If you doubted Jack Eichel’s suggested three-month recovery timeline after his artificial disk replacement surgery, perhaps you should think again. The Vegas Golden Knights center was seen back on the ice today in North Carolina (at what appears to be the Extreme Ice Center just outside of Charlotte) by one of the scouts for Brandon Wong Hockey, just three weeks after going under the knife.
Obviously there is still a long way to go for the 25-year-old center, but seeing him back skating has to be encouraging for a Golden Knights squad that took a huge chance and acquired Eichel last month. The team sent Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs and a package of draft picks to the Buffalo Sabres while taking on Eichel’s entire contract, one which pays him $10MM every season through 2025-26.
The last time Eichel played an injury-free season, he racked up 36 goals and 78 points. Unfortunately, that was in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, which seems like a decade ago after the saga that has transpired since. His 2020-21 campaign ended after 21 games and a neck injury, leading to months and months of fighting with the Sabres over his preferred treatment. Even before that he had expressed a desire to potentially go elsewhere if the team was going to go through another rebuild, and he eventually got his wish on both, sent to the Golden Knights who allowed him to get the neck procedure his representatives had been pushing for.
Now, Vegas faces a massive cap crunch if Eichel is to return in the regular season, something that is still clearly up in the air despite his appearance on the ice. There is at least the possibility that he could return only for the playoffs where there is no salary cap–similar to what the Tampa Bay Lightning did with Nikita Kucherov last season–but if the three-month timeline is correct, he’ll be ready far sooner than that.
Wow. Keep it going, Jack. Prove the disc fusion proponents wrong.
I hear ya,MacJab,this will be something.
He’s hurt bad.
As each day of him in the lineup gets closer,I keep hearing Pink Floyd’s Money register as that cap will be tight with a capital T.
Clubs need to start circling for Theodore. To me,he’s the odd contract out,as Max will start filling the net once Jack is back.
Clubs need to get crafty now to prepare for the deadline. IMO,the NHL isn’t Olympic bound. Just my opinion.
I wanna take this time to wish MacJab and all a Happy Chanukah.
@Dave – I’ve been hearing the same rumblings about the Olympics, too. It seemed to take forever for the players to get the key info that if they test positive over there, they won’t be able to come back immediately, which should scare anybody’s shorts brown. The VGK cap gymnastics will test George’s and Kelly’s right-brain creativity, making Tampa Bay’s previous year’s stuff look like child’s play. Thanks for the season’s tidings, and I hope you, your family and crew have a great Holiday season yourselves!
If ever there is a year to NOT go to the Olympics, this is it.
Covid and protocols for returning to various countries.
Omicron today… Omega tommorow?
WTA is cancelling China events due to abuse and hiding it.
Canadians are kidnapped as political ransom.
It makes Sochi issues look like a picnic.
China virus killed 5.2 mil people worldwide and its not gonna end. Just a smol reason not to go of all.
1st mention=if not Theodore , then one of Smith or Dadonov or even both as they are around that $5 million dollar threshold as saw few stories in regards to the Eichel saga , but agreed Theodore would be the best target for a lot of teams that are able to do some finagling of the books including Las Vegas to move salary to when “Jack” comes back , hopefully ready to produce and put the biscuit in the net. As far as Olympics go I don’t see it going down , too much going on over there , Canada and US have enough to worry about , sending our athaletes there is to risky as far as health and safety issues , let alone the dreaded political word. I am just praying the NHL to turn out like the last 2 years of this Chaos in we have dealt with. I say No to Olympics ! Happy Holidays everyone , stay safe
@G – Well put! Hate to crap on the Olympic dreams of NHL-ers and those participating in the other sports, but this calls for a stand to call it all off, or relocate to a more favorable location. Unfortunately, I doubt the IOC would listen to us. Hope you have a great Holiday season yourself!
IOC has visions of $$$$ racing through their heads into their wallets and bank accounts
@G – For this year, at least, I’d like to see their “race car” lose it in turn 3 and roll, and roll, and roll. It could teach them a lesson that they’re probably incapable of learning.
@Mac – Unfortunately, the sponsors of the NHL, for all intents and purposes, run the league and they want NHL players at the CCP Olympics. And so it shall be, as sickening as that is.
@Gbear – Yep, I hear ya. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to be literally sickening, too.
Yeah. I’m glad for Jack. Hated seeing him leave here but this is all on Pegula and his mail-order-bride. Now we’re stuck scrambling at center yet again!!!
“…mail order bride”… wow get out of the backwaters much? He’s in charge of the hockey team, trust in that.
Good for Jack. Hope he gets back in game shape quickly!
It’ll be near impossible to fit him in under the cap, in the regular season.