Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Jack Eichel practices with the Golden Knights, still not ready for games

Eichel

Justin Emerson

Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel addresses the media on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at City National Arena in Las Vegas.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 | 12:05 p.m.

The Golden Knights’ newest star player is back on the ice.

Forward Jack Eichel skated with the Golden Knights this morning for the first time since his trade from the Buffalo Sabres in November.

He’s still not ready to play after neck surgery he underwent soon after the deal, but even his presence on NHL ice in Las Vegas was a major boost to the team. No timeline was given for Eichel to see game action.

"This is like a kid on Christmas, waking up this morning with the opportunity to get back on the ice with the guys," Eichel said. "Just with everything that I’ve been through, seems like things are getting back to normal for me. That’s what I’ve wanted all along. Felt really good to be here, really feel like you’re part of the group."

Eichel was acquired from Buffalo for forwards Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, as well as two draft picks. His availability stemmed from a disagreement with the Sabres about his medical care. He needed surgery and wanted an artificial disc replacement that had never been performed on an NHL player, though it has been on other athletes.

Bufffalo wanted him to have a standard disc fusion. 

The disagreement reached an impasse, and Buffalo became willing to trade the star center it took with the No. 2 pick in 2015.

The Golden Knights were willing to let Eichel get the disc replacement surgery, which was conducted about a week after the trade was finalized.

He was given a recovery timeline of three to five months.

He has been skating on his own, but today was the first time he took the ice with the Golden Knights.

It’s unclear how soon Eichel will be ready to play. His old Sabres come to town on Feb. 1, the final game before the All-Star break, but that would be an abnormally fast recovery.

Eichel could more realistically be available for a game against the Sabres on March 10, when the Golden Knights make their only trip to Buffalo.

"I almost feel basically back to normal," Eichel said. "At this point, it’s been awhile since I’ve played a hockey game, so as many reps as I can get on the ice and as much practice time and flow and tempo and timing, that’s where we’re at now."

The Golden Knights may need to make some roster changes to fit Eichel and his massive $10 million cap hit under the salary cap. But until he is ready to play, that remains a problem for another day. 

The Golden Knights have a 23-14-1 record (47 points), good for first place in the Pacific Division and one point off the Western Conference lead. So there’s no reason to rush Eichel’s Vegas debut.

"Nice to have him back, nice to have him in the room, nice to see him," coach Pete DeBoer said. “At the same point, you want to temper your enthusiasm because this is just the first step on long return-to-play road."

As long as he’s good for the playoffs, the Golden Knights will call it a win.

The playoffs are set to start in May. Will nearly four months be enough time for Eichel to progress from skating with the team in practice to playing with the team in a game? That remains the hope.