Jack Eichel

[DickSmehlik]

Here's the stats for A1 and A2.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

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I guess Bratt is kind of close with 6 less points, and 8 less A2, but otherwise it's not close.

Holy crap, his point total is 43% dependent on secondary assists.

Meanwhile people next him in the scoring race are much, much lower:

MacKinnon is at 28%
Drai and Kuch are at 24%
McDavid is at 23%
Marner is at 27%

 

[authentic]

Matthews scored 4 goals his very first game and he can do no wrong ever since.

Eichel had a rather mediocre start (for a highly touted player) in part due to injuries. He has since turned into an incredible player who brings more than Matthews in almost all facets of the game.

But Matthews scored 4 his first game.

Matthews can do no wrong ever since? That’s the vibe you get reading hfboards?

 

[authentic]

Holy crap, his point total is 43% dependent on secondary assists.

Meanwhile people next him in the scoring race are much, much lower:

MacKinnon is at 28%
Drai and Kuch are at 24%
McDavid is at 23%
Marner is at 27%

I think the more defensive your game tends to be and the less you cheat for offense the more secondaries you will have, sort of like how a defenseman will have a higher percentage of secondaries getting the play started from their own zone.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

Holy crap, his point total is 43% dependent on secondary assists.

Meanwhile people next him in the scoring race are much, much lower:

MacKinnon is at 28%
Drai and Kuch are at 24%
McDavid is at 23%
Marner is at 27%

what is with this crusade against secondaries and people demonize them like they're useless.

Sometimes- oftentimes- a secondary is the most impressive point outside of the primary and goal. Sometimes goals are the easiest to get (wide open tapins)

Imagine you get the puck in your defensive zone, transition the entire ice to the offensive zone, deke two defenders and pass it for a shot then the rebound is wide open and it's tapped in.

That 'secondary assist' basically got the goal.

Sure, there are instances where it bounces off the foot and a teammate slides it over for a onetimer/ easy goal , but people act like this scenario is way more common than it is.

 

[JackSlater]

Eichel is a beast, really good player. Takes nothing off the table, brings a to to the table. In terms of "best American" I'd definitely take him over Matthews or Hughes.

 

[Djp]

Freak athlete he is. Buffalo squandered the greatest McDavid consolation prize (after losing that lottery in the first place). He was robbed of the Smythe in 2023 - showed us what a man possessed ready to shut up all the doubters after finally getting healthy looked like

I admit; it's weird seeing him in the top 5 in league scoring but based on his talent level, it's where he belongs. 4 Nations he steps up again

It's crazy that Vegas orchestrated this trade and landed a top 10 arguably top 5 C in the league who leads them to the promised land a whopping 2 years later

He was top 5 before his neck issues.

He is a head case even before the neck

The neck surgery he wanted was very high risk in him not being able to play again or he gets injured and career is over

 

[wetcoast]

Definitely our best all around forward, he's just an absolute beast. I think Quinn Hughes may have something to say about him being the best American though... it's a tossup probably.

But I've been saying for years that a healthy Jack Eichel is the best American center in the world. He tends to get underrated by stat watchers because he doesn't cheat for offense and he plays in a fairly conservative Vegas system, so he doesn't pile up points in the regular season.

He's also had injury issues that he often played through, further hurting his counting stats. A healthy Eichel in a run and gun system would be a consistent 110+ point player

But it's not his regular season scoring that sets him apart - it's his play in the playoffs. He's just one of those rare players who's skillset shines through as the games get tighter. He might have the most powerful stride in the league, he's just so effortless when transporting the puck through the neutral zone, and is Jagr like in the way he protects the down low. And he's become a rock defensively, with one of the longest sticks among centers in the league.

He was an absolute 2 way monster for us in the four nations, and was far and away Vegas's most dominant player during their cup run. Not to take anything away from Marchessault, but Eichel was robbed of a Conn Smythe. Marchy was clutch AF, but he was a passenger on that line - so many of his goals were just him receiving Eichel passes for wide open shots. Eichel assisted on 9 of his 13 goals, 6 of which were primary. And 5 of those primary assists were absolute dimes.

