Jack Eichel
American center, second overall pick, 2023 Stanley Cup champion.
Jack Eichel, an American center and alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights, plays in the NHL. Drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, he was labeled at 17 as "the new face of American hockey" and part of a generational talent wave. In 2023, he captured the Stanley Cup with Vegas in his first postseason appearance.
Born October 28, 1996, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Eichel grew up in North Chelmsford. He spent the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, earning a spot on the USHL Second All-Star Team in the latter year. On April 29, 2014, he committed to Boston University.
In 40 games with the Terriers, Eichel led the nation in scoring with 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points. He won the 2015 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's player, becoming only the second freshman to do so after Paul Kariya in 1993. He also claimed the Hockey East scoring title, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, First Team honors, All-Rookie Team selection, and conference tournament MVP. Boston University reached the NCAA championship game, losing 4–3 to Providence, with Eichel recording an assist. He was projected to go second in the 2015 draft behind Connor McDavid.
The Sabres selected Eichel second overall on June 26, 2015, one pick after Edmonton took McDavid. Pre-draft hype centered on the "McEichel Derby" in the Buffalo News. He signed a three-year entry-level contract on July 1, and on August 13, inked a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey. Eichel scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2015, the youngest Sabre to do so, in his debut against Ottawa. He finished his rookie season with 24 goals and 56 points in 81 games, leading the Sabres in goals and ranking second in points.
On October 12, 2016, a severe high ankle sprain sidelined him for two months; he returned November 29 and posted 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games. Before the 2017–18 season, on October 3, 2017, he signed an eight-year, $80 million extension starting in 2018–19. He recorded his first career hat trick on December 15, 2017, in a 5–4 loss to Carolina, and represented the Sabres at his first All-Star Game on January 11, 2018. A February ankle sprain cost him 4–6 weeks; he returned after 15 games to help beat Chicago. He finished 2017–18 with 25 goals and 39 assists in 67 games.
- Born
- October 28, 1996
- Birthplace
- Chelmsford, Massachusetts
- Draft position
- 2nd overall, 2015 NHL entry draft
- Drafted by
- Buffalo Sabres
- Hobey baker award
- 2015
- Stanley cup
- 2023 (Vegas Golden Knights)
- Nhl debut
- October 8, 2015
Lore & Background
Eichel grew up in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2012 to 2014, earning a spot on the USHL Second All-Star Team in 2013–14. He committed to Boston University in April 2014 and in his freshman season led the nation in scoring with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points in 40 games, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the second freshman ever to do so. He was also Hockey East scoring champion, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and tournament MVP, leading the Terriers to the NCAA championship game, where they lost 4–3 to Providence.
Selected second overall by the Sabres in 2015, Eichel signed a three-year entry-level contract and scored his first NHL goal in his debut, becoming the youngest Sabres player to do so. He finished his rookie season with 24 goals and 56 points. After an ankle injury cost him two months in 2016–17, he signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension in October 2017. He was named Sabres captain in October 2018 and set franchise records for overtime goals. In 2021, a dispute over his preferred spinal surgery—artificial disk replacement, never before performed on an active NHL player—led to him being stripped of the captaincy and placed on long-term injured reserve.
In November 2021, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights along with a third-round pick for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, and draft picks. He underwent his preferred surgery and debuted for Vegas in February 2022. In the 2022–23 season, under new coach Bruce Cassidy, Eichel took on heavy defensive responsibilities and posted a career-high point pace early in the season. He won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023.
Reader's Guide
Jack Eichel's career is defined by his status as a generational talent and the circumstances surrounding his departure from Buffalo. Drafted second overall behind Connor McDavid, he was part of intense pre-draft hype, with the Buffalo News running a 'McEichel Derby' graphic tracking the standings. His rookie season set a Sabres record for youngest goal-scorer, and he quickly became the team's top offensive player, leading in goals and setting franchise overtime goal records. However, his tenure in Buffalo was marked by frustration, culminating in a public dispute over medical treatment for a herniated disc. The Sabres refused to allow artificial disk replacement, a procedure recommended by Eichel's personal chiropractor and an outside doctor, citing the collective bargaining agreement's provision giving teams final say on medical care. This conflict led to Eichel being stripped of the captaincy and traded to Vegas, where he was permitted the surgery. His return to Buffalo as a Golden Knight was met with booing, and he remarked on the crowd's volume after seven years. Eichel's legacy includes being the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, joining Paul Kariya, and winning the Stanley Cup in his first playoff appearance with Vegas in 2023.
Did You Know?
- Eichel was the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, after Paul Kariya in 1993.
- He scored his first NHL goal in his debut game, becoming the youngest Sabres player to do so.
- Eichel was stripped of the Sabres captaincy in September 2021 after failing his physical and being placed on long-term injured reserve.
- He won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, his first playoff appearance.
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