Is John Robert Eichel the Unluckiest Superstar Since Lindros?

[Scott Stevens]

Definitely a pretty unlucky player, but he’s going to need a lot more of bad luck to reach Lindros level.

How was lindros unlucky? He and his family made him extremely unlikeable, and he played with his head down. He’s lucky he lasted long as he did.

 

[Aspirine]

We should call him Jay Bob

 

[Iapyi]

May as well delete this since no one is on topic, read my points or anything else.





Yeah, I was talking about so far.

One full season when the guy has the ability to be an 80 pt players in 2 of the 3. Which is something since he wont be in the playoffs or go for any awards or anything like that which all hurt his status.

i agree, just delete it. it's pretty bad.

ftr - i read the whole thing as painful as it was.

 

[AmericanDream]

he still has played about 17 more games in his career than McDavid...so not sure how he would be the next Lindros based off of 2 leg injuries..

 

[Jarey Curry]

Yeah, that's his real name.

OUTSIDE of his contract of course, and even then there comes negative talk with that....

Going into the playoffs and such there will be no EIchel talk, so felt like making this thread to discuss the injustice that is his pro-career to this point.

I had to ask who else has had a rougher ride then a star of this calibre from the beginning of his career?​

You could even call it BUFFALO luck. But look, I'm not one to cry because every team has a history of being unlucky, but the Sabres, with Brett Hull in the cup final, draft lotteries, the 06 ECF, and not getting McDavid after tanking then getting Eichel only too have him injured in 2 of his 3 seasons. (Eichel wasn't injury prone before this, these are both his two first injuries ever)

You have to feel for the guy even if you dislike him.

He will be known as a guy who's not even a 60 pt player, .....but it's a terrible unjust since he's gotten 130 pts in his last 125 games and only had a season where he played above 61 games...once, in his rookie season.

And in that rookie season despite being 2nd in points (In a prospect rich class Domi, Larkin were both tremendous, ghost, parayko, panarin, McDavid) HE WASN'T EVEN NOMINATED for the calder.


HIS PPG is unreal for playing on the lowest scoring team in the league, and for his age, and well would be for any player in the NHL but those two things make it more impressive.


Last year 57 in 61 pts. 0.94 in the 16-17 season. 11th best in the NHL.


This year 53 in 54. (It's 53 in 55 GP) but he played half a period) 0.98 PPG.

18th in NHL scoring before going down.


As far as unlucky:


Starts with having to be a #2, only Malkin (arguably Seguin, and MAYBE Laine) had been such a talent that had to be drafted #2 behind such a talent, and McDavid is a talent all of its own. Had he not been in McDavid's draft Eichel would be the talk of the year, been called the Jack Eichel sweepstakes, higher praise then Mackinnon, billed as the new FACE of American Hockey at 17, some even thought he should go above McDavid. (Although I'm not saying that here, not even close, just stating what some scouts said.)

That one is the least of it but still relevant.

Another is the whole being blamed for the FIring of Bylsma and Murray. Then Sabres management was getting the axe and there was the Eichel report made and the very next day both guys are gone and he's looked at as some serious locker-room disturber.

Then He got injured before the first game of the year in practice last year. Didn't play a game until December 2016 and finished the year a pt per game, not enough to finish high enough for the top 50 (on most 2nd page stat lists) and not relevant enough to discuss due to his team not making the playoffs. It was all supposed to change this year if his team got better but that didn't happen, and they got worst. Even though he steadily improved, and one would think well at least he's going to get his 80 pt season, maybe even 90 if he goes on a CRAZY tear since the natural progression of his game suggests he keeps improving.

But that didn't happen. Instead, now he's set to miss the final 27 games, (6 more then last year) I mean he could return in the final week or two but what would be the point? TO try and break the 60 pt mark and get a worse draft pick odds?​

THe whole Calder thing is another, which I mentioned briefly above.

​

And lastly his hair. Whatever barber he went too should be sued. I'm just in the summer he will get a new cut, or at least lets hope! Added that last one for the haters.


In both "Eichel" seasons the Sabres actually didn't do as bad as the two years before he arrived where they were dead last (Go figure)

But this year even with Eichel they have been awful, even though he's carried the team and his numbers are unbelievable. Over 40 even strength AND primary points, in 53 games played.

He has something around 167 pts in under 200 GP think it's around 190 could be wrong? Will have to check that but like I said in last two seasons playing an average of 56 games he's been point per game on that team that doesen't really score without him.

His line-mates were Okposo and Girgensons and he was still producing at an incredible level.


TO the rest of the NHL Your Welcome, the Sabres are going to be an easier 2 pts then ever before.