His 2023 playoff highlight reel is just nutty.

My first thought was Quinn Hughes and maybe a dialed in Austin Matthews but Eichel is the American forward right now and playing like I thought he would when he went #2 in the McDavid draft when in reality he was very much a #1 type of prospect in most other recent drafts.

The disappointment and injuries in Buffalo suggested maybe he was going to be one of those "what if players" but now he is firmly back on track for a HHOF selection when his career is over.

 

[Nikki Potnick]

The Sabres could really use a player like him.

 

[BFLO]

It’s fine. He used to play for Buffalo and it’s fine.

Seriously though, I was making the Eichel>Matthews argument back then and I’d say at least 2/3rds disagreed. Fair enough, the argument was always that on a better team he’d outperform, and that’s what’s happened.

Spot on. But it was much, much higher than 2/3rds who disagreed.

 

[Regal]

I think the more defensive your game tends to be and the less you cheat for offense the more secondaries you will have, sort of like how a defenseman will have a higher percentage of secondaries getting the play started from their own zone.

Interestingly, his 5v5 secondaries are pretty normal, where you’d kind of expect defense and transition to lead to an abnormal number. He’s tied for 10th in 5v5 points with McDavid and Dubois at 45, and has 14 secondaries. Everyone ahead of him in scoring has at least 10, and many of them also have 14. It’s the PP where it’s weird, with him only having 9 primary and 20 secondary assists. Last year he had 7 primary and 4 secondary assists on the PP and he’s never had more than 10 secondaries on the PP before. Definitely feels like a bit of an anomaly, though even if he lost 10 assists, he’d still be 10th in scoring

 

[PaulD]

You're right. I forgot about Quinn.

I'm just curious about Eichel vs Matthews. As a Leaf fan, I wish Matthews was more like Eichel. Matthews is not tough or a playoff performer. Matthews is not clutch. Yet Eichel never gets the appreciation that Matthews does. Makes no sense to me.

He does in this house.
A healthy Eichel was put Vegas over the top and they dominated through four rounds for their first cup

 

[authentic]

Spot on. But it was much, much higher than 2/3rds who disagreed.

What is this spot on stuff? In one season where he has an abnormal amount of secondary assists he’s finally outscoring Matthews in an injury plagued seasson, almost a decade into their careers.. and now we’re saying I told you so

 

[Grifter3511]

Matthews can do no wrong ever since? That’s the vibe you get reading hfboards?

The poster I responded to said Eichel never gets the accolades and praise that Matthews does. Matthews constantly shows up on lists (usually Leafs fans) as a top 5 player in the NHL. Obviously, it is these people i am referencing. It's not that difficult a concept.

 

[HFpapi]

The secondary assist critique is, and always has been, so stupid.

Just watch the games and use your eyes. No one would ever watch Jack Eichel play and be confused as to how his point totals are so high or be shocked he's a top 5 scorer. His talent and on-ice impact are self-evident and immediately recognizable.

It was the same with the "Secondary Sid" era back in the day. Like what about watching prime Crosby play made people think his production was just all a fluke? It's just a nonsense way to diminish a player even though they completely look the part.

 

[HanSolo]

Definitely our best all around forward, he's just an absolute beast. I think Quinn Hughes may have something to say about him being the best American though... it's a tossup probably.

But I've been saying for years that a healthy Jack Eichel is the best American center in the world. He tends to get underrated by stat watchers because he doesn't cheat for offense and he plays in a fairly conservative Vegas system, so he doesn't pile up points in the regular season.

He's also had injury issues that he often played through, further hurting his counting stats. A healthy Eichel in a run and gun system would be a consistent 110+ point player

But it's not his regular season scoring that sets him apart - it's his play in the playoffs. He's just one of those rare players who's skillset shines through as the games get tighter. He might have the most powerful stride in the league, he's just so effortless when transporting the puck through the neutral zone, and is Jagr like in the way he protects the down low. And he's become a rock defensively, with one of the longest sticks among centers in the league.

