We should probably start calling Jack Eichel, "Rodney Dangerfield", because he gets no respect. I'm sure the elevator operator asks Eichel if he's going to the basement. Among the pantheon of stellar centers in the NHL, the former second-overall pick was forgotten in the sauce. I mean, who wouldn't recognize Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon?
Well, perhaps it's time to start respecting Eichel's authority. A four-point performance against a surging Toronto Maple Leafs team has thrust him back into the big-time centers conversation.
But wait! You thought that he was getting started on Thursday. No, dear reader, he's actually had an excellent January. Eichel has scored five goals and nine assists in the dreaded month for Vegas, showing NHL fans why he deserves serious consideration for being the league's best. Plus, he's got a shooting percentage of 20% or higher in four of his last five games!
That's not even mentioning how he has 17 goals and 38 assists this season. He's trending closer towards reaching the vaunted 100-point mark, something that no mortal Golden Knights star has ever achieved.
There are so many reasons why the Golden Knights are thankful for having Eichel as their proverbial MVP. But his latest masterpiece comes during a vaunted month, showing why NHL fans should start respecting him... and fearing him.
Jack Eichel isn't just taking over games for the Golden Knights; he's also getting teammates involved
Eichel isn't the only one who's helping himself on offense. He also gave Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Tomas Hertl goals in Thursday's huge overtime win. Stone also returned the favor from Wednesday's overtime victory with a setup for Eichel approaching the slot. The result? The overtime winner and six straight wins.
In fact, the superstar wanted to win Thursday's game for Marner. Whenever you go up against your former team, you want to bring out your best and help a bro out. That's why you have the former Buffalo Sabres star aboard.
"We know how much it means to him, and because it means that much to him, it means that much to us too."Jack Eichel on Mitch Marner
The intangibles say that he matters to his teammates more than anything in the world. He's your quarterback, playing (and looking) like a hockey version of Patrick Mahomes. But the stats also show how he's putting the rest of the NHL on notice.
The advanced stats show why NHL fans and teams should fear Jack Eichel
When you have a record-breaking season in 2024-25, what do you do? It's tough to top scoring 66 assists and 94 points in a season. However, advanced statistics show that Eichel is actually performing better in numerous categories (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck as of Thursday).
Season | Corsi | Fenwick | Rebounds Created | Rebounds Created Above Expected | Shooting Talent Above Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025-26 | 55% | 57% | 19 | 9.8 | 14% |
2024-25 | 53% | 54% | 14 | -1.4 | 13.1% |
Across the board, the center has made improvements in numerous areas. He's creating more rebounds for his teammates and is improving his shot selection. As mentioned, that has led to his teammates reaping the rewards, turning the Golden Knights into an offensive force.
Perhaps it's time to retire the "Rodney Dangerfield" gimmick associated with Jack Eichel. His January masterpiece is putting Vegas on track for one of its best months ever, catapulting them up the NHL standings. If NHL teams teams weren't respecting him enough, well, they better start doing so. Otherwise, Eichel might have to break out Wade Barrett for some "bad news."