The Buffalo Sabres are on the cusp of locking up the face of their franchise, as the club and Jack Eichel are closing in on an eight-year extension with an expected average annual value of $10 million, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Eichel is going into the last year of his entry-level contract, and would be a restricted free agent after the 2017-18 season.

Assuming his contract kicks in at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, his $10 million AAV would be the tied with Anze Kopitar for the NHL's fifth-highest mark, behind Connor McDavid, Carey Price, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane.

Eichel, 20, recorded 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games a year ago.

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