"Jack Eichel Is A Locker Room Cancer"

Nhl highlights today vegas golden knights win the stanley cup 2023 - Jack eichel buffalo sabres days to now a stanley cup finals champion - Vegas golden knights stanley cup celebration postgame interview vgk nhl news today jonathan marchessault conn smythe phil kessel interview toronto days nhl hockey highlights nhl playoffs 2023 stanley cup final game 5 florida panthers vs vegas golden knights reaction mark stone jack eichel stanley cup highlights nhl finals
#nhl #stanleycup #hockey #nhlplayoffs #highlights

[@JohnnyHawkey]

Who were you MOST Happy (or angry lol) to see lift the cup?

[@BestPotatoMan]

Quick, first vegas goaltender to lift the cup, first kings goaltender to lift the cup. From Alec Martinez too

[@mystix_cze693]

Most happy was Quick and Kessel 😁 most angry was Tkachuk lifting a table around when seen that domination in second period 😁

[@elihansford6387]

Very happy for Mark Stone. He's been through so much with being traded and injury

[@HoaxNA]

Mark stone , the best captain in the league . My man played incredible hockey this post season and lead by example in full effect . Vegas looked unbelievable

[@timperley69]

Mark Stone by farrrr

[@lololol1563]

I feel the same way about Jack lifting the cup that I did when Phil-“locker room cancer in Toronto”- Kessel lifted it in Pitt

[@magnabaddelta-thriller5603]

…twice

[@armandoortiz9114]

I guess two wrongs don't make a right!

[@smorgdonkey]

I feel great about Eichel lifting the Cup but not about Kessel. Crosby probably laid the law down when lazy Phil got to Pittsburgh... and it showed when he left Pittsburgh because lazy Phil got lazy again. It was Burke's fault that Kessel got the pressure in Toronto - Burke said 'build through the draft and free agency' then proceeded to trade every draft pick for pseudo quick fixes.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

And Phils got 3 cups now after leaving Toronto 😂

[@tinman4486]

@@AttilatheThrilla legend

[@vegasandrew589]

Knights locker room loves Jack. He came up with the Elvis wig idea, the team loves that tradition and he also is very “giving” at team poker games. Also, selfish divas don’t go out of their way to keep passing the puck to the hot hand, check out his postgame interview yesterday when he spoke about why he wasn’t shooting that much. We haven’t seen or felt anything but positive vibes from Eichel since he’s been here. Maybe all that snow in Buffalo just made him frosty and he just needed some palm trees in his life.

[@TRZN91]

As a Buffalo fan, I really think it's a combination of maybe Jack being humbled, and the fact that he wasn't "the guy" in Vegas. Just one of the guys. He was kinda thrust into stardom & leadership in Buffalo right out of the gate that maybe he wasn't ready for.

[@okyouknowwhatever]

@@TRZN91 100% this. Guy is a very good player, but you still wouldn't want him as your captain. Some guys just shouldn't be your captain, such as Jack Eichel. 12 year old casual fans though can't even understand the difference between skill and maturity.

[@joebarr725]

In addition to palm trees, being part of an organization committed to winning doesn't hurt either.

[@djonian]

Exactly. Dude got targeted and trucked. Welcome to the playoffs. Nobody is immune. But he also body slammed Gudas during the Hill scrum and mixed it up on the boards several times. Even the Great One said postgame about Eichel's physicality "Those are the things that go a long way in the locker room." Uhhh, I think that narrative has a bit more hockey cred than this click bait. lol When Marchy won the CS, knowing Eichel tee'd up most his goals, he was mic'd up and tells Eichel "You did it for me. You did it for me!" You cant buy what is in that locker room, man. And Eichel is right there flourishing in it because he's healthy, maturing, and doesnt have the baggage or pressure he did in Buffalo. And its not as if Buffalo didnt get compensated for him. VGK and Jack need apologize for nothing.

[@Murdokk73]

The “selfish” critique is full comedy to me. Jackie boy had a league high 26 points in the post season….20 were assists. Some of the nicest assists I’ve ever seen I might add. We LOVE Eichel in VGK land.

[@okyouknowwhatever]

playmakers can still be selfish though, it's called being a puck hog. not talking about Jack here, but in general.

[@bobbowie9350]

​@okyouknowwhatever. I hear you. One could argue Jack was almost too selfless.

[@ClipsThatTakeUpStorageOnMyXbox]

He was criticized on a nightly bases in Buffalo for passing too much. When people call him selfish, they aren’t talking about him wanting to shoot instead of pass.

[@katherinebravo9678]

During the regular season, I wished he’d shoot more…..but the whole team plays that way. Sooooo glad he’s a Golden Knight! And proud of our team. I’ve been with them since the beginning, and lots of people here don’t understand why there were so many changes every year. Hoping they now understand where management was going. ❤️🖤💛🏒

[@blakeeckel5056]

Eichel IMO was the most noticeable player this SCF. Whenever he touched the puck he just made FL look silly. He was a team player and kept feeding his guys with sick passes in the slot and their offensive zone in general. He changed from a do it all type of player to a playmaker. Can't wait to see what his progression looks like in the upcoming seasons with a great team around him.

[@mrgreen4688]

agree. he was drafted for his scoring but this past season he really became a great two-way player

[@alohastate8256]

100% I think he still has room to get better as well

[@packermandan]

6 goals / 20 assists / 26 points in the playoffs. He played great. I admit I wanted him to score more and there were times I was saying “SHOOT THE PUCK” but all in all he set up many goals and skated circles around most defenders when he had the puck. Good job Jack.

[@dxrknus]

Vegas unfortunately will be running into cap issues and the team is aging so "great team?" i think they will be in rebuild mode in very near future...

