

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”I figured you guys knew that, so I wondered why I had to come here,” Buffalo general manager Tim Murray joked last week at a news conference previewing the draft.

Murray has said drafting Eichel, the 18-year-old Hobey Baker winner, will be the easiest decision of his career.

But it will be just the beginning of a busy draft weekend for the Sabres, who hold four of the top 51 picks, including the No. 2 and No. 21 spots in Friday night’s first round.

”This is a big step for us in terms of becoming big boys in the league,” Murray said.

Buffalo is rebuilding from the bottom after consecutive last-place finishes and Murray’s purging the roster of veteran talent.

Murray made his first big offseason move last month, bringing in new coach Dan Bylsma to replace Ted Nolan.

Bylsma coached star center Sidney Crosby and won the Stanley Cup during his six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last month, he got a firsthand look at his next star center, Eichel, during the World Championships in the Czech Republic. Bylsma was an assistant coach and Eichel a top-line forward on the United States team that finished fourth.

”He stacked up right there with his skill and size and ability to play the game,” Bylsma said at his introductory news conference. ”Jack’s going to be a good pick for anybody who takes him.”

Eichel began acclimating himself to Buffalo earlier this month when the Sabres hosted the NHL scouting combine.

”Everyone’s really welcoming,” Eichel said. ”Nothing’s set in stone, but it seems like this is where I’ll end up. And people are really excited about the future.”

Eichel has not yet ruled out returning to college for his sophomore season, and said he won’t make his decision until after the draft.

Bylsma’s presence makes Buffalo even more welcoming to Eichel.

”I’d be more than excited to play for him,” Eichel said. ”He brings a lot to the table. Obviously, he’s coached some of the best players in the word.”

Eichel’s anticipated arrival will merely add to an emerging group of young players already in Buffalo’s system. They include center Sam Reinhart, who was selected with the No. 2 pick last year, and defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, two 2013 first-round picks who enjoyed regular playing time as rookies in Buffalo last season.

The Sabres also acquired the fourth overall pick from the 2009 draft, winger Evander Kane, in a February trade with the Winnipeg Jets, giving up a former first-round pick, defenseman Tyler Myers, and the 25th pick in this year’s draft.

Still, Buffalo is in needed of reinforcements at every position, and will be less predictable with the No. 21 pick.

The Sabres acquired the additional first-rounder in a 2013 trade that sent Thomas Vanek, the fifth overall pick in the celebrated 2003 draft, to the New York Islanders.

Murray said he is open to trading the 21st pick for a ”top-six forward, or top-three defenseman, or No. 1 goalie.” He is also open to moving up or down in the draft, depending on the circumstance.

Murray said he won’t draft to fill specific needs.

”It’s best player available,” he said. ”If you have a weakness or a lack of a certain position, go out and trade for that position. The draft guys could be a year away, could be three years away. You have to look big picture when it comes to the draft.”

Buffalo will seek to acquire a starting goaltender by trade or in free agency, Murray said, but the Sabres are also likely to take a goalie at some point in the draft.

”If at all possible, you should take a goalie every draft,” Murray said. ”Because I think they’re a little more of a wild card than a forward or defenseman.”

—

AP sports writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.

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It wasn’t until this week at the league’s pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo when the two finally had a chance to sit down and chat.

”We’ve had a pretty good rivalry,” McDavid said. ”We’ve been linked together so long, you start to feel like you know him. And he’s a nice guy.”

The feeling was mutual for Eichel.

”Yeah, he’s a pretty good kid,” he said. ”It was nice to finally meet him.”

Just don’t ask who’s better between two centers who possess distinct styles, and are both regarded by NHL scouts as having ”once-in-a-generation” ability.

”That’s not up to me to decide,” McDavid said. ”I feel I’m the best player in the draft, but maybe you’ll get a different answer from Jack.”

Eichel responded by saying: ”I’m pretty confident in my own abilities.”

Officially, The Canadian-born McDavid finished first in the NHL Central Scouting rankings and is highly anticipated to be selected first by the Edmonton Oilers in the draft on June 26. He’s a speedy, play-making 18-year-old who earned Canadian Junior Hockey player of the year honors after scoring 44 goals and 120 points in 47 games with Ontario Hockey League Erie Otters.

Eichel is the second-ranked prospect, and expected to be drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, who have the No. 2 pick. The American-born Eichel has a more hard-hitting style than McDavid and proved to be no slouch playing against older competition at Boston University. He led the nation with 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in becoming college hockey’s second freshman to win the Hobey Baker award.

What’s not up for debate is each player’s ability.

”They both are going to be big contributors in the NHL,” Central Scouting director Dan Marr said. ”They’re going to make a difference for their team. They’re going to make an impact. They’re going to put up numbers. And they’re going to be special players.”

The challenge for Marr and his staff was ranking the two.

”It’s a fine line,” Marr said, before noting McDavid earned the edge because he is regarded to have more potential.

”We feel the best is yet to come,” Marr said. ”There’s still room for growth in his game.”

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney called both ”foundational-type players.”

McDavid and Eichel are among 120 prospects attending the weeklong combine, which concludes with physical testing Saturday.

Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin is ranked third by Central Scouting, followed by McDavid’s teammate Dylan Strome.

Hanifin acknowledged he would be shocked if McDavid and Eichel weren’t drafted first and second.

”All they attention they’ve gotten this year, they deserve,” Hanifin said.

Strome, meanwhile, had the best comment of the day, when asked how opposing teams might defend against McDavid.

”Good luck, I guess,” Strome said.

Players spent the early part of the week holding one-on-one interviews with team executives.

McDavid had only had a few meetings, including interviews with the Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, who have the fourth pick.

He acknowledged being surprised in April when the Oilers jumped two spots ahead of Buffalo and Arizona to land the No. 1 pick during the NHL draft lottery.

”It was more shock than anything,” McDavid said, noting he’s prepared to play for whichever team drafts him.

”There’s nothing to accept,” he said. ”If it’s Edmonton, it’s great. If not, it will be great anywhere in the NHL.”

Eichel met with five teams, including the Sabres.

”I didn’t do any preparation, to be honest with you,” Eichel said of his approach to the meetings. ”I think the most important thing about going into interviews like that is just be yourself, talk from the heart.”

He’s spent part of the week touring the city, and sampled some Buffalo chicken wings.

Eichel has not yet decided whether he’ll turn pro next season or return to Boston University. He expects to make the decision following the draft.

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