0-1 and counting, I don't think we will win 5 games the rest of the year.




Hopefully next season he comes back and gets the 85-90 pts he probably would of gotten this year. He definitely would of had two 70-75 pt seasons, that's not even in question.

Well look at MacKinnon, same story different name. He was very underrated before this season and look at him and the avs now. We sucked many years in a row just like you guys

 

[Iapyi]

First time I hear that Jack is a nickname for John

there was a USA president with the name john who went by jack as well.

 

[Thenameless]

Don't worry, it's still early in Eichel's career and he's a very good player. You can't change the past, only the future and he's still got a pretty good one.

 

[M2Beezy]

Jack

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

"What's your problem Beavis??"

 

[Dustin]

It's not that big of a problem, he'll just concentrate more on his GM duties. S/

As much as it sucks for Eichel I feel worse for Buffalo fans. As a Leaf fan I am well aware of what it's like watching your team be absolutely abhorrent, but in most cases you look to the superstars on the team to at least keep you entertained. There's not much else going on for the Sabres right now without Eichel.

 

[Oddbob]

How was Lindros unlucky? Lots of very good players (Orr,Forsberg etc.) retired early due to injuries. As for Eichel, lots of young star players get the pleasure of playing for poor teams, especially early in their careers. Yzerman says hello, McDavid says hello, he is still with a bad team! I doubt anyone outside Buffalo and even then only a select few, are sitting here saying, "Man, that poor Jack Eichel! He sure has it tough, making millions per year, and getting to play a game for a living, poor guy!" Also want to add, at least he gets to play in a city that likes hockey, playing in Arizona would be worse.

 

[Josepho]

How was Lindros unlucky? Lots of very good players (Orr,Forsberg etc.) retired early due to injuries. As for Eichel, lots of young star players get the pleasure of playing for poor teams, especially early in their careers. Yzerman says hello, McDavid says hello, he is still with a bad team! I doubt anyone outside Buffalo and even then only a select few, are sitting here saying, "Man, that poor Jack Eichel! He sure has it tough, making millions per year, and getting to play a game for a living, poor guy!" Also want to add, at least he gets to play in a city that likes hockey, playing in Arizona would be worse.

Most NHL players would probably think the exact opposite.

 

[saffronleaf]

He secured $80 million doing the least anyone has ever done to get that kind of money in NHL likely even accounting for inflation of player salaries.

His injuries and team situation suck, but he could have it worse.

In the cap era, you're probably right. But pre-cap? I think the Rangers signed third liner Bobby Holik for 45 million over 5 years (9 million per year) in 2002.

 

[Oddbob]

In the cap era, you're probably right. But pre-cap? I think the Rangers signed third liner Bobby Holik for 45 million over 5 years (9 million per year) in 2002.

Yeah that was one of those ultimate head scratcher signings!

 

[cgf]

Nathan MacKinnon says hi. Has phenomenal rookie...battles injuries throughout sophomore campaign. Starts breaking out in his third year by going PPG through the first ~30 games...injuries hand/wrist. Starts taking the following season...watches team around him put up a historically awful season. Becomes an Art Ross & Hart favorite...injures himself for 2 weeks to a month.

His rookie year was literally the only season where everything has gone his way.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Playoff Ovechkin says hi

 

[Bullseye]

I'd say McDavid is number 2 behind Eichel.

 

[daver]

Was Lindros unlucky or injury-prone?

 

[HansonBro]

Is that blue steel or magnum?

 

[saintunspecified]

Was Lindros unlucky or injury-prone?

Lindros skated with his head down at a time when doing so was considered justification for an attempt to injure. Luck had absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

Current above-average player and (hopefully) future superstar, JACK EICHEL!

 

[Riddum]

there was a USA president with the name john who went by jack as well.

I see. I mean, Jack is a lot cooler of a name than John.

 

[Warden of the North]

No one who signs an 80m dollar contract by age 20 can be described as unlucky.

 

[cybresabre]

We should call him Jay Bob

Or JayBo, for short

 

[BAM]

I feel like you can only call a player a superstar if they have shown the ability to put up numbers and lead their teams to success. McDavid led the Oilers to the second round last year, Matthews led the Leafs to the playoffs last year after being dead last in the NHL the year before, Eichel is phenominal offensive talent but playing winning hockey matters. A lot of people on this site are gunna be in for a shock if the Islanders implement a proper system next year. Very good chance Barzal and some of their other guys having great years come back down to earth a bit. Points are nice and all but if you're consistently at the bottom then how valuable are the points you're putting up?