[@jonnysnipes3123]

He’s playing the way he does cus he’s on a team that requires him to do very little and will still win the championship. He’s a true locker room cancer if you’re relying on him to be a leader. If he’s the best player on your roster you’re doomes

[@lolo27234]

“____ is locker room cancer” the words used to cope for having bad coaching and a incompatible squad

[@brianjones7660]

the Sabres were the junk drawer of hockey thanks to Murray and Boterrill bungling drafts....Reinhart over big Draisatl...really??

[@CoolGorillaGoAnimate7000]

​@@brianjones7660don't forget about the Jeff Skinner contract. Even in his prime he is not worth 9 million.

[@lolo27234]

@@brianjones7660 it’s what happens when you look for a super star and not a winning team

[@axe2grind244]

@@brianjones7660In another dimension the Sabres drafted Leon and then won the draft and got McDavid. They have 2 Cups in this alternate reality in case you were wondering…

[@ShawnBlaque]

Or for just being the Winnipeg Jets lmao

[@user-cy8zy5lo6s]

I'm so happy for Jack. When I heard the team wasn't going to let him get the surgery he wanted, I just got so angry. What an insane thing. Treating a human like a piece of meat. Happy he went to Vegas and happy he shut everyone up leading his team to a cup win. What a story. GO JACK!

[@robynsnest8668]

Has developed into a 200' player. Has grown his game, especially since the surgery, and is loved by his teammates. That's not a cancer. That is a winner, and his name will be on the cup forevermore soon.

[@RhetoricWolf]

My favorite part of Jack’s game is his ability to facilitate - His unselfishness on the ice has been the biggest area of growth for him and it’s been special to watch. So happy for the boys

[@fleatactical7390]

Facilitate is the perfect word to describe this. So many "pass from Eichel, leads to a goal by XYZ"

[@SilentButDudley]

I haven’t seen an all round skilled player like Eichel. His backcheck and forecheck were really impressive, and his skill to move the puck was huge.

[@dixonhill1108]

this has nothing to do with his personality defects. Guy actually thinks he's good looking. if you follow earlier videos it's easy to tell he'll be a locker room cancer at somepoint.

[@perrinayebarra]

He played more defence in any single playoff game than he did his entire time in Buffalo.

[@Yimvision]

He was amazing. As a Knights fan, I never had any stress when he had the puck. Even when it looked like defenders were closing on him, he always made the right decision and carried the play. I can't count how many times he seamlessly entered the blue line and got the offense rolling. My only critique of him was wishing he would shoot more. But even to that he had a good response. He said in an interview that Marchessault was burying everything in sight so he kept trying to feed him the puck. Love it.

[@brianjones7660]

next time you see McDavid aggressively backchecking , save the video for us.....😂😂

[@Childofbhaal]

Sid the Kid

[@joeydrummer7929]

This season playing under Cassidy Eichel became one of the best 2 way forwards in the league . He was absolutely unbelievable this season and elevated his play in the post season to new levels . He’s an absolute joy to watch play and I’m so proud of him. Finished with the most points of any player in the post season. Him or Marchessault could’ve won the Conn Smythe and it would’ve been deserved . Honestly any of like 5 players on Vegas could’ve won the Conn Smythe and deserved it . Hill . Stone. Karlsson. Eichel. Marchessault . The 5 MVPs in this run. The entire team played out of their minds though

[@willie9397]

Yes, and thats how you win the cup

[@katherinebravo9678]

Soooooo proud and excited for our VGK and Eichel.

[@joesavary6081]

Welcome Jack Eichel into the Selke conversation

[@Hekkler72]

He really blew up in the playoffs. he keeps that level of play up next year he's gotta get some Selke votes.

[@MisterWeebles28]

Happy for him and the boys. Eichel proved himself this season.

[@darthvader3742]

Yeah, he was fantastic in these playoffs.

[@superwavess]

As a Buffalo fan - couldn't be happier for Eichel. So glad it worked out for him. I think it's also important to note that his frustrations in Buffalo were totally warranted. I mean, look at their coaches. But also - he just wasn't gonna thrive in an environment where he was supposed to be the hero. In Vegas, he didn't have to be that guy. And that's a big reason why he's been able to grow and dominate again.

[@Chyeahokay]

Pressure can ruin people. Especially with teams who aren’t very competitive. And bad owners.

[@marksieber4626]

Buffalo was a shit show from the top down when he was there. That locker room cancer is the biggest crock of shit ever conceived by media in collaboration with ownership/management trying to dump on a player. Anytime I hear that phrase from now on I’ll think of Kessel and Eichel

[@brendanmartin2774]

Eichel used the neck surgery (fusion disc) to force his way out of Buffalo. He pitted his personal health against the Sabres organization in a pitch to obtain a trade. Eichel has an enormous amount of growing up to do. He was named a Captain by the Sabres franchise and gifted a 100 million contract which he earned…You can’t be a professional athlete and $hit on the people of a community that gave you everything to be the face of our franchise. The Sabres - Eichel saga was doomed from the start. The Sabres brass publicly stated they wanted McDavid and not Eichel. It was a screwed up relationship from the start. I still have no idea why Eichel has such animosity towards the Sabres org given they made him Captain and paid him $100 million. Good for Vegas. We don’t want anything to do with Eichel and are glad he is gone. He’ll likely marry Erin Basil a Buffalo girl. Persona non grata in the 716 for the rest of his life.

[@superwavess]

@@brendanmartin2774 all very true. well documented that he asked for a trade the year before neck injury. bad fit, both parties needed what happened. also had NO idea about the gf. interesting that there's been a buffalo connection from day 1

[@Bouncer-id1rh]

@@brendanmartin2774 He's probably glad he's not playing for you either. Maybe it's you who needs to grow up...along with many Sabre fans. Never thought of that , did ya?

[@uranium54321]

As a Sabres fan, our management treated him very unfairly (especially with the whole surgery situation) and I’m glad to see him succeeding elsewhere. Personally I never considered him a “locker room cancer,” the team culture in Buffalo was just toxic, Eichel or not, and trading him really helped with that. The return we got from the trade was great, and it looks like he’s both way better and way happier in Vegas.

