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 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).

Jack Eichel was chosen second overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Before joining the NHL, he was seen as a very talented young player. In 2015, Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the best college ice hockey player. He was only the second freshman (first-year student) to ever win this award. Eichel won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023. This was his first time playing in the NHL playoffs.

Playing Career

Early Years and College Hockey

Jack Eichel was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and grew up in North Chelmsford. He played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) for two seasons. During the 2013–14 season, he was named to the United States Hockey League Second All-Star Team because of his great play. After his time with the NTDP, Eichel decided to play college hockey for Boston University.

On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award. He led the nation in scoring with 26 goals and 45 assists, totaling 71 points in 40 games for Boston University. He also won many other awards in his college league, Hockey East, including Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. His team, the Boston Terriers, made it to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game but lost. Experts believed Eichel would be the second player picked in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Professional Hockey Career

Time with the Buffalo Sabres (2015–2021)

On June 26, 2015, the Buffalo Sabres picked Eichel second overall in the NHL draft. This was right after the Edmonton Oilers picked Connor McDavid. There was a lot of excitement about both Eichel and McDavid, as they were seen as future stars. On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed his first professional contract with the Sabres.

Eichel scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2015, in his very first game. He was the youngest player in Sabres history to do this. In his first season, he scored 24 goals and had 56 points in 81 games. He was the Sabres' top goal scorer and one of the best rookies in the league.

In October 2016, Eichel hurt his left ankle and missed the first two months of the season. He returned in November and finished the year with 24 goals and 33 assists in 61 games.

Before the 2017–18 season, on October 3, 2017, the Sabres signed Eichel to a big eight-year contract. On December 15, 2017, he scored his first career hat trick (three goals in one game). On January 11, 2018, Eichel was chosen to play in his first NHL All-Star game. He later sprained his ankle again but returned to play. He finished the 2017–18 season with 25 goals and 39 assists in 67 games.

In the summer before the 2018–19 season, Eichel changed his jersey number from 15 to 9. On October 3, 2018, he was named the captain of the Sabres. On March 10, 2019, Eichel was suspended for two games for an illegal check. On March 28, 2019, he scored his 100th career goal.

On November 16, 2019, Eichel scored four goals in one game, which was a rare achievement for a Sabres player. On December 7, he reached 300 career points. In January 2020, he became the first Sabres player to score a penalty shot goal in overtime. He also set a team record for most overtime goals.

In April 2021, it was announced that Eichel would miss the rest of the 2020–21 season due to a back injury. He wanted a specific type of surgery, but the Sabres did not agree to it. This disagreement caused problems between Eichel and the team. On September 23, 2021, Eichel was no longer the team captain because of his injury and the ongoing medical disagreement.

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. His new team allowed him to have the surgery he wanted. After recovering, he started training with the Golden Knights. He played his first game with them on February 16, 2022. He scored his first goal for the Golden Knights on February 20. When he returned to Buffalo to play against his old team, he was booed by the crowd. 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. Eichel played a big role, especially in defense. He had 26 points in the first 23 games, helping the Knights lead their division. His second visit to Buffalo was much more successful, as he scored a hat trick and helped his team win. Eichel missed some games due to a lower body injury but returned to help the team win the Pacific Division title. He finished the regular season with 27 goals and 39 assists in 67 games.

The Golden Knights made it to the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, which was Eichel's first time in the postseason. He became a very important player for the team, helping them win their first series. They then beat the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars to reach the Cup Finals. The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in five games against the Florida Panthers. Eichel led all players in playoff scoring with 26 points.

In the 2024–25 season, Eichel had a career-high 94 points in 77 games. He helped the Golden Knights win their division again. He was also nominated for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who shows great sportsmanship and skill.

International Play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze	2015 Czech Republic
4 Nations Face-Off
	2025 Canada/United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
Gold	2014 Finland
Silver	2013 Russia

Jack Eichel has played for the United States in many international hockey tournaments.

• In 2012, he played in the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics.
• He won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
• He won a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.
• In 2014, he helped the USA team win the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships. He was the youngest player on the team at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
• He also played for Team USA in the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

After his first college season, Eichel played for the senior Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Championship. He scored 2 goals and had 5 assists, helping Team USA win a bronze medal. He also played for Team USA in the 2017 IIHF World Championship and the 2019 IIHF World Championship.

Awards and Honors