C Jack Eichel - Boston University, NCAA (2015, 2nd, BUF) III

[canuck2010]

I don't think anything pisses me off more that using a street word for female genitalia as a way to call someone soft.

That's beside the point, Eichel played against men this year and he was dominant. He's extremely physical not only in terms of puck protecting but also in terms of actual physicality. I've watched probably 10-15 BU games and a bunch of WJC/highlight packages and I've never seen him back down from going into the corners.

I've seen him coast around/float but never have I seen him straight up back down

Sincere apologies. Wasn't meaning to offend just using popular hockey vernacular.

 

[FDBluth]

I think Getzlaf is a decent one just because he has a similar combination of grace and power.

 

[Montag DP]

How is Eichel's toughness even a question? Have people watched him play? That's one part of his game that is clearly superior to McDavid's right now. The desire by some to find any angle possible to knock him down is really getting ridiculous.

 

[ZeroPT*]

He's Getzlaf with elite skating

 

[Evolu7ion]

In terms of comparable, which NHL would you compare Eichel? He reminds me Jonathan Toews at the same age. Also Joe Nieuwendyk as a comparable nhler. I heard also Getzlaf but he isn't built like him in terms of physically aspect. Any input?

No current NHLer provides a great comparison for Eichel IMO, which just shows how special of a talent he is.

To me the best comparison is Fedorov. Both have a great frame, long, elegant and powerful strides, elite finishing ability, and high end vision.

 

[Juxtaposer]

In terms of comparable, which NHL would you compare Eichel? He reminds me Jonathan Toews at the same age. Also Joe Nieuwendyk as a comparable nhler. I heard also Getzlaf but he isn't built like him in terms of physically aspect. Any input?

I see a lot of Toews in Eichel. Obviously not identical players, but the way they are entering the zone and starting a cycle can be eerily similar.

 

[ZeroPT*]

He's just so unique. He's a combo of a bunch of star players. I'd say his puck skills, vision and playmaking is like Tavares but then he has an extra gear in terms of skating and speed, has a lethal shot and has an extremely long reach

 

[danito]

He's just so unique. He's a combo of a bunch of star players. I'd say his puck skills, vision and playmaking is like Tavares but then he has an extra gear in terms of skating and speed, has a lethal shot and has an extremely long reach

Toews is known for his elite defense, quick smart plays and great positioning. Eichel seems like more of a risk taker/ game breaker but not as smart.

 

[canuck2010]

How is Eichel's toughness even a question? Have people watched him play? That's one part of his game that is clearly superior to McDavid's right now. The desire by some to find any angle possible to knock him down is really getting ridiculous.

Think I started this sub theme on this thread so I should explain. I have freely admitted that I have not seen Eichel play that often. I'm not saying that he lacks physical toughness I'm just saying that I haven't seen it. I'm not looking for any angle to knock him down. I have nothing against the guy at all.

 

[Montag DP]

Think I started this sub theme on this thread so I should explain. I have freely admitted that I have not seen Eichel play that often. I'm not saying that he lacks physical toughness I'm just saying that I haven't seen it. I'm not looking for any angle to knock him down. I have nothing against the guy at all.

What do you mean by physical toughness? He doesn't hit much but he also almost never gets knocked off the puck. He's very strong along the boards and he also uses his body well to protect the puck in open ice. It's essentially a very NHL-style game.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

In terms of comparable, which NHL would you compare Eichel?

I would say he's basically Patrick Kane's creativity + Joe Thornton's vision + Sidney Crosby's skating in a good frame that projects to be Kopitar-esque in his prime.

 

[couture23]

I would say he's basically Patrick Kane's creativity + Joe Thornton's vision + Sidney Crosby's skating in a good frame that projects to be Kopitar-esque in his prime.

Don't think Eichel will ever be a Selke nominee in his career though.

 

[Bps21*]

He is hard to pin down a straight comparable for. You're always going to end up with "better skating so and so" or "bigger, stronger so and so" or "so and so with a better shot".

 

[Bgav]

I see a lot of Kariya in his game tbh

 

[phosphene*]

I'm surprised Eric Staal hasn't been brought up much. I mean, they're both gingers and all.

 

[canuck2010]

What do you mean by physical toughness? He doesn't hit much but he also almost never gets knocked off the puck. He's very strong along the boards and he also uses his body well to protect the puck in open ice. It's essentially a very NHL-style game.

I don't mean if he plays a physical game I mean when he becomes the target of physical play. How does he respond to being the physical target.

Does he brush it off, does he return the favour, does he start to hear footsteps.

I agree he is very strong along the boards and he does protect the puck very well.

 

[BloFan4Life]

Toews is known for his elite defense, quick smart plays and great positioning. Eichel seems like more of a risk taker/ game breaker but not as smart.

Don't agree with that what so ever. I watched a ton of him at BU and there was times when people said he was "floating" or not dominant. What these people failed to realize is that he was worrying about the defensive zone and was well positioned. Just because Eichel is a top scoring 18 year old, doesn't mean he doesn't play defense. That is far from accurate.

 

[BNHL]

I'm surprised Eric Staal hasn't been brought up much. I mean, they're both gingers and all.

I agree,he's Staal at his best or a modern day Frank Mahovlich.

 

[1972]

Superduperstar

 

[ZeroPT*]

Superduperstar

How was he today?

 

[CrosbytoKessel]

How'd he do today?

 

[Hisch13r]

In terms of comparable, which NHL would you compare Eichel? He reminds me Jonathan Toews at the same age. Also Joe Nieuwendyk as a comparable nhler. I heard also Getzlaf but he isn't built like him in terms of physically aspect. Any input?

Except much better offensively

 

[Paxon]

How was he today?

How'd he do today?

I only saw the 1st period before having to leave. He looked strong considering the circumstances. There was a PP where he made a couple passes that were simply not on the mark the way you expect from him but he looked calm and in control out there. He also looked like he was feeling things out, maybe delegating more than I expect he will in a couple games time. It seems a lot of his best play happened in periods 2 and 3 from what people have said. I expect him to get increasingly relied upon considering how weak this team's forward group is.

 

[CrosbytoKessel]

Are the games on TV?

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Eichel was suffocated like all the Americans were by a hard Austrian forecheck. He made a beauty cross-ice saucer to Krug for a partial break that was stopped. He won the opening draw of the 2nd to Krug which led to the go-ahead goal. In fact, he should have gotten an assist on either the faceoff win to Krug or the tip on Krug's pass that was converted. IIHF has been jipping players with assists (did it to Barzal, Bracco and Fischer at the U18 and to Buchnevich at WJC).

Played on top PP unit. Had no real chance to take advantage of open ice because Austrians were treating the exhibition like Game 7 in front of the home crowd (understandably so) with man to man pressure in all three zones.