[@mikemcnamara4253]

From Buffalo with Love Ty. So much toxicity around him here let the boy cook and watch the magic. Hate to say it but Buffalo judges real fast and it's crazy because we are this amazing city of good neighbors but when it comes to sports one game let alone one wuarter or one period could light you on fire. Congrats JE well deserved. Now let's gooooo Buffalo!!!!!

[@namelesslight3303]

Definitely seems like a win/win trade! Would love to see the Sabres in the playoffs again & wishing the best for Tuch!

[@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj]

Jack was supposed to be the chosen one in Buffalo. And he was supposed to help bring stability to the franchise and make us not suck. That is what’s expected of ANYONE when you give them the C and pay them $10 million per year. Jack had problems with Ryan O’Reilly and wasn’t a good leader on the team. I think this is evidenced by the Sabres getting better in virtually ever statistical category after trading him.

[@jeffreym.8957]

The only culture that is real is "maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth". The only thing that makes a winning culture is winning games. Or scoring more goals than the guys on the other side of the rink. Jack was pretty darn good offensively but was lazy defensively. Did he have great linemates in Buffalo? No, they were laughable - Skinner was the best, Matt Moulson and Zemgus. So he wasn't always set up to do well, but the surgery? You realize they have team doctors right? Why would you hire a doctor if you weren't going to take his opinion. Jack's doctor was performing a risky operation. I'm glad it worked out for him, but if I was paying a guy $40 million to him guaranteed, I would try the more common procedure done by all the other hockey players who came before him.

[@mr.brenman2132]

​@@SeiyaSoiya-un4jjWhat say you now? One player can not bring stability to the franchise. McDavid wasn't going to do that either. It's a team game.

[@thedude3065]

my favorite moment in these playoffs came between Vegas and Edmonton with the net empty McDavid had a scoring chance, but before he could take the shot, Eichel stole the puck and scored

[@idrinkgasoline72]

I think it’s time for McDavid vs Eichel

[@lesevesel2898]

Dude, he was the first person I was looking for when the on-ice celebrations were starting. Not the Cup so much, but the sheer joy on Eichel's face is immutable.

[@lesscobrandon6803]

You mean when no class vegas started the celebration way early before the clock even ran out? Its obviious why the majority of those classless souls were given up by their former teams for nothing

[@shadowfury428]

The score was 9-3, they had no chance. 😂

[@fleatactical7390]

I'm surprised he wasn't handed the cup sooner. Bur I guess it was more a question of tenure on the team.

[@wikoli-kuloloniele-kapalam2779]

​@lesscobrandon6803 Your Panthers stayed on the side and stopped playing, don't blame Vegas, your Panthers just gave up that last few seconds and folded! They already knew!

[@lesscobrandon6803]

@@wikoli-kuloloniele-kapalam2779 not a panthers fan, i hear ya though

[@seanlebsock1873]

The Eichel Marchy Line was a force to be reckoned with. Those two were in synch through the playoff run. Happy to see him hoist the cup and enjoy all that comes with it. Go Knight Go!!

[@namelesslight3303]

Not anymore. He loves Vegas and is loved in Vegas. He doesn't have to carry the team or be in a major leadership role. Vegas lets him get the surgery he wants and he's desperate to come back after being out so long. Now you have a happy, determined, grateful, and healthy Eichel in Vegas. He learned how to be a team player, and fit right in with the guys. Eichel plays with Marchy and Marchy gets the Con Smythe which was no coincidence.... Rest is history. Happy Jack is happy in Vegas and is doing well.

[@pepperbuster834]

Buffalo set him up for failure from the get-go. He was deemed a "consolation" and the organization never really got over their boy-crush on Mcdavid. That's really tough on a kid that's entering the pro-scene for the first time. Even if he performed better than he did in Buffalo, it would have never been good enough because he wasn't Mcdavid. Eichel matured and learned, the fruit of that is what you see in this Knights team. I've been rooting for him from the start. I think I heard from an interview (tsn video I think) where he was asked how come he wasn't shooting the puck more and he replies along the lines of "why would I worry about that when I know what I need to do is to get the puck to the hottest guy in our team?" He found a good team that didn't rely solely on him and he showed he was a teamplayer all along.

[@apferrando]

When was he seen as a consolation to anyone? At the time the analogy being thrown around was you get to choose between Kane and Toews, a can’t-lose. There was no consolation prize to be had.

[@5ch3nk]

@@apferrando That's said because everyone wanted McDavid, and I think Tim Murray made some comment about having to settle for number 2 or whatever...but I agree with you. Jack Eichel was never viewed as a consolation prize in Buffalo. As soon as we got that Number 2 pick, which locked us with Jack, he became a hero around the city already. People were talking about how he's going to be the next Gilbert Perreault for the franchise. The only time I've ever been to a Sabres practice was for the first public practice Eichel participated in. Jack Eichel was the guy in Buffalo from the start....and that's what the problem ended up being also. Edit: We all also spent years telling Leafs fans Jack Eichel is better than Austin Matthews and meant it every time.

[@skippyhandleman1625]

i watched his live interview and he seemed pretty level headed and sincere.

[@RennyChan]

Eichel really showed up this playoffs... What a player

[@mariamanasewitsch2977]

I was VERY happy to see Jack raise the Cup!!! When he joined the Knight’s I thought WTF, are we going to take in EVERY player needing a surgery. He didn’t have to be a “superstar” Carrying the WHOLE team. He had lots of HELP & I’m so HAPPY for him & the team!!! I thought it was pretty awesome of the Knight’s to “dress” everyone for the game. This win was a TEAM EFFORT!!! I think having EVERYONE on a LTIR forced the team to band together & learn to play with EVERYONE!!!! I was pleased to see 4 goalies, lift the Cup bcuz it WAS a “carousel” of players all season long. Outstanding work KNIGHTS!!!! Enjoy the victory, you know this TOWN is behind you!!!!

