Jack Eichel named to Team USA for world championships

Jack Eichel was waiting Saturday afternoon for word on which NHL team likely will draft him, but he now knows where he will be in May.

That's at the world championships, playing for Team USA at the May 1-17 tournament in the Czech Republic.

His appointment brings skill and name recognition to the U.S. team. The Boston University center is expected to go second overall in the June draft and recently won the Hobey Baker Award after leading college hockey in points (71), assists (45), power play points (23) and plus-minus (+23).

Saturday night's draft lottery will determine who gets the No. 1 overall pick, projected to be Erie (Pa.) Otters center Connor McDavid. Eichel would then go to either the 30th-place Buffalo Sabres (if another team wins the lottery) or the Arizona Coyotes, the 29th-place team.

McDavid and Eichel have been labeled generational prospects.

Eichel will be suiting up for the USA internationally for the fifth time. He won a gold medal at the 2014 under-18 championships.

Others named to Team USA earlier: Defensemen Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes), Torey Krug (Boston Bruins) and Jake Gardiner (Toronto Maple Leafs), plus forwards Mark Arcobello (Coyotes) and Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles Kings.