Somebody check on Jack Eichel because he hasn't been himself since returning from the Olympics. The Vegas Golden Knights' franchise face has stagnated to a slow start since winning Olympic gold, leaving fans wondering how hard he partied. If you want further proof of trouble in paradise, check out this tweet from Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Jack Eichel since returning from the Olympics:
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) March 1, 2026
- Two games
- 1 SOG
- No points
- Minus-4
One shot on goal? ONE SHOT?! That's it?! What in the world is going on here?
This isn't the Jack Eichel that Golden Knights fans have come to know and love. He's been known to put up points when the team needed him most, carrying Vegas to victory. In fact, he set single-season records in assists (66) and points (94) last season.
But it seems like there's trouble in Las Vegas as the American Olympian has stagnated. No points and one shot (do not miss your chance to blow) won't get the job done for a playoff team trying to win the division. That's especially true when teams like the Anaheim Ducks are gaining on your tail, leaving one point to separate the two parties.
By the way, the Ducks have a game in hand entering Monday. If the Golden Knights want to hold onto their Pacific Division lead—and avoid the catastrophe of dropping out of the playoff race altogether, that starts with getting Eichel going. The team is in the midst of a daunting gauntlet against seven straight teams in playoff position. You need your best players to play to their potential, starting with No. 9.
Golden Knights fans shouldn't look too much into Jack Eichel's slow post-Olympic start
Now, there's been some concern about whether the Golden Knights' superstars would be rusty after the Olympic gold medal game. That became true, with players like Eichel and Mitch Marner not generating much offensively. But there are even more problems ahead for the franchise's face.
One of his most important linemates suffered a scary upper-body injury on Sunday. His name? You know him as Mark Stone, aka the Captain. Why? The stats give the reason why his potential absence will complicate things further (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck, minimum of 200 minutes played).
Line | Goals Percentage | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|
Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone | 64.5% (highest) | 20 (most) | 11 (third-fewest) |
That line has been the team's best this season, combining Eichel and Barbashev's speedier side and offensive prowess with Stone's hockey intelligence. But without the Captain, how do the Golden Knights respond? Do they wave the white flag and throw the season?
Not exactly, dear reader. The Golden Knights have excelled at getting production from other players, especially when the line mixer goes full blast. One can look at Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, where Vegas put up six goals... without Eichel or Stone. With the depth pieces carrying the load, it makes life much easier for the top guys.
That includes Eichel, who's shown an innate ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. This team is too good to simply keel over and die, specifically if the franchise face has anything to say about it. That's why you shouldn't count out No. 9 to have an incredible game or two in the upcoming days.