Vegas Hockey Knight
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The Jack Eichel experiment goes in full season mode

By Christopher Lyke

Apr 12, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (9) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (9) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /
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Back in November, the Golden Knights made a trade with the Buffalo Sabres getting Jack Eichel for Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch along with a first round pick. At the time of the trade, Eichel was on the long term injured list after getting surgery to repair a spinal disc herniation. On February 16 of this past season in a game against the Colorado Avalanche, Eichel made his Vegas debut. Four days later, the Massachusetts native found scored his first two points as a Golden Knight with a goal and an assist against the San Jose Sharks.

This is a part of a series of profile features on the complete Golden Knights roster heading into the 2022-23 season.

The Jack Eichel File
6’2 | 215 | Shoots: Right | Center
Hometown: North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, USA | DOB: 10/28/96
Draft Status: 2nd overall | 1st Round (2015) – Buffalo Sabres
How Acquired: Trade | Under Control Through: 2025-26
’22-’23: $10M | ’23-’24: $10M | ’24-’25: $10M | ’25-’26: $10M

Jack Eichel
Apr 12, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (9) handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

The expectations for Jack Eichel in 2022-23

In earnest, the time for Eichel to make his mark on the Golden Knights franchise begins this October, which will be the first full season with the club. Through less than half a season with Vegas, Recently, The Athletic polled fans on their thoughts on Eichel with the Golden Knights. A majority of fans are of the belief that he will be the team’s scoring leader. The expectations are that he gets around the 80-point mark for the season. Keeping in mind, his season high is 82 points with the Sabres during the 2018-19 season.

With the addition of Phil Kessel to the roster, players such as Eichel will have an extra locker room veteran to lean on for guidance through the season.  Granted, the roster is already filled with Stanley Cup quality veterans and coaches, the difference between Buffalo and Vegas should make a difference in several key areas including motivation and aggressiveness. It also helps Eichel that he will have a new coach in Bruce Cassidy that loves to play an aggressive style of hockey.

The entire caveat with Eichel and the Golden Knights is that they are for all intents and purposes, married to each other for the next four seasons. The former Hobey Baker Award winner is guaranteed $10 million per season and has a no-trade clause attached to his contract. In Buffalo, Eichel was treated as the franchise player. That will be no different in Vegas.

Part of the reason a majority of the fans disapprove of the Eichel trade is the hefty salary that comes with the 25-year old center. For Eichel, this season will ultimately define his career. Last season when he scored a goal, the Golden Knights were 9-4-0. When there was at least one point scored off Eichel’s stick, the team was 11-7-2. And when Eichel went scoreless, the Golden Knights were 3-11-1.

Player Statistics

2015-16 | BUF | 81 GP (24 G, 32 A) 56 pts, 22 PIM
2016-17 | BUF | 61 GP (24 G, 33 A) 57 pts, 22 PIM
2017-18 | BUF | 67 GP (25 G, 39 A) 64 pts, 32 PIM
2018-19 | BUF | 77 GP (28 G, 54 A) 82 pts, 26 PIM
2019-20 | BUF | 68 GP (36 G, 42 A) 78 pts, 34 PIM
2020-21 | BUF | 21 GP (2 G, 16 A) 18 pts, 6 PIM
2021-22 | VGK | 34 GP (14 G, 11 A) 25 pts, 10 PIM
Career Numbers
7 NHL Seasons | 409 GP (153 G, 227 A) 380 pts, 152 PIM

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