History of Jack Eichel in Timeline

Jack Eichel is a professional ice hockey player who plays center and is an alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. He was drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015. Prior to joining the NHL, Eichel was highly touted as a generational talent and "the new face of American hockey" at age 17.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1993: Paul Kariya wins Hobey Baker Award

In 1993, Paul Kariya won the Hobey Baker Award, the other freshman to win it.

October 28, 1996: John Robert Eichel Born

On October 28, 1996, John Robert Eichel was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

2009: Helped Sabres beat the Chicago Blackhawks

In February 2018, Eichel helped the Sabres beat the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time since 2009.

April 10, 2010: Thomas Vanek Records Four Goals

On April 10, 2010, Thomas Vanek was the last Sabres player before Eichel to record four goals in a game.

2012: Played for USA Hockey National Team Development Program

In 2012, John Robert Eichel played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team.

2012: Represented United States at Winter Youth Olympics

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

2013: Won Bronze Medal at World U-17 Hockey Challenge

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

2013: Played for USA Hockey National Team Development Program

In 2013, John Robert Eichel played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team.

April 29, 2014: Signed Letter of Intent with Boston University

On April 29, 2014, after his second season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Eichel signed a letter of intent to commit to Boston University of the Hockey East.

2014: Captured Gold Medal at IIHF World U18 Championships

In 2014, Eichel helped the USA squad capture the gold medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships.

April 10, 2015: Won Hobey Baker Award

On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award. He led the nation in scoring with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points in 40 games with Boston University.

June 26, 2015: Selected by Buffalo Sabres in NHL Draft

On June 26, 2015, Eichel was selected second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

July 1, 2015: Signed Entry-Level Contract with Sabres

On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

August 13, 2015: Signed Sponsorship Deal with Bauer Hockey

On August 13, 2015, Eichel signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey, agreeing to exclusively use their equipment and apparel.

October 8, 2015: Scored First NHL Goal

On October 8, 2015, Eichel scored his first NHL goal in his debut game against the Ottawa Senators, becoming the youngest player in Sabres history to achieve this.

2015: Made International Debut with Team USA

In 2015, Eichel made his full international debut with Team USA at the World Championships, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists, and winning a bronze medal.

2015: Recipient of the Hobey Baker Award

In 2015, Eichel received the Hobey Baker Award as the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.

2015: Participated in World Junior Ice Hockey Championship

In 2015, Eichel represented Team USA in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

2015: Selected Second Overall in NHL Draft

In 2015, Eichel was selected second overall in the NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres and was considered a generational talent.

2015: Draft Rivalry with Connor McDavid

The Golden Knights faced the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, which attracted media attention due to its pitting Eichel against McDavid, which had been considered a potential career rivalry at the time of the 2015 draft.

October 12, 2016: Suffered Ankle Sprain

On October 12, 2016, Eichel suffered a severe high ankle sprain during practice, causing him to miss the first two months of the season.

October 3, 2017: Signed Contract Extension with Sabres

On October 3, 2017, Eichel signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension with the Sabres, beginning in the 2018-19 season.

December 15, 2017: Scored First Career Hat Trick

On December 15, 2017, Eichel scored his first career hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes, although the Sabres lost 5–4.

2017: Selected to 2017 Team USA IIHF World Championship Roster

In 2017, Eichel was selected to the Team USA IIHF World Championship roster, recording zero goals and five assists in eight games as the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

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

On January 11, 2018, Eichel was selected to represent the Sabres in the 2018 NHL All-Star game, marking his first NHL All-Star game appearance.

October 3, 2018: Named Captain of the Sabres

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

March 10, 2019: Suspended for Illegal Check

On March 10, 2019, Eichel was suspended for two games for illegally checking Colorado Avalanche player Carl Söderberg in the head.

March 28, 2019: Scored 100th Career Goal

On March 28, 2019, Eichel scored his 100th career goal in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.

April 19, 2019: Selected to Represent Team USA at IIHF World Championship

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

November 16, 2019: Scored Four Goals in a Game

On November 16, 2019, Eichel scored four goals in a 4–2 win over the Ottawa Senators, becoming the seventh Sabres player to achieve this in a single game.

January 2, 2020: Scored Overtime Penalty Shot Goal

On January 2, 2020, Eichel became the first player in Sabres history to score a penalty shot goal in overtime, setting a franchise record for overtime goals.

2020: Expressed Frustration with Sabres

In May 2021, Eichel expressed his frustration with the Sabres, specifically their refusal to clear him to undergo artificial disk replacement for an injury sustained in 2020.

April 14, 2021: Missed Season Due to Injury

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 Team Captaincy

On September 23, 2021, Eichel was stripped of the team captaincy by the Sabres after failing his physical and being placed on long-term injured reserve, due to ongoing disagreements about treatment for his herniated disk.

November 4, 2021: Traded to Vegas Golden Knights

On November 4, 2021, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights along with a third-round draft pick.

February 16, 2022: Debut with Golden Knights

On February 16, 2022, Eichel made his debut with the Vegas Golden Knights in a 2–0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, marking his first NHL game in almost a year.