[@TheHoboKing44]

Phil Kessel doesn't get enough respect he won his third cup from the press box most players can't even win one on the ice

[@spxne6128]

He seemed like the exact opposite of selfish. Always looked for a pass to his boys instead of taking the shot himself.

[@RyTheGuy20]

I love this channel because you can tell Johnny is a hockey fan and appreciate the storylines of other franchises and is not biased at all, i look forward to your videos every day. Thank you very much man

[@bobbowie9350]

Jack makes it look easy. His skating , puck control is next next level.

[@jeffreym.8957]

His skating is so smooth he often looks lazy out there. He is quite fast with that long stride.

[@ryans413]

Never would have expected Eichel to win a cup before McDavid.

[@goodmanwiseman303]

Why not? Its the best team that lifts the cup, no doubt player.

[@ImGettinWeird]

I never expected mcdavid to win a cup in Edmonton

[@classicplaylists8052]

As a Buffalo fan I'm happy for Jack. He earned it and had to make it through some difficult times, especially because of our minor league management and owners. I wonder about all the assists and very few shots in the SCF. He had 2 goals 16 assists in 21 games before he shut his final season down with the Sabres because of his neck. Wonder if the neck was bothering him in the SCF, especially after the hit/whiplash by Tkachuk.

[@DannyMorrs]

I remember feeling so bad for Eichel in the lead up to his draft. Everyone was set on McDavid, the Sabres made huge, obvious hints at wanting McDavid, and didn't seem excited for Eichel. They didn't build around him, tried to tell him how to heal his injuries, and just took him for granted. Now he's in Vegas and won a Cup. I'm happy for him, and I'm a Leafs fan

[@bjarczyk]

There’s much more to it than that, but Buffalo has become everyone’s favorite target today.

[@Bouncer-id1rh]

@@bjarczyk Maybe they deserve it?

[@bjarczyk]

@@Bouncer-id1rh Absolutely not. Remember, since everyone wants to make it about the surgery, Eichel asked for a trade the summer before. Adams signed a bunch of free agents to try and appease him. It didn't work out, but I have more respect for players like Steve Yzerman who stayed with the Red Wings for 14 YEARS until they finally won a Stanley Cup. That's a real champion. Not someone who wants everything handed to them and will make it all about himself if it doesn't go his way. Eichel didn't EARN IT the hard way. We in Buffalo have every right to be upset about that pompous asshole.

[@fredrikborg5238]

I was really sceptical when they made the trade for him. But now, I have really come to enjoy watching the joy and happiness beaming from him while playing with Vegas. Congratulations to all of them.

[@johnmckeron3663]

Jack had the last laugh kudos to him Stanley cup champ and Mc David still looking for the cup

[@amitbhardwaj7516]

Yeah, I'm really happy for him! He played really well in these playoffs and he's a main reason the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup!

[@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj]

No, Marchessault and Hill are the reasons the Knights won the Cup. Jack played well, but if he was really the reason he would’ve won the Con Smyth.

[@oxOsicknessOxo]

I could also have been a locker room cancer because his mind was at the right place, having huge talent and being stuck with a team that's going nowhere that won't let you the surgery you require, can be a motivation and mood killer. Maybe he was going thru a burnout, we don't know.

[@bradonstott3759]

There was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much bad press, doom, and gloom about Eichel's surgery. By the time he had it done, he was just the latest person to have it done. I personally know 7 people who've had the surgery - and it turned out GREAT for all of them, including a body builder and a farmer. So the Sabres view of the surgery being risky showed how far behind they were. Eichel is just as legit today as he was on draft day. His surgery, not being risky, was without a doubt the correct decision. VGK trades for him (with no curse) and misses the playoffs due to so many of their top players being hurt. This season, Vegas came out strong and never looked back. Eichel made the playoffs look somewhat easy, leading the league in post season points and anchoring that line. He took the best Tkachuk had to offer, missed a few shifts, and STILL played superb hockey. The big story of Eichel was VGK getting him. Buffalo, you may have screwed up.......all because of fear.

[@yorkhawk3223]

Watched a few of your videos and enjoyed. Watched this one...aaaand SUBSCRIBED.

[@NevadaMikey]

What a wonderful commentary about him and his history. You are awesome.

[@milan99cz]

The problem is the organisation, not the player. Horrible management, enough said.

[@jeffreym.8957]

Nothing wrong with current management. They have turned things around.

[@baron1c]

As a sabres fan, I knew it wasn’t his fault. I played hockey in my youth. 1 man cant win. Its a team effort. If I was him, I would have been just as frustrated.

[@slasher1087]

One big thing that people never mention is Ryan O'Reilly was on the team at the same time as Jack. When Ryan left he said he had lost his passion for hockey. Thats how bad Buffalo was. Not just on the ice but in the offices. And yet nobody says O'Reilly is a cancer.

[@gatsuuga9]

It's OReilly's sparkling eyes, how could anyone suggest that

[@TRZN91]

Maybe it's because ROR wasn't the Cancer. Former team mates have even criticized Jack's attitude & locker room toxicity. Sure the situation in Buffalo was bad, but Jack was the guy for all of it. Then he is traded & immediately the culture shifts. He didn't have the same role to play in Vegas, and I think that is what's worked for him. He isn't the Captain, isn't the Star of the team (just one of them) he wasn't asked to be the guy in Vegas, just show up & play. Jack is a very good player so he can do that.

[@TRZN91]

​@@gatsuuga9hilarious

[@slasher1087]

@TRZN91 before Jack even started playing, the GM was apologizing that they had to draft #2 and not McDavid at #1. How was Jack supposed to feel. And on top of it, any great player on a losing team should be pissed. Nobody is just happy playing in the NHL when you get there. That's only step #1. Step #2 is to actually be a contender. This idea that Eichel was unjustifiably pissed is insane.

