Jack Eichel doesn’t get recognized as much as he should in the NHL as a franchise player. Everyone talks about Connor McDavid, Nathan Mackinnon, or Auston Matthews as the faces of their respective teams. However, poor ol’ Jack doesn’t get recognized for his efforts.
This is bizarre since Vegas has had a grip on the NHL since its inception. From its miracle run in its inaugural season to last season’s Stanley Cup victory, the Golden Knights are simply known by their whole unit rather than the former first-round pick.
But let’s give the franchise player some love. Since Vegas acquired Eichel’s services, they’ve fulfilled Bill Foley’s promise: win a Stanley Cup in six seasons. It’s almost unheard of for expansion franchises to achieve much success in their infant years. Still, here we are with two Stanley Cup Finals appearances and Lord Stanley in Sin City.
It’s easy to get caught up in other big names in the modern hockey realm. After all, many of these names are playing for Canadian teams. But here’s why you can’t overlook Jack Eichel in the NHL anymore, despite what the naysayers say.