"I think you just try to go about your business like any other guy in the room," Eichel had said Thursday. "When you get through that draft process, I think it all kind of goes away."
The Sabres won one of three games on their road trip through California. Eichel didn't have a point during the trip, and has gone without a point in four straight games. Before his current drought, Eichel had 27 points in 27 games. That streak started Dec. 17, but Eichel said getting time off for the Christmas break helped him recharge his season.
"I was able to go home, spend some time at home and get ready for the second half," he said. "I really don't think too much changed. I think there were a lot of times at the beginning of the year where I played well, but production-wise I came up empty-handed. It seems like the second half of the year I was, I guess, a little bit luckier in terms of production. I think I just had to find that consistency and I had been trying to do that game in and game out here since Christmas."
Like Eichel, McDavid has had his ups and downs this season. He missed three months because of a broken left clavicle sustained Nov. 2. That kept him out of the first Sabres-Oilers game, Dec. 6 at Rexall Place.
Even if they're not following each other's seasons, that doesn't make them enemies.
"I think we all had a good time doing that whole [pre-draft] prospects tour," Eichel said. "We had a good time together and I think we got to know each other a little better. He's a good dude and he's a good dude to be around and it was a lot of fun hanging out with him and [Mitchell] Marner and [Dylan] Strome and [Noah] Hanifin and [Lawson] Crouse and things we got to do. You know, the Everglades trip, the ballpark to take batting practice; it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed that entire experience."
Although it's the second time the Sabres will face the Oilers this season, the first NHL game between Eichel and McDavid adds a layer of intrigue. Eichel, however, is more concerned with helping the Sabres win games than igniting a rivalry.
"[The Oilers] have a lot of good players on their team, so it's going to be a good game for us," Eichel said. "I can't speak for [McDavid], but for me, I think I've just gone about my business. I think I just go about my business and try to focus on playing hockey and that's what I'm here to do."