Jack Eichel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Eichel
Eichel with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born	(1996-10-28) October 28, 1996 (age 28) North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Vegas Golden Knights Buffalo Sabres
National team	United States
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 2015 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2015–present

John Robert "Jack" Eichel (born October 28, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a center and is an alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League (NHL). Eichel was chosen second overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Even at 17, he was seen as a future star in American hockey.

Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award in 2015. This award goes to the best college men's ice hockey player. He was only the second freshman (first-year student) to win it. In 2023, Eichel won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights. This was his first time playing in the NHL playoffs.

Playing Career

Starting Out as an Amateur

Eichel grew up in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) for two seasons. This program helps young players develop their skills. He was recognized as a top player during the 2013–14 season. After the NTDP, Eichel decided to play college hockey. He joined Boston University in April 2014.

On April 10, 2015, Eichel made history. He became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award. He led the entire nation in scoring with 26 goals and 45 assists. This added up to 71 points in 40 games. He also won many awards in his college conference, Hockey East. These included Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. His team, the Boston Terriers, reached the NCAA championship game. They lost a close game to the Providence Friars. Experts believed Eichel would be the second player picked in the 2015 NHL Draft. Many thought he would be chosen right after Connor McDavid.

Becoming a Professional Player

Time with the Buffalo Sabres (2015–2021)

On June 26, 2015, the Buffalo Sabres picked Eichel second overall. This was just after the Edmonton Oilers chose Connor McDavid. Before the draft, there was a lot of excitement. Both Eichel and McDavid were seen as very special talents. Some sports news even called it the "McEichel Derby." On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed his first NHL contract with the Sabres.

Eichel scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2015. He was the youngest player in Sabres history to do this. He finished his first season with 24 goals and 56 points. This made him one of the top rookies in the league.

In October 2016, Eichel hurt his left ankle. He missed the first two months of the season. He returned to play in November. He still managed to score 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games.

Before the 2017–18 season, Eichel signed a big contract. It was an eight-year deal worth $80 million. On December 15, 2017, he scored his first career hat trick. This means he scored three goals in one game. In January 2018, Eichel was chosen for his first NHL All-Star game. He sprained his ankle again in February. He returned later to help the Sabres win a game. He finished the season with 25 goals and 39 assists.

In the summer of 2018, Eichel changed his jersey number. He went from 15 to 9. On October 3, 2018, he was named the captain of the Sabres. In March 2019, Eichel was suspended for two games. This was for an illegal check to an opponent's head. On March 28, 2019, he scored his 100th career goal.

On November 16, 2019, Eichel scored four goals in one game. This was a big win against the Ottawa Senators. He was the seventh Sabres player to score four goals in a game. On December 7, he reached 300 career points. In January 2020, Eichel scored a penalty shot goal in overtime. This was a first for the Sabres team. He also set a team record for most overtime goals.

In April 2021, Eichel had to miss the rest of the season. He needed surgery for a back injury. Eichel and the Sabres disagreed about his medical care. He wanted a specific surgery that had not been done on an active NHL player before. The team did not approve it. Because of this disagreement, Eichel was removed as team captain in September 2021.

Joining the Vegas Golden Knights (2021–present)

Eichel making a play in front of Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken during the 2024 Winter Classic.

On November 4, 2021, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights allowed him to have the surgery he wanted. After recovering, he started training with his new team. He played his first game with the Golden Knights on February 16, 2022. He scored his first goal for them on February 20.

On March 10, Eichel played against his old team in Buffalo. The crowd booed him a lot. He said it was the loudest he had ever heard the arena. Eichel finished the season with 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games. The Golden Knights missed the playoffs that year.

Eichel (foreground) and Alex Pietrangelo with the Golden Knights in 2024.

The 2022–23 season started much better for the Golden Knights. A new coach helped the team improve. Eichel played a big role in their success. He scored 26 points in the first 23 games. This was a great start to the season. His second return to Buffalo was much better. He scored a hat trick and helped his team win 7–4. Eichel missed some games with a lower body injury. But he came back strong and helped the team win their division title. He finished the regular season with 27 goals and 39 assists.

The Golden Knights made it to the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. This was Eichel's first time in the playoffs. He became one of the team's most important players. They won their first series in five games. Then, they faced the Edmonton Oilers. This series was exciting because it matched Eichel against McDavid. The Golden Knights won in six games. They then beat the Dallas Stars to reach the Cup Finals. They won the Stanley Cup in five games against the Florida Panthers. Eichel led the entire league in playoff scoring with 26 points. This was the third-most points ever for a player in their first playoffs.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze	2015 Czech Republic
IIHF World U18 Championship
Gold	2014 Finland
Silver	2013 Russia

Eichel has played for the United States many times. As a 15-year-old, he played in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics. He won a bronze medal with Team USA in 2013. This was at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He also won a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.

The next season, he helped the USA team win a gold medal. This was at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships. He was the youngest player on Team USA at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Eichel also played for Team USA in the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

After his first college season, Eichel joined the senior Team USA. He played in the 2015 IIHF World Championship. He scored 2 goals and 5 assists in the tournament. Team USA won a bronze medal. Eichel also played for Team USA in the 2017 IIHF World Championship. He had five assists in eight games. In 2019, Eichel was again chosen to represent Team USA. This was at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International Play Statistics

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	United States	U17			5	3	0	3	2
2013	United States	WJC18			7	1	1	2	6
2014	United States	WJC	5th		5	1	4	5	0
2014	United States	WJC18			7	5	5	10	2
2015	United States	WJC	5th		5	1	3	4	6
2015	United States	WC			10	2	5	7	8
2016	Team North America	WCH	5th		3	1	1	2	0
2017	United States	WC	5th		8	0	5	5	4
2019	United States	WC	7th		8	2	6	8	2
Junior totals					29	11	13	24	16
Senior totals					29	5	17	22	14

Awards and Honors