Jack Eichel’s Stellar Season as He Pushes Golden Knights Towards Success
Jack Eichel arrived in Las Vegas in 2021 with high expectations, and he has mostly met them, including playing a key role in the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup win two seasons ago. Now, he has taken his performance to an even higher level.
Career-Best Numbers and MVP Buzz
Eichel has accumulated 58 points in 46 games, putting him in a strong position to break personal records and possibly even enter the MVP conversation. His strong performance has helped the Golden Knights stay at the top of the Pacific Division, despite a recent slump of 1-5-1. The Edmonton Oilers trail them by just one point.
Leadership Role and Growth
Coach Bruce Cassidy spoke about how Eichel took on a leadership role after some key players left in the offseason. Eichel recognized a leadership void and stepped up, saying, “I want to be that guy. I’m going to bring that.” He has become an elite playmaker and remains a skilled scorer, with 46 assists, ranking fourth in the NHL. He is just eight assists away from his career high.
Striving to Improve Goal Scoring
While Eichel has scored 12 goals this season, which is lower than his 31-goal performance last year, he could still improve as his shooting percentage is down to 8.3%. If he starts scoring more regularly, he could rise in the MVP rankings, where he is currently eighth.
Consistency and Leadership
Eichel credits his improvement to consistency and dedication to his routine. His teammates have taken notice, with forward Ivan Barbashev calling his preparation the best in the game. Coach Cassidy highlighted how Eichel’s work ethic sets a positive example for the team.
He compared Eichel’s leadership to players he coached in Boston, like Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, and emphasized that the dedication of the best players creates a strong culture.
Looking Ahead to More Success
Since the Golden Knights won the Cup two seasons ago, Eichel’s game has been on a new level. Despite the current struggles, he is focused on getting the team back on track and securing more victories.
“Obviously, the team’s been in a little bit of a funk lately,” Eichel said. “So I think the only thing on any of our minds now is just trying to find our game again and rattle off some wins.”