[@TRZN91]

@@slasher1087 hey I'm not happy with how the organization handled the whole tank for McDavid thing. Not then not now, not ever. Awful look for our organization, and like the exact opposite of what Buffalo sports fans are supposed to be known for. But idk the whole consolation prize thing kinda died early in the first season. He wasn't treated like #2, he was treated like the savior & maybe that was part of the problem. Sure he is upset about loosing the question is how much of that is on him? I don't think it's entirely Jack's fault. A lot of things weren't in his control, but the things that were I'm not sure he did the best job at handling. Plenty of players play for loosing teams, get frustrated & decide to seek greener pastures with out incident. I wouldn't fault him if it was amicably time to move on, we would have all understood. Buffalo sports fans have had to watch a lot of star players move on from us. We usually don't harbor much resentment for em. It's understandable. So what is different with Jack? Like he lied & took shots at the fans base at the end of it all.

[@Rberr16]

Debate me all you want but after seeing his defensive ability he’s a top 15 player in the league

[@Childofbhaal]

Yeah being defensive minded is huge huge huge. McDavid and the Oilers had a bunch of ridiculous point scorers and still got rolled and kept at by the the brutal defense of the VGK

[@unaccompaniedseal4035]

Eichel>matthews

[@WaitAMinute1989]

I totally agree and Buffalo just sucks

[@cameronfranke8566]

Couldn’t agree more

[@danevertt3210]

Sure and his goal scoring dropped off a cliff

[@CavemanCavemanCaveman]

I always though the narrative Buffalo was trying to push about him being a cancer was completely overblown. I would be pissed if a franchise seemingly did everything in its power to ruin my career. I read about the two surgery options back during the ordeal, and the one Eichel wanted seemed to have much less risk to me even at the time. No NhL player had had it, sure, but hockey players have had it, rugby played had had it done, and it seemed the result was a much shorter recovery time and much less risk of reinjury down the road. The Buffalo sabres did not own him, and the fact that they made him wait several months before he could get surgery on it is asanine. He literally sat out injured but couldn’t do anything about him because the team felt they owned his body and could do whatever they want with it. It pisses me off just to think about it, I can’t imagine how he felt.

[@danevertt3210]

You got that all wrong. The procedure he chose was the riskier one and hadn’t ever been performed on a hockey player or regular professional athlete. The procedure he didn’t want is the one that everyone gets - like Peyton Manning, when he had two fused disks and came back to have the greatest nfl season by a Qb ever

[@DneilB007]

⁠​⁠@@danevertt3210It really depends on how you define “risk”. Fusion is a known risk with known outcomes; the disc replacement is only 20-30 years old and is less common. The problem with the fusion surgery is that there is a zero (actually zero) percent chance of a full recovery. There is *always* a loss of function, because you have effectively removed a joint from the neck. He would never fully get back to his previous form. 95% of Jack is amazing, but it’s never going to be 100%. Atop of that, there’s a risk of additional damage to the fused vertebrae. There’s something like a 1-in-5 chance of disc failure above or below the fused vertebrae requiring surgery within 20 years. For someone like me, at 57, that’s not a big deal. At age 25, it’s probable that he would have required at least one further surgery before age 60. With the disc replacement, the artificial disc literally replaces the damaged disc, allowing for the potential for a 100% recovery of function. Even if there isn’t a full recovery, you still regain more mobility than with the fusion. To date, no artificial discs have worn out requiring replacement. The biggest risk is rejection, which requires the removal of the disc, and either a replacement or a fusion. This happens pretty soon after the surgery, so it wouldn’t add more than a few weeks to the recovery period for the fusion. Which brings us to the recovery stages of the two surgeries. With fusion, the neck is immobilized for an extended period, allowing for new bone growth along the fused bones. You can’t train during that time. With the disc replacement, the only time when you can’t train is during the initial post-surgery period, as the surgery scars knit. Once the soft tissue has begun healing, you actually need to begin training to get back the muscle strength & flexibly in the neck. The recovery time overall is much shorter, requiring less therapy to get back to a trainable fitness level for a pro athlete. I think that the Sabres did not include the known limitations of the fusion surgery in their risk assessment of the two procedures. In my opinion, they did not consider the risk of future surgery after his playing career is over, nor did they consider the known *and unavoidable* loss of function with fusion, based on the comments that were made publicly by the team. I also think, again based on the public statements from the team, they were excessively risk-adverse against replacement surgery because of the lack of NHL-level hockey players who had undergone the surgery. They discounted the results of college athletes and European athletes who had undergone the procedure because of the “special demands” of NHL hockey as opposed to any other level of the sport. I don’t think that any of the above was maliciously done. Hockey is a very conservative sport, especially at the professional level. The Buffalo doctors took a conservative stance on the surgeries, and that conservative stance was more welcome by the team than a more aggressive approach because it resonated better with the underlying culture of the sport.

[@DneilB007]

@@danevertt3210Oh, and by the way, many athletes, including American football players, have had the disc replacement surgery before Eichel. The surgery is 20-30 years old, and it has been performed on UFC fighters, football players, weightlifters and power lifters, wrestlers, and more. It’s even been done on hockey players before. Eichel was just the first NHL-level hockey player to have the surgery.

[@CavemanCavemanCaveman]

@@danevertt3210 yeah, no. I read about the surgeries. The one everyone said was risky, actually had shorter time to recover and had been done across all sports with success, people only thought it was risky because it hadnt been done to an NHL player. But other hockey players, rugby players, etc. had gotten the new surgery and it had less time to recover and less problems years down the line. The narrative that the surgery eichel was getting was too risky was BS imo. Players who get the disc fused often get reinjured or have neck/back pain years down the line.

[@danevertt3210]

@@CavemanCavemanCaveman hahah so Peyton Manning, Mario Lemieux, and hundreds of other pro athletes in North America chose the wrong procedure……meanwhile Eichel is the first pro athlete to sign up for the “safe” surgery Cmon dude

[@martinarnold4999]

You’re a great commentator. Perfect amount of detail, not over done to the point that the point gets lost.