He was an absolute 2 way monster for us in the four nations, and was far and away Vegas's most dominant player during their cup run. Not to take anything away from Marchessault, but Eichel was robbed of a Conn Smythe. Marchy was clutch AF, but he was a passenger on that line - so many of his goals were just him receiving Eichel passes for wide open shots. Eichel assisted on 9 of his 13 goals, 6 of which were primary. And 5 of those primary assists were absolute dimes.

His 2023 playoff highlight reel is just nutty.

This with no disagreement. Cassidy did a tremendous job turning Eichel into a two way force of nature. I'd argue that while he likely shouldn't be a finalist, Eichel should get Hart votes. He's the biggest reason Vegas is as high in the standings as they are. I legitimately believe that without him, Vegas might be fighting for the WC2 right now.

 

[HanSolo]

When you're defensively responsible you're more likely to be the one starting the play than finishing it.

And Eichel racks up a lot of secondary assists because he is constantly driving Vegas' offense when his line has possession. He's not a shoot first kind of guy. Offensive possession and offensive chances entirely run through him. It's a situation where if Eichel had better linemates than Stone, Barbashev, Hertl, Dorofeyev, etc. (which isn't a knock on them by any means) he could be right in the mix with Kucherov, Drai, and MacKinnon in the 100 point club. He's an incredibly unselfish player.

 

[landy]

That will go over well.

As terrific as Eichel is, McDavid is... SPECIAL!!!!

He really is having an MVP type season given what he has to work with compared to the other candidates.

1 Cup > 0 Cups doh

 

[ORRFForever]

He really is having an MVP type season given what he has to work with compared to the other candidates.

1 Cup > 0 Cups doh

??? You lost me.

 

[AvroArrow]

Matthews scored 4 goals his very first game and he can do no wrong ever since.

Eichel had a rather mediocre start (for a highly touted player) in part due to injuries. He has since turned into an incredible player who brings more than Matthews in almost all facets of the game.

But Matthews scored 4 his first game.

Yeah he didn't win a hart, multiple rockets or score 69 goals in a season with selke level defense

 

[winnipegger]

This season for sure, Eichel>Matthews.

 

[Divine]

Yeah he didn't win a hart, multiple rockets or score 69 goals in a season with selke level defense

But Matthews is older than Eichel. Imagine what Eichel can do at Matthews age!

 

[TheFinalWord]

I can't believe how many excuses people have to come up with to state why Eichel is better than Matthews. They've played essentially the same number of games in their careers, both have had injury issues, and one player has significantly more points than the other, has more hardware, has more nominations for hardware and is injured this year. Eichel is a great player...a whiner (or at least was in Buffalo)...but a great player. But Matthews has always been better. Even the playoff argument, where Eichel has a higher PPG, is not that far off for the careers. Matthews needs to fix that area of his game, but he's the better player in their careers to date. It's not even particularly close.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Matthews is a HoF lock, might actually go down as the NHL's leading goal scorer when he retires but because for once in a decade Eichel is outscoring him, some folks are spiking the football on their takes that he's always been way better. Lil bro came into the league a year earlier and has 159 less goals and 110 less points. There's a reason Matthews was made captain of the States team despite not having come close to a Cup (Eichel with no letter of course), everyone knows who the alpha is aside from contrarian proles. It's the bell curve meme with low IQ and geniuses agreeing that substantially more production makes you better, enjoy the middle.

Just talk about Eichel, you really don't have to make this a thing.

 

[wetcoast]

I can't believe how many excuses people have to come up with to state why Eichel is better than Matthews. They've played essentially the same number of games in their careers, both have had injury issues, and one player has significantly more points than the other, has more hardware, has more nominations for hardware and is injured this year. Eichel is a great player...a whiner (or at least was in Buffalo)...but a great player. But Matthews has always been better. Even the playoff argument, where Eichel has a higher PPG, is not that far off for the careers. Matthews needs to fix that area of his game, but he's the better player in their careers to date. It's not even particularly close.

Sure but for this season Eichel has been the better player.

 

[Hull2Roenick2Kane]

my nephew is going to Eichel's camp this summer. I made sure to tell him to tell Jack he was the best player drafted in his class.