Jack Eichel is the lone Sabre named to this year's NHL All-Star game in San Jose at the end of the month. However it looks like the team will have to open the new year without their captain.

Eichel did not practice Wednesday,  and the team announced Thursday morning he'll be out at least the next two games. Eichel will be re-evaluated next week. 

In the meantime, the rest of the team prepares to play without him. 

"We can't try and do too much different," said Sam Reinhart. "No one's going to step up and play the way he does. It's got to be an effort out of everybody. Just got to play our game."

"Obviously he's a big part of our team, big part of our group," said Kyle Okposo. "If he's not in the line-up he's not in the line-up. You got to play hockey. So I think we need to have everybody baring down on their chances and we need to really make sure we're committed to playing the way we need to play."

Evan Rodrigues likely will fill Eichel's spot on the Sabres top line if needed, looking to keep things flowing with Reinhart and Jeff Skinner.

"He's a good player. He's got some speed," Skinner said. "He's got some pretty good skill so he can make plays. I think it'll be fun "

This season hasn't been all that fun for Rodrigues, though. He's produced just two goals and 11 points in 34 games. Rodrigues admits there's been some frustration, but feels his game is trending in the right direction with a golden opportunity possibly ahead "

"Obviously you always want the points to come," Rodrigues said. "You always want to be contributing offensively, but at the same time it's when the chances don't come that you start to worry and I'm getting my chances, getting a lot of shots. The opportunities are there just a matter of baring down now and finishing those opportunities and getting more confidence. I think I've done that over the past five to six games. I think my confidence has grown a ton and I'm back where I want it to be. Hopefully that will lead to some more points."

And the Sabres are hopeful his fill-in role at the top is brief.