[@KH-dm9zm]

He has been awesome. Vegas luvs their Jack

[@cosmiceggs2385]

As a former Buffalo fan, I'm extremely excited that he won the Cup and had such a dominant performance. The whole neck surgery debacle was kind of annoying since you had people trying to pin the franchise's losing streak on him when he was one of their best players towards the end.

[@idrinkgasoline72]

Former?

[@cosmiceggs2385]

@@idrinkgasoline72 Yeah. Covid really sucked everything out of me and I couldn't find enjoyment in things that I did before. Especially watching hockey, basketball and my favorite teams like Buffalo and St. Louis. The neck surgery controversy and people blaming Eichel kind of compounded that, and I couldn't enjoy watching them anymore, even though the team is a lot better now.

[@idrinkgasoline72]

@@cosmiceggs2385 ahh

[@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj]

@@cosmiceggs2385 Jack really did Buffalo no favors. He wanted the C when it was given to Ryan O’Reilly, voiced his displeasure with that, and got O’Reilly traded. Then Jack was given the C and $10 million per year and the Sabres got worse. Part of being the Captain and being one of the highest paid players in the league is helping a team and franchise turn the corner. Jack didn’t (couldn’t?) do that. And then to turn around and take a swipe at the fans who worshipped the ground he walked on for years will forever make him persona non grata in Buffalo.

[@vincentperrault5900]

I would personally have given the Conn Smyth to Mark stone. Everytime he was on the ice he was an absolute menace. He was huge in every single aspect.

[@fleatactical7390]

Yep, I was happy to see him get to lift the Cup as well. Long road and he deserved it.

[@lloniaceder]

comment sections that make me wanna cry 😭so happy for Jack and love seeing the positive recognition he deserves

[@c3vette47]

I ordered my #9 Eichel jersey yesterday during the game. He's been a playmaking machine throughout the playoffs.

[@charlesgallagher1376]

Eichel in Buffalo, my hometown, was a “Red headed stepchild”, I was there for the Sabres tanked to get McDavid. And then the pressure was on. In Buffalo, historically, if you wear the “C” on your Sabres sweater, you’re toast.

[@stephendacey8761]

You people in Buffalo have had it rough. First, the Buffalo Bills collapsing in the playoffs, then the Eichel situation, and the team missing the playoffs. But, at least Demar Hamlin recovered and had a street named after him after receiving millions in fan donations to his fund.

[@charlesgallagher1376]

@@stephendacey8761, don’t forget two Stanley Cup finals losses for the Sabres. But now I live in Las Vegas. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. I got my Cup victory. Waited since 1970. The Sabres couldn’t but The Golden Knights did.

[@donkunes8630]

​@@charlesgallagher1376whooptie do

[@charlesgallagher1376]

@@donkunes8630 yep

[@jeffreym.8957]

The Sabres fans didn't only want McDavid. In fact, the WGR Radio guys basically called them "McEichel" all year. When we actually got Jack in the draft, someone asked who got McEichel?

[@loC2ol]

Jacks growth over the years has been a beautiful thing to watch!

[@TheChaos991230]

The buffalo Sabres fans aren’t the ones who were tanking that would be the people in charge of the Sabres 😂

[@Krow52]

Although I questioned Jacks character in Buffalo, the "locker room cancer" or the "He's THE reason the Sabres sucked" labeling was unwarranted. The guy was always a top 5 center in my mind and I am not surprised with his success in Vegas. The Pegula's hiring of GM Tim Murray at the beginning of his career was terrible. The guy tried to speed up the rebuild by trading away a lot of good prospects/1st rd picks for ROR, Robin Lehner, Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian to only be traded away by another awful GM in Jason Botterill who got terrible returns. At the same time, Eichel's attitude was questionable... Him refusing to sign a long term deal unless the org canned Bylsma rubbed me the wrong way and a lot of fans have come out saying his interactions with them were not positive... Either way you look at it, it just wasn't going to work out in Buffalo and understood why he wanted out. Sabre fans LOVE Tuch and the return. Sabres are finally moving in the right direction. Win-win trade in the long run

[@jeffreym.8957]

GMJB undid the good that GMTM did. You don't trade away guys that you paid a lot for like ROR and E. Kane. You sign them to contracts. But Jack wanted Blysma gone and ROR gone and anyone else he didn't like. He was like LeGM except for the Sabres instead of the Lakers.

[@pizzaquatroformagi868]

Dude, Kessel in 2016 was insane. He almost won Con Smythe

[@chipliddiard4313]

He is the Best,...Glad he's here in Vegas... And we thank him for coming... Go Golden Knights.

[@DERTHIX]

It's reasonable to be angry when it's losing season after losing season. He'd probably be the first guy to say he's glad things are turning around in Buffalo.

[@jeffreym.8957]

They weren't losing in Year #1. They did well - went from 54 points to 81. Had some injuries in Year#2 and finished with 78. But he still wanted the coach fired.

[@TrainWreck444]

Every time I think of the McDavid sweepstakes I think of how many first overall pics the Oilers got in like 6 years and think how the fuck have they not won a cup yet.

[@mrgreen4688]

it's hard to shake expectations. sometimes you just need a change of scenery. true in sports and in other areas of life.

[@lilcarlou]

my opinion about him was so wrong, never believed he could lift his game up to that point and even lift the stanley cup BEFORE Mcdavid!! Wow!

[@bjarczyk]

He requested a trade long before the neck injury. It’s important to account for that in the timeline. The cheapshots at Buffalo are becoming long-winded. Our criticisms of Eichel’s pompous mentality are valid, and he also went to an already built team. I have more respect for McDavid who is loyal to the Oilers and wants to earn it the hard way. Buffalo didn’t do enough to build around Eichel but we are now situated with good management. Eichel is also showing more maturity. It’s better for both teams.

