Jack Eichel of Buffalo Sabres injures leg in practice

— -- BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel was helped off the ice after hurting his left leg during practice on Wednesday.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma told reporters that Eichel suffered an ankle injury and was being examined by team medical staff. He also said that newly acquired forward Kyle Okposo will miss the opener with a knee injury. The Sabres host the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night.

Eichel was in front of the net when he got tangled up with a defensemen and his leg buckled beneath him.

He lay on the ice and grabbed his leg in pain as the team circled around him. Eichel was unable to put any weight on his left side as teammates helped him off the ice.

Eichel is key to the Sabres' future after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft. He is coming off a solid rookie season in which he had 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games last year.

Eichel played one year at Boston University and became the second freshman to win college hockey's top honor, the Hobey Baker Award.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.