In his second game back in Buffalo - Jack Eichel scores a hat trick, then stares down the crowd.

[John Mandalorian]

Eichel is popular in the locker room according to all local reports, but your post isn't far off the target in that Eichel does publicly seem to be of the unlikeable sort. Noting that this isn't rare for star athletes: Michael Jordan wasn't the least bit likeable off the court, nor Kobe Bryant (who didn't start out that way, but later modeled his persona after Jordan), Aaron Rodgers, Ty Cobb (most notoriously), Roger Clements, and numerous others. For that matter, I'm not sure that going out on the town with Leo Draisatl would be that much fun. And, hey, maybe hockey could use a bad guy that fans love to hate.

None of those are valid comparisons. Just stop with the pathetic reaching.

 

[Reality Czech]

World Class Talent.

World Class Dickbag.

He's that asshat we all hated in gymclass.

I agree. Is there a more unlikeable star player in the league? Good fit for him to play on the most unlikeable team.

 

[Pens x]

Hey, asshole, you quit on your team, the fans never quit on you.

Judging by all of the empty blue seats, the fans quit.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

One of the most hilarious heel moves I've seen in a while

 

[Joe Hallenback]

If you ever wonder why players get run from behind look no further

 

[abo9]

I get the reaction, it's an emotional game (both ways) but he just comes off as an asshole to me as well as childish.

The thing for me is that, as fair as I know, its not the fans that ran him out of town.


HE wanted to leave because the direction of the team was going nowhere and HE wanted to an easier path to success.

If you get run out of town ala Pacioretty, taunt the fans all you want. But Eichel gave up on the fans and the team lol

 

[LBS I Digress]

Lol at fans of other teams white knighting for Buffalo rn. It was an ugly breakup that he and the organization both an equal hand in. The organization failed to put even a passable team on the ice and he got fed up with the lack of progress.

If I was a Sabers fan I’d probably boo and be upset too. But I’m not and as outsider I don’t get how you can really fault Jack Eichel for not being able to see a long and bright future with a team that is currently being praised by some this season for being .500.

That’s how low the bar is right now in Saber Land. And don’t get me wrong, I think Buffalo has a bright future with all the young talent it has on the roster rn, but I don’t blame Jack Eichel for not wanting to wait it out.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I dont know why he's staring down the crowd.... I guess because they boo him now? didnt he like just give up on the team and the city? I know there was alot of negativity but from the fans perspective it became very hard to like him. he literally gave up on them..... what did he expect?

 

[rynryn]

love it. i'm not a vegas fan or an eichel fan but i do respect a certain amount of situational cockiness. emotional displays whether gloating or anger or whatever help me get into the game.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Hey, asshole, you quit on your team, the fans never quit on you.

I totally agree, but this “what?! What?!?!?!” shit is what players seem to want to do on every big play nowadays.

Dear God, every time a guy makes a play in the NFL, he’s back at the bench ten minutes later still talking shit to invisible, theoretical doubters.

In terms of “story”, it’s hard to argue this being good. Player feels wronged, team feels wronged, management likely feels wronged. And player comes back with another team and gets a hat trick. Tough to argue with the drama.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

All of these are true:

Eichel is an elite player.

He's emotional, petulant, and when things don't go his way, it's a problem.

He's super competitive and hard working.

Did great things in the community.

There's always been questions about his character behind the scenes, and questions about how good he actually is from around the league, but Sabres fans defended him.

The Sabres totally failed to build a team around him. Utter and complete failure.

He quit on the team and asked out unlike Larkin, Barkov, etc.

The Sabres were within their rights, but they should have let him get his surgery, and most Sabres fans felt this way at the time.

Eichel threw the team under the bus on his way out with inflammatory press conferences and public statements, which just made it harder to trade him.

In the midst of all the surgery/trade talk, he talked openly about asking for a trade (before the injury) and wanting to play for Boston, while still the captain of the Sabres. You have no idea how hurtful that is to Sabres fans... but he does.

Sabres fans got the better of him when he returned last year and he was hurt.

He got us back this year and let us hear about it.

He makes Vegas better.

The Sabres are better off without him.

It's all in good fun at this point.

 

[Drij]

Douch bag he is.