It's tough to imagine a worse start for the Buffalo Sabres' season; Jack Eichel injured his left leg on Wednesday, and it doesn't look good. Breaking: Loud scream by Jack Eichel as he goes down. Unable to put weight on left leg. Helped to room. John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) Guy Lapointe Jersey MORE: Sabres coach Dan Bylsma in a news conference after practice, saying Eichel was in "a lot of pain" and would get additional evaluation. It's a high ankle sprain, which will keep Eichel out of action at least a month. It's not an injury that can be rushed. And its timing couldn't be worse. "It's the cusp, the eve of starting a new season, one I think we're all looking forward to," Bylsma told . "That's really why it takes the wind out of the sails in the arena today. ... We're eight minutes away from practice being over and getting ready for a game tomorrow and that happens. It kind of takes a little chunk out of the team." VIDEO: Jack Eichel goes down at practice, has to be helped off the ice. Looks like left ankle. Tom Martin (@4TomMartin) Eichel, the second pick in 2015's draft and the centerpiece of the Sabres' rebuild, was set to start his second NHL season on Thursday against the Canadiens. He had 24 goals and 32 a sists last season at 18 years old. Expecting a leap forward wasn't difficult. Now it is. VIDEO: Jack Eichel goes down at practice, has to be helped off the ice. Looks like left ankle. Tom Martin (@4TomMartin) "I was just trying to get the puck, and we got tangled," Sabres teammate Zemgus Girgensons . "He just fell awkward." Filip Mesar Jersey