[@simontrottier4484]

I don't give more credit today to Eichel because he won the Stanley Cup with Vegas, a player doesn't win the Stanley Cup, a team wins the Stanley Cup and I hate this type of self-centered player! We will be able to assess the true value of Eichel over the next few years in my opinion!

[@lucyvanpelt6470]

That quote didn’t age well eh ???😂😂😂😂. Congrats to him and all the boys !!! Sad that many people think they cheated somehow 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

[@mariamanasewitsch2977]

I was NOT happy that we traded for Eichel. At that time we (VGK) seemed to be taking in EVERY injured player. They dumped Fleury for Lehner & Tuck for Eichel. My DAD said, “just wait & see”!!! The 2021-22 season EVERYONE on the VGK was undergoing some kind of surgery. Many of them “career ending” surgeries 10-15 years ago. So, I listened to my dad & watched & waited. The 2022-23 season seemed different. After the All-Star break, they seemed like a team. Like a Stanley Cup winning team. I couldn’t be HAPPIER that Jack Eichel is a Golden Knight. He may have gone #2, but he’s ALWAYS gonna be FIRST on the SC & McDavid’s still waiting. I’m only sorry my dad didn’t get to see them win it all. He would’ve liked that. We had a rating system & we determined who should get payed for that player’s performance 😂😂😂

[@armandoortiz9114]

That's the thing about a cancer, the guy wants to win and the franchise doesn't. Good for Vegas for stepping up and taking (him)his contract.

[@apferrando]

Hold on… the ENTIRE league didn’t want him getting that surgery. He stuck up for what he believed was best for his long-term comfort - and it was exactly that, why fuse part of your neck together and cause issues later in life? Anyway, he probably did the whole league, maybe even other sports leagues too, a favor by staying hard lined to what he preferred. At the end, 2 teams caved, Buffalo took the better deal offered to them. Tuch is a monster. Both teams came away big winners in that trade.

[@forestg1743]

Great video thanks

[@christopherhall2956]

Just like how every great or moderately great player from the leafs goes on to win glad to see his potential come through much deserved

[@WaitAMinute1989]

One player does make a team, they need strong supporting teammates

[@l-wolverine2211]

@Johnny Hawkey “Cancer” is NOT the word of EVER describe a player like Jack Eichel. #SHAME!!!

[@SteelChords]

As a Vegas fan, he was one of the best players we could've had this playoffs. I know there were MULTIPLE times where I saw him win a forecheck against the boards and make a perfect pass to Marchy right in front of the net for a goal. He was everywhere on the ice for us, from Winnipeg all the way through Florida. He made his presence known all playoffs long, and I can't imagine Vegas being as dominant without him.

[@cdncitizen4700]

Seems like the "Locker Room Cancer" line was created by the owner organization, who didn't want him to get his surgery for his own well being... but good on him to find a compatible team and prove his worth !

[@csharp48]

Owners fully run the media narratives out there and fans eat it up. I mean just blindly accepting the "he demanded a trade" narrative that came out after the surgery narrative started looking terrible for Buffalo. Yeah the biggest star in Buffalo demanded a trade and zero news outlets picked it up.... some straight doublethink happening over there.

[@apferrando]

Seems like… no. That was a statement about him going back to the reason why Ryan O’Reilly wanted a trade. Why Disco Dan was fired. Why some of these other guys were his choices of coaching hires, why GMs got canned.

[@perrinayebarra]

Buffalo fans were sick of his antics long before that neck injury. He also asked for a trade an entire season before that injury. The surgery was just a tool both sides used to force the trade and try to save face.

[@cdncitizen4700]

@@perrinayebarra ... he definitely saved face...

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@cdncitizen4700 Is this an ugly joke?

[@haysbrickell9579]

Some of his passes to set up scoring chanced/ goals were other worldly. What really amazed me was how complete of a player he is.

[@fkbuki]

Just look at how much better the Sabres have been doing since he left. He brought that locker room down. His teammates even hinted at it. They actually look like they're having fun playing now. People who don't live in Buffalo don't see it like we do

[@perrinayebarra]

Brian Gionta called him being traded “an addition by subtraction”.

[@Bouncer-id1rh]

Oh please, they're better because Thompson scored goals at a rate NOBODY expected, and Tuch also could put the puck in the net. They weren't there with Eichel. Now, if the 2 above & the rest of the team could play team defense & the 200Ft game, maybe they'll make the playoffs

[@naplesluck]

​@Bouncer-id1rh it's pointless to try and argue with Buffalo fans. Most are clueless and think missing the playoffs by a point means you had a good season 😂. Been a Sabres and Bills fan my whole life but can't stand the fan bases.

[@scuffedryangosling4264]

Eichel's name is on a lot of those Marchessault goals in the playoffs.

[@jc3drums916]

Not to take anything away from how Marchessault played, but I would've given the Conn Smythe to Eichel (albeit not by much - they both played their respective positions superbly). But Marchessault's an original Misfit, and the NHL had been pushing that storyline in the last two rounds, so combine that with the run he had in the last two rounds, and it was inevitable he'd get the trophy.

[@megavore97]

Eichel was an absolute beauty to watch this post-season. Every time he had the puck he looked buttery smooth and so relaxed, and was a huge playmaker for his team.

[@rjohn3471]

Buffalo fan since 1970, sad to see how Eichel was treated but also the horrible scouting they've had. So many Western European players over recent years, talented but soft. That hasn't helped, still haunting them

[@axe2grind244]

Really gives you a glimpse into the difference between the 2 franchises. One is an expansion team in the desert that’s already been to 2 Cup finals in 6 years and the other is an almost 6 decade old hockey factory with millions of fans across the world located in the hockey-crazed Northeast that can’t even make the playoffs when 50% of the f’ing league does. Alex Tuch rules and he’s our captain but that doesn’t excuse the brutal mishandling of Eichels tenure. Don’t hire soccer managers as your HC maybe?

