Is the Golden Knights' problem Jack Eichel?

[valet]

Funny thing is he wanted out before surgerygate.

he created surgeygate as an excuse to leave, then dissed the fans for calling him out on it

 

[PensandCaps]

No. The Knights problem was that their 3 stars (Pacioretty, Stone and Eichel) all played less than half the season. The media trying to turn bad injury luck into a eichel hit piece is hilarious.

 

[Section 104]

No. The Knights problem was that their 3 stars (Pacioretty, Stone and Eichel) all played less than half the season. The media trying to turn bad injury luck into a eichel hit piece is hilarious.

They traded for Eichel knowing he was going to miss some time before he returned. I wouldn’t give him all the blame or even a huge part. But he sure has come up small these last 5 games when they really needed him to earn his $10 million. Perhaps in October with more rest, recuperation from his operation and a training camp to acclimate he will be better. But so far at any level he has played in, his teams have come up short.

 

[PensandCaps]

They traded for Eichel knowing he was going to miss some time before he returned. I wouldn’t give him all the blame or even a huge part. But he sure has come up small these last 5 games when they really needed him to earn his $10 million. Perhaps in October with more rest, recuperation from his operation and a training camp to acclimate he will be better. But so far at any level he has played in, his teams have come up short.

Fair point about them knowing about Eichel's injury. But if Patches and Stone merely played in 80% of the games, they probably win their division.

Also, I don't think anyone was expecting Eichel to be Superstar Eichel coming off that injury.

 

[Maple Leaf]

I really hope the NHL is keeping track of the LTIR players.

If a healthy player is on LTIR that should be an insane penalty.

Vegas learned this from Tampa

 

[Voight]

They spent too much money on unproven players like Karlsson and Lehner who have been unable to reproduce past success. Pietrangelo was a luxury signing that they could not afford on the long term and then they decide to get Eichel and his huge contract on top of that. Too much doubling down because they made the final on their very first year and it is now costing them.

The consequence of guys having career years in year one.

 

[The Duck Knight]

what I can't believe is that he only has 9 assists in 31 games even last season when Eichel was playing injured he had 16 in 21 games and was a monster on the PP and the Sabres PP unit got considerably worse after he left. Vegas coach just must be an idiot if he can't use Eichel properly or maybe the surgery was bad for him because he should still be opening space for other players. He's always been a playmaker first.

The Vegas PP going on 3 years now is 5 guys standing still. No movement, no net front presence. It's not hard to see why it sucks.

At even strength Eichel's most common linemates have been Janmark and Dadonov. Not exactly the worlds greatest goal scorers. Stone and Pacioretty got a little time with Eichel but both are clearly nowhere near 100%.

All things considered the low assist numbers aren't surprising. Need to bring in coaches to fix the PP and then see what the results look like next year.

 

[Ace]

how can he be a problem when he’s making sweet tape to tape passes like this in a must win game

 

[SoundAndFury]

Fair point about them knowing about Eichel's injury. But if Patches and Stone merely played in 80% of the games, they probably win their division.

And yet in actual reality with all of them in the lineup they lost must-win games against Devils and Sharks at home. Bad injury luck or not, their biggest earnera still must take A LOT of the blame.

 

[Daz28]

how can he be a problem when he’s making sweet tape to tape passes like this in a must win game

It was horrible. Saw it live. Poor Eichel.

 

[The Duck Knight]

And yet in actual reality with all of them in the lineup they lost must-win games against Devils and Sharks at home. Bad injury luck or not, their biggest earnera still must take A LOT of the blame.

Stone and Pacioretty are both playing hurt. They've both been in the lineup but have had virtually no impact on the games. Stone can barely skate and hasn't been strong on the puck. Pacioretty being off is less noticeable because that's his normal game anyways. He basically brings nothing to the table other than his elite shot. Lately he hasn't ever been in position to unleash it.

 

[Vegas07]

They traded for Eichel knowing he was going to miss some time before he returned. I wouldn’t give him all the blame or even a huge part. But he sure has come up small these last 5 games when they really needed him to earn his $10 million. Perhaps in October with more rest, recuperation from his operation and a training camp to acclimate he will be better. But so far at any level he has played in, his teams have come up short.

Fwiw I think Stone not producing and obviously still being injured is a bigger problem right now.

 

[toomuchsauce]

teammates: Jack please do a goal so we can try to make the playoffs

jack eichel (wearing airpods, not paying attention): do not speak to me. do not look at me in the eyes

 

[PensandCaps]

And yet in actual reality with all of them in the lineup they lost must-win games against Devils and Sharks at home. Bad injury luck or not, their biggest earnera still must take A LOT of the blame.

not really.

 

[RickChartraw]

how can he be a problem when he’s making sweet tape to tape passes like this in a must win game

it was a no look pass up the boards, guy behind the net had a man on him. whoever was on the boards at the line did get beat. it was tape to tape though.

 

[PeteWorrell]

Vegas would just get killed in the playoffs anyway. I know that anything could happen but it is a fact that they just have too many injuries and too little depth to be competitive.

 

[Doohickie]

If you add Tuch to this lineup for the 48 games he's played in Buffalo, you add those 48 games to Vegas, I would argue they're probably above the playoff line.

 

[serp]

He played 23+ minutes the last 3 games and all he did was put up 1 assist. I know he probably wasn't expected to put up his old numbers coming back from injury but the last 5 games Eichel basically ended up doing nothing and Vegas ended up missing the playoffs.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

ARE the Golden Knights' problem Jack Eichel.

Is Are,

Could be a good album name for my new shoegaze band that I'm starting up by myself!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

LMAO, sooooo glad the Ranger's didn't trade half the team away for him. He is a loser on every team he plays on and make every team worse.

 

[flashsabre]

Eichel has come back and lead them in goal scoring. The last 5 games when they needed him to step up he completely disappeared. His attitude is the anthesis of a leader.

Vegas has a lot of problems. Coaching, running off their beloved goalie for an inferior headcase. Making too many changes. Big time injuries. They should be better next year with their big guns healthy but I don’t think they are built to have the success they initially did.

 

[These Are The Days]

Does this guy EVER actually stop? Jesus Christ I feel like an idiot for defending him for as long as I did because I knew/understood why he'd be so damn frustrated all the time with how things played out in Buffalo. He got his wish to be traded and still acts like this.

 

[thaman8765678]

If they did not trade for Eichel I am confident they make playoffs with their old assets.

 

[PunchImlach is Alive]

how can he be a problem when he’s making sweet tape to tape passes like this in a must win game

Long time Eichel-heads recognize those casual flashes of defensive acuteness as one of many elite qualities to his game.

 

[Daz28]

Is Are,

Could be a good album name for my new shoegaze band that I'm starting up by myself!

I believe Is and Are both work depending on how you're using the word Golden Knights. If you're addressing them as the entity, it's Is, if you're addressing them as a group it's Are. I'm not great at English tough, so I could be wrong.