The Vegas Golden Knights As… Christmas Icons

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: Chandler Stephenson #20, William Karlsson #71, Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Stephenson and Marchessault assisted Karlsson on a third-period goal against Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: Chandler Stephenson #20, William Karlsson #71, Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Stephenson and Marchessault assisted Karlsson on a third-period goal against Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Jack Eichel spreads the cheer around every time he steps on the ice for Vegas. That’s been well-documented time and time again. However, he changed the Golden Knights’s trajectory with his presence, gifting them a Stanley Cup under the Christmas tree.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 19: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in the third period during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 19, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 19: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in the third period during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 19, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

He also gifts the first line and power play with scoring opportunities as pure as snow. He even reads opposing defenses well and knows when they’ve been naughty. That’s when he hits them with the ol’ coal in the back of the net.

You probably guessed that Eichel is St. Nick, AKA Santa Claus. His ability to deliver presents in the clutch has been a gift for Vegas hockey fans. Just look at his 26 points from last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Fans in Buffalo might not believe in him. But Sin City certainly does.