- Jack Eichel told NHL.com he hit a “low point” before the 2021 trade out of Buffalo
- He sits second in playoff scoring with 18 points in 16 games, three behind teammate Mitch Marner
- Read below for the full Eichel sit-down and the one thing Tortorella keeps asking him to do
Jack Eichel is in a much better place than he was five years ago.
The Vegas Golden Knights center sat down with NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger for a candid 1-on-1 on Friday, and he didn’t shy away from the rough stretch that nearly cost him his career.
“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a low point,” Eichel said. “I think, looking back on it, you know, I’m grateful. I think going through something like I did, it gave me a lot of gratitude towards the game, and not to take anything for granted when it comes to your health.”
The 29-year-old herniated a disc in his neck during a March 2021 game against the Islanders and missed the final 33 games of the season.
Buffalo refused to sign off on the artificial disc replacement surgery Eichel wanted, and the relationship fell apart from there. The Sabres stripped him of the captaincy. Two months later, he was on a plane to Las Vegas.
Vegas let him have the procedure eight days after the trade. Asked what playing here has meant since, Eichel didn’t hold back:
“Obviously I landed in a tremendous situation here in Vegas, and have so much pride in being part of this organization, them giving me a chance to get my health back, and obviously start playing again, and then be a part of the special things that we’ve been able to do here.”
He’s won a Cup with Vegas in 2023, an Olympic gold with Team USA in February, and now he’s back in the Final. Eichel sits second in NHL playoff scoring with 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 16 games, three behind teammate Mitch Marner.
Take a look at his third-period swing in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final:
Coach John Tortorella, who took over from the fired Bruce Cassidy two months back, has a quiet ask of his star center.
“I wish he’d shoot the puck more. I think we all want him to shoot the puck more,” Tortorella said Friday. “I’ve said it to him about 20 times.”
Eichel has 42 shots in 16 postseason games, about 2.65 per night. He’ll get his next chance when the Cup Final opens June 2 or June 4 against either Carolina or Montreal.
Here’s the clincher from Game 4 in Vegas:
