Now, before we start getting technical, let me clarify something. This is with Jack Eichel playing on the Vegas Golden Knights, not during his Buffalo Sabres days. That way, we can get a better view of how the franchise player has done with his current squad.
Okay, did that clear up some confusion? Yes? Good, because I guarantee that there are some people that would've gotten the words and definitions messed up. Must've been all the "6 7's" and the other slop going through everyone's minds right now.
But in case you haven't heard the terrifying news, Eichel is missing the Alberta trip due to an illness. In fact, it's gotten so severe that he had to cancel a meet-and-greet. He'd better drink all the chicken noodle soup and water that he can get his hands on. Divisional foes are coming for Vegas's Pacific Division crown and there's no time to waste on winning another Stanley Cup!
Anyways, the latest news raises an alarming question about the Golden Knights. How have they done all-time without their megastar in the lineup? Have they adapted well without Eichel or have they sat firmly on the struggle bus? The answer won't likely surprise you... or will. It depends on how you view things.
The Vegas Golden Knights have an all-time record of 20-13-7 without Jack Eichel in the lineup
In what shouldn't surprise people at all, the Golden Knights haven't been good without their superstar in the lineup. They've gotten 27 points in this scenario, earning a record of 20-13-7 along the way.
Now, this is since Eichel first stepped on the ice for the Golden Knights, which was February 16, 2022, against the Colorado Avalanche. Fans didn't get a true grasp of Eichel's impact on the Golden Knights until he actually stepped on the ice, which is why we have the record that we have.
If this record is any indication, it shows how important Eichel is to the whole Golden Knights apparatus. He drives the play and executes in many areas, whether it's entries or setting up his teammates. He's even terrific on special teams, making him arguably the most important player on any NHL team.
Without Eichel, the Golden Knights look drastically different. They can't enter the zone efficiently. They can't get into the slot without some help. They even have to rely on drawing penalties to go on the power play. That always smells of disaster, specifically in the form of a rotten egg fart.