pretty similar to Jeff Carter. Big, strong, skilled power forward."

Eichel has a long, powerful stride that makes him a deceptively fast skater, much like the stride Mario Lemieux had. He looks like he is not working hard, but that is because he has such a long, graceful, efficient stride, like he is floating on the ice.

Eichel has an abnormally long reach like Evgeni Malkin, and he does a great job protecting the puck with that reach. He also has great vision, seeing plays before they happen and plays that other players don't see. If you play with Eichel, you'd better make sure your stick is on the ice and never doubt that he can get you the puck.

He accelerates with his head up carrying the puck and hasthe skill and attitude to beat players one-on-one. What makes players like Eichel so promising at the next level is that he also has a big-time release and a goal-scoring touch and also scores from bad angles like great players seem to do. He's a game-changer who makes players around him better.

An area Eichel wants to improve on?

"I want to work on bearing down on the net," Eichel said. "Bearing down and getting that goal that can help separate us on the scoreboard. "

Jack Eichel's New England homecoming continues all year long at Boston University. Family, friends, the Beanpot, the Hockey East tournament and, hopefully, an NCAA tournament bid, and then he will have a framed BU jersey to hang on his wall for life.

All signs point to