History of Jack Eichel in Timeline

John Robert "Jack" Eichel is a professional ice hockey player currently playing center and serving as alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. Drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Eichel entered the league with high expectations, touted as a potential "new face of American hockey" and considered a generational talent. He is a prominent figure in the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1993: Paul Kariya wins Hobey Baker Award

In 1993, Paul Kariya won the Hobey Baker Award. He and Jack Eichel are the only freshmen to win the award.

October 28, 1996: Jack Eichel's Birth

On October 28, 1996, John Robert Eichel, later known as Jack Eichel, was born. He would become an American professional ice hockey player.

April 10, 2010: Thomas Vanek scores 4 goals

On April 10, 2010, Thomas Vanek scored four goals in a game. This was the last time a Sabres player scored four goals until Jack Eichel did on November 16, 2019.

2012: Winter Youth Olympics

In 2012, As a 15-year-old Eichel represented the United States at the Winter Youth Olympics.

2012: Joins USA Hockey

In 2012, Eichel began playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team, marking an early step in his development towards professional hockey.

2013: Recognition in USHL

During the 2013-14 season, Eichel's outstanding play was recognized as he was named to the United States Hockey League Second All-Star Team, a significant honor during his time with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

2013: Medals with Team USA

In 2013, Eichel won a bronze medal with Team USA at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge and a silver medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships.

April 29, 2014: Signs with Boston University

On April 29, 2014, after two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Eichel signed a letter of intent to commit to Boston University, marking a transition in his hockey career.

2014: Gold Medal

In 2014, Eichel helped the USA squad capture the gold medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships. He was also the youngest player on Team USA at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

April 10, 2015: Wins Hobey Baker Award

On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award. During his time with Boston University, he achieved top scoring nationally and earned multiple accolades, including Hockey East Player of the Year.

June 26, 2015: Drafted by Buffalo Sabres

On June 26, 2015, Jack Eichel was selected second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL entry draft. There was significant media attention and hype surrounding Eichel and Connor McDavid leading up to the draft.

July 1, 2015: Signs with Sabres

On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, officially beginning his NHL career.

August 13, 2015: Signs Sponsorship Deal with Bauer Hockey

On August 13, 2015, Eichel signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey. As part of this deal, Eichel would exclusively use Bauer equipment, and Bauer would provide him with their apparel.

October 8, 2015: First NHL Goal

On October 8, 2015, Jack Eichel scored his first NHL goal in his first game against the Ottawa Senators. He became the youngest player in Sabres history to score a goal.

2015: International Debut

At the conclusion of his freshman season with the Terriers in 2015, Eichel was named to make his full international debut with Team USA at the World Championships. Eichel scored 2 goals, including a game winner in the group stage against Slovakia, and 5 assists during the tournament, where Team USA won bronze.

2015: Hobey Baker Award

In 2015, Eichel received the Hobey Baker Award, recognizing him as the top NCAA men's ice hockey player. He was the second freshman to win the award.

2015: World Junior Ice Hockey Championship

In 2015, Eichel represented Team USA in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, adding to his international experience.

2015: Selected in NHL Entry Draft

In 2015, Jack Eichel was selected second overall in the NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres, marking a significant milestone in his early career.

2015: Media Compares Eichel to McDavid

In 2015, the media compared Eichel to McDavid. In 2023, the Golden Knights played against the Edmonton Oilers which attracted media attention due to its pitting Eichel against McDavid.

October 12, 2016: Ankle Injury

On October 12, 2016, Eichel suffered a severe high ankle sprain during practice and had to be helped off the ice. This injury caused him to miss the first two months of the season.

October 3, 2017: Signs Contract Extension with Sabres

On October 3, 2017, before the 2017-18 season, the Sabres signed Eichel to an eight-year, $80 million contract extension. This deal, worth $10 million annually, was set to begin at the start of the 2018-19 season.

December 15, 2017: First Career Hat Trick

On December 15, 2017, Eichel scored his first career hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes, during a game the Sabres ultimately lost 5-4.

2017: Team USA IIHF World Championship roster

In 2017, Eichel was selected to the Team USA IIHF World Championship roster. Eichel recorded zero goals and five assists in eight games at the championship.

January 11, 2018: Selected for NHL All-Star Game

On January 11, 2018, Eichel was selected as the sole representative of the Sabres for the 2018 NHL All-Star game. This marked the first NHL All-Star game selection of Eichel's career.

October 3, 2018: Named Captain of the Sabres

On October 3, 2018, prior to the start of the regular season, Eichel was officially named the captain of the Buffalo Sabres.

March 10, 2019: Suspended for Illegal Check

On March 10, 2019, Eichel received a two-game suspension for illegally checking Colorado Avalanche player Carl Söderberg in the head during a game.

March 28, 2019: 100th Career Goal

On March 28, 2019, Eichel scored his 100th career goal during a game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Sabres lost the game 5-4 in overtime.

April 19, 2019: Selected for Team USA

On April 19, 2019, Eichel was selected to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship held in Bratislava and Košice, Slovakia.

November 16, 2019: Four Goal Game

On November 16, 2019, Eichel scored four goals in a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. He became the seventh Sabres player to achieve this feat in a single game.

January 2, 2020: First Penalty Shot Goal

On January 2, 2020, Eichel became the first player in Sabres history to score a penalty shot goal in overtime. The Sabres won 3-2 against the Edmonton Oilers.

2020: Recovering from Surgery

In 2020, Eichel had surgery to repair a spinal disc herniation. After this he expressed frustration with the Sabres' refusal to clear him to undergo artificial disk replacement.

April 14, 2021: Missing Season Due to Surgery

On April 14, 2021, it was announced that Eichel would miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season to recover from surgery to repair a spinal disc herniation.

September 23, 2021: Stripped of Captaincy

On September 23, 2021, as a result of failing his physical and being placed on long-term injured reserve, Eichel was stripped of his captaincy with the Sabres.

November 4, 2021: Traded to Vegas Golden Knights

On November 4, 2021, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. He was traded along with a third-round draft pick, in exchange for Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, and first and second-round draft picks.

February 16, 2022: Golden Knights Debut

On February 16, 2022, Eichel made his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. This marked his first NHL game in nearly a year.

2022: Improved Performance with Golden Knights

In 2022, the Golden Knights' season started positively under coach Bruce Cassidy, with Eichel contributing significantly. His second return to Buffalo saw him score a hat trick, although he missed some games due to injury.

2023: Stanley Cup Win

In 2023, Eichel won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights, marking his first playoff appearance and a major triumph in his NHL career.

2024: Career-High Points, Lady Byng Trophy Finalist

In the 2024-25 season, Eichel achieved a career-high 94 points in 77 games, leading the Golden Knights to a divisional title. He was also named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.