Is the Golden Knights' problem Jack Eichel?

[Roasted Nuts]

ARE the Golden Knights' problem Jack Eichel.

OP is correct actually. To test if you should use is (singular) or are (plural), you change the sentence from rhetorical to a declarative statement. As such, the statement becomes "The Golden Knights problem is Jack Eichel," which is correct in usage.

 

[steierwrass]

Imagine being nearly 20 mill over the cap and still miss the playoffs.....

Or in other words: Vegas "kucheroved" itself out of the playoffs..... It would be "epic".

You missed math classes or talking about last year Tampa?

And I don't like, what Vegas did with cap circumvention, but your number is just plain wrong.

 

[mundyc3]

Jonas Rondbjerg (AHL)
Jake Leschyshyn (AHL)
Ben Hutton (Midseason Free Agent)
Michael Amadio (Waiver Claim)
Dylan Coghlan (7th D-man)

These players have all played more games than Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Alec Martinez, and of course Jack Eichel.

Knights also have had multiple games from:
Daniil Miromanov (9th D-man?)
Paul Cotter
Adam Brooks (Mr. Waiver Claim)
Zack Hayes
Brendan Pachal
Kaedan Korzak
Pavel Dorofeyev
Ben Jones

This is a weird freaking year. If anything this team has a Mark Stone problem. Whatever your belief is on his injury, this team's identity is and will continue to be Mark Stone. It is very tough for any player, including Jack Eichel, to fully integrate into this team without him. Whether they make the playoffs or not, I reserve judgement on Eichel for next season.

 

[Grigowski]

You missed math classes or talking about last year Tampa?

And I don't like, what Vegas did with cap circumvention, but your number is just plain wrong.

You are right, it´s currently only ~ 11 mill over the cap.

Talking avout Tampa: Seems they were "smarter" in that department and played the LTIR-game way better.

 

[steierwrass]

You are right, it´s currently only ~ 11 mill over the cap.

Talking avout Tampa: Seems they were "smarter" in that department and played the LTIR-game way better.

Only about 11M, when they have called some players to replace those, who are out. It would be about 10M or little less with every player healthy.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I would say Robyn Lehner's performance has been biggest issue for Knights this season

 

[Grigowski]

Only about 11M, when they have called some players to replace those, who are out. It would be about 10M or little less with every player healthy.

Currently its 11.... And without LTIR from the beginning they were never compliant to begin with. Face it, this team or managemnt thought they were smart and, maybe, f***ed it up. They made their bed, no they have to sleep in it.

Although i think Vegas will catch up LA to sneak in.

 

[Panthaz89]

they are 7-3 in their last 10 tho

 

[Haguerbomb]

lol No.

 

[steierwrass]

Currently its 11.... And without LTIR from the beginning they were never compliant to begin with. Face it, this team or managemnt thought they were smart and, maybe, f***ed it up. They made their bed, no they have to sleep in it.

Although i think Vegas will catch up LA to sneak in.

Nothing to face for me. I was just saying, that 20M isn't correct. I hope, they won't make playoffs after that. And I hoped NHL to change cap rules for playoffs. And I think, that Vegas haven't done good changes to the team generally and even trade for Eichel was probably better for Buffalo. Generally I don't like Vegas.

 

[Grigowski]

Nothing to face for me. I was just saying, that 20M isn't correct. I hope, they won't make playoffs after that. And I hoped NHL to change cap rules for playoffs. And I think, that Vegas haven't done good changes to the team generally and even trade for Eichel was probably better for Buffalo. Generally I don't like Vegas.

Everything fine.

 

[westc2]

no Stone, no Pacioretty. I think Vegas is gonna be a dangerous team in the playoffs (if they make it) when those two return.

How funny would it be for Colorado to get a healthy Vegas as their #2 wildcard matchup.

 

[Debrincat93]

the problem is front office.
musical chairs, poor decisions.

 

[Aurinko]

Public plan was to win the cup in 5 years, so this is it then.

