History of Jack Eichel in Timeline

Jack Eichel is an American professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. Drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Eichel was highly touted even before entering the league. At 17, he was hailed as "the new face of American hockey" and considered among a wave of generational talents within 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, becoming the first freshman to win the award. Eichel would later become the second freshman to win the award.

October 28, 1996: John Robert Eichel Born

John Robert Eichel was born on October 28, 1996, and would later become a professional ice hockey player.

2012: Plays for USA Hockey

In 2012, Jack Eichel began playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team.

2012: Represents United States at Winter Youth Olympics

In 2012, as a 15-year-old, Eichel represented the United States at the Winter Youth Olympics, marking an early achievement in his international career.

2013: Wins Bronze and Silver Medals

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.

2013: Plays for USA Hockey

In 2013, Jack Eichel continued playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team.

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

On April 29, 2014, Eichel signed a letter of intent to commit to Boston University of the Hockey East, marking a significant step in his college hockey career.

2014: Wins Gold Medal

In 2014, Eichel helped the USA squad capture the gold medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships, continuing his success in international competitions.

April 10, 2015: Wins Hobey Baker Award

On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award. He had an outstanding season with Boston University, leading the nation in scoring.

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, solidifying his transition to professional hockey.

July 1, 2015: Signs with Buffalo 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, Jack Eichel signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey, ensuring he would exclusively use their equipment and apparel.

October 8, 2015: First NHL Goal

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

2015: Wins Hobey Baker Award

In 2015, Eichel received the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's ice hockey player, becoming only the second freshman to achieve this honor.

2015: Represents Team USA

In 2015, Eichel represented Team USA in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, further showcasing his talent on the international stage.

2015: Potential Career Rivalry

In 2015, Eichel was considered to have a potential career rivalry with Connor McDavid when the NHL draft happened.

2015: Selected Second Overall in NHL 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: Full International Debut with Team USA

In 2015, at the conclusion of his freshman season with the Terriers, Eichel made his full international debut with Team USA at the World Championships, where the team won bronze.

October 12, 2016: Suffers 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 and presenting a challenge to his career.

October 3, 2017: Signs Contract Extension with Sabres

On October 3, 2017, before the 2017–18 season, Jack Eichel signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension with the Sabres, beginning in 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, despite the Sabres losing 5-4.

2017: Selected to Team USA IIHF World Championship roster

In 2017, Eichel was selected to the Team USA IIHF World Championship roster, where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

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

On January 11, 2018, Jack Eichel was selected as the sole representative of the Sabres for the 2018 NHL All-Star game, marking the first NHL All-Star game of his career.

October 3, 2018: Named Captain of the Sabres

On October 3, 2018, before the beginning of the regular season, Jack Eichel was named the captain of the Buffalo Sabres, signifying his leadership role within the team.

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, resulting in a disciplinary action.

March 28, 2019: Scores 100th Career Goal

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

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: Scores 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 record four goals in one game.

January 2, 2020: First Sabres Player to Score Overtime Penalty Shot Goal

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

April 14, 2021: Season Ending Surgery

On April 14, 2021, it was announced that Jack 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 as a result of failing his physical and being placed on long-term injured reserve, further straining his relationship with the Sabres.

November 4, 2021: Traded to Vegas Golden Knights

On November 4, 2021, Eichel was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, marking a significant change in his career after a period of conflict with the Sabres.

February 16, 2022: Debut with Vegas Golden Knights

On February 16, 2022, Eichel made his debut with the Golden Knights, a 2–0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, marking his return to the NHL after an extended absence.