Problem is that the team has gotten gradually worse every single season so far, even with the extremely aggressive acquisitions. To me this is yet another proof that single players, especially apart of goalie, have less effect on the overall performance of a team than many think.

 

[Super Hans]

It's more Deboer and the GM running the team like a video game, but I have no issue with people placing blame on that bozo. Vegas and Buffalo (in one less game) both have 23 points since his Vegas debut. He's played well, but are Stephenson and Dadonov 1st line players? Marchessault-Karlsson-Smith has been broken up with injury for significant portions of the season. Missing 2 of your top line players hurts, but so will the salary cap implications if you had them healthy.

 

[johan f]

Of course. He is doomed.

 

[Synergy27]

Who knows what the problem is, but can we all agree that the rest of the league is united in going that these cheaters miss the playoffs?

 

[Jacob582]

Is Eichel just a magnet for bad luck? It seems losing follows him wherever he goes...

Scientifically, I don't think Jack is a magnet, but he could be an infection in the locker room.

 

[tucker3434]

Last year they had the second best team save percentage and allowed 20 goals less than expected. This year they're 19th in save percentage and allowing about the expected number of goals. xGA has also gone up by about a half goal per game. End result is about an extra 3/4 goal against per game. Lots more goals going in their net this year. Can't blame all that on Eichel. They're also down about a quarter of a GF per game. They're just a little less opportunistic. xGF is pretty stable.

In total, Stone+last year's MAF>>>>>>>>>>>>Eichel. Not really Eichel's fault though.

 

[Digable5]

He has 19 points in 25 games coming off back surgury.
Eichel is not the problem.

The guy managing the salary cap, must have got his accounting degree from a correspondence school.
It will be interesting to see what the Knights do in the offseason to fix things

I'm not saying he is or is not the problem, but him being successful on the scoresheet isn't evidence that he is NOT the problem.

Nobody in Buffalo really ever complained about his offensive output, but they were glad to see him go because his attitude was terrible. It can always be debated, and most people will blame the Sabres organization, but I personally felt that whenever he faced adversity he crumbled. There were plenty of mistakes by management and coaching, but you could see in his mannerisms that he struggled with losses and mistakes.

By comparison, look at the Eichel-less Sabres. They battle back in games like no Eichel team before them. They let in a goal and then come back even harder to try and even the score. When that happened to Jack or Jack's team it felt like he would just give up and sulk. You could read him thinking "why do I have to be on this team? Why do I have to carry everyone? Look, we suck again.".

I hope things are different now because he's on a more talented roster, but I would be concerned as a Knights fan if thing start to go south.

 

[hangman005]

Eichel isn't the problem, it's a coaching management issue. Seeing as we take a highly mercenary approach with our players, it's laughable that it doesn't also apply to the coaching staff and front office.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Well the interesting thing is Buffalo is looking much better without him and is finally showing signs of being a hockey team again, while the human chia pet is, as said above, looking frustrated. Can a good old Eichel stick smashing be coming soon to an arena near you? Guy is a diva and I suspect a crap team mate.

In 24 games for Vegas Eichel has 10 goals, 8 assists for 18 points.
In 39 games for the Sabres Alex Tuch has 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points.

Not suggesting Eichel isn't more talented than Tuch, he is, but Tuch was only 1/4 of that deal and costs half as much and is seen as a team leader. Starting to look like Buffalo won that deal.

30 games of their career (also ignoring Eichel is coming off major surgery and hadn’t played in over a year) is definitely the best way to judge who won a trade.

I fully expect you’ll look like a moron by about game 20 next season.

 

[Advanced stats]

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.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Don't know why but I never trusted that face/hair combo. Like a bad EA randomizer. Called bullshit from the get go.

Why not? He's just an honest petty thief trying to make a living

 

[Nineteen67]

Trading for him was a symptom of a bigger problem. It’s a shame because the NHL needs this franchise to be good.