[@rainman8861]

As a Knights fan, I'm really happy for Tuch and how your fanbase embraced him. I have a question and I promise I'm not trying to be rude, but how come the arena never seems to be full? I mean even during a season where the team has hope they have a bottom two attendance record. I'd love to know if there is more to that a la Tampa Rays stadium situation.

[@axe2grind244]

@@rainman8861 Because people arent willing to invest lots of money into something with no return on investment. They havent made the playoffs in 12 years....would you go?

[@rainman8861]

@@axe2grind244 yes I would have this year. Even when a team is bad, it can still be fun to go and even see some of the young players develop. They played well and almost snuck into the playoffs. I've looked and it doesn't seem like tickets are too expensive, is there like an Oakland A's sort of deal going on with ownership or anything else?

[@perrinayebarra]

@@rainman8861 it’s now been an entire generation of mismanagement in Buffalo so there’s a much smaller young fan base than there used to be. Kids don’t ask their parents to go to a Sabres game anymore and a lot of older fans are so bitter they’re basically boycotting the team. It’s gonna take time to slowly win the fans back.

[@rainman8861]

@@perrinayebarra that's fair. Kind of reminds me of the miami marlins and their fanbase in ways. I hope you guys can have some success and the team regains some of the fanbase

[@danielperri2064]

dude has learned a lot and changed his whole game ! imagine he gets back to being a scoring machine. sheesh he’s gonna be a problem!

[@brianlb78]

He can still be a locker room cancer, like in all sports winning cures a lot of things this team like all teams will go through a down cycle then see how he is. It also helps that he isn't the main guy on the team. Maybe he can't handle being the captain and such and deferring that to others might be best for him. His personality is the same regardless, it's just that he is on a good team right now. Eventually players will retire, become FA, etc, etc then see how he is.

[@cameronfranke8566]

You just want him to be a locker room cancer cause your probably jealous you were proven wrong 🤣🤣 GO KNIGHTS GO

[@brianlb78]

@cameronfranke8566 no my team is STL so I have no dog in this fight. But just wait like said winning cures all and losing brings it all out. He didn't all the sudden become a different person. He is the same person just on a winning team

[@df3333]

Sounds like someone is butt hurt..stop talking crap when all the facts are out there. Not one person in Vegas said anything negative about him…being in Buffalo sucks the life out of you. Happened to many before jack and will after.

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@cameronfranke8566 Nope. Of course all the chuckleheads are probably telling everyone about the winning culture in Vegas when last year they had a losing culture - because they didn't make the playoffs... Winning team means winning culture. Major eye-roll...

[@sharksfan81hj73]

Jack Eichel has always been a fantastic player happy to see him lift the cup very enjoyable to see someone losing interest & hope in his hockey career get traded & become a much more maturer player & person lift the Stanley Cup yes it’s my team’s rivals but nothing but congrats to Vegas Fans enjoy this ride y’all got going on! Rebuilds suck imo!

[@mrdeeds72]

McDavid and Oilers fans are seething at this lol

[@747Cone]

Nah bro, I’m an Oilers fan. Some are happy for him like me. Some indifferent. No hate for the man at all.

[@poolshark121]

I love this channel

[@eldo2048]

Connor’s ego is definitely hurt jack beat him lol from a Canadian congrats Eichel and Vegas

[@bravepotatoe7513]

From what I understood the surgery wasn't even "risky" it just had never been done for a hockey player but was shown as a sucess on other athletes. Buffalo was just stubborn about going with the one commonly done in hockey.

[@dervyscram8286]

when he came back after "that hit" that was the big eff u to the detractors

[@untexan]

Good players going somewhere else and winning trophies is the clear-cut #1 sign that your team is terribly run. I grew up in Tampa when the Bucs were a total laughingstock in the 80s and 90s. It happened over and over again and we all knew why. Related note - Dale Tallon left Jonathan Marchessault exposed in the expansion draft after a 30-goal season, all so he could keep two defensive defensemen. Neither of them play for the Panthers anymore and now Marchessault has a Conn Smythe. The Panthers didn’t get going until they fired Tallon but they’re still paying for his mistakes.

[@Hekkler72]

Couple things. Eichel requested the trade before the neck thing. He didn't want to go through another rebuild since they botched the first one. That first year when Eichel came back he had a broken hand in his 6th game against FL. He still almost had a ppg with a broken hand. Eichel is gonna get Selke votes. Book it.

[@kathyclark3168]

Echel has been a favorite of mine along time, he deserved to lift it; glad he's here 😊👍

[@gambiit08]

Happy to see all the guys lift it. Esp him and stone and hill. They did great. Also love seeing Florida get spanked and kicked out

[@RonnieBlaze24]

He was a cancer in Buffalo, but Vegas had the veterans to make sure he stayed in line and he wasn't the face of the franchise. Jack and his camp picked fight over surgery because he wanted out of Buffalo season before. Doesn't hurt when your team is filled with great veteran players and way over salary cap too

[@cameronfranke8566]

Wasn’t a cancer at all ,at that time his early career in Buffalo there management was making poor moves and Buffalo themselves couldn’t find ways to win until they started drafting the right players they are now today. Buffalo fans all still think jack eichel was the only win that would help get them back to the playoffs,well sabers fans are ludicrous to think that cause it’s not a one man job .they had terrible defense terrible goal tending when he was there and terrible offense and coaching staff . So I don’t believe in curses or player cancers and this year’s Stanley cup champions proves and explains why

[@danevertt3210]

Nah, OP is right

[@RonnieBlaze24]

Team management and coaching did ruin team way before and after Jack was in Buffalo but that doesn't mean he wasn't a cancer in the locker room. His attitude and interaction with teammates and fans (especially children) was terrible, especially as a captain and well known.

[@perrinayebarra]

@@cameronfranke8566 the guy was a 100 percent dbag to the young fans in Buffalo and he lost the respect of the room and the staff because of it. Kyle okposo always had to go patch things up with kids Eichel blew off. Okposo should have been the captain all along.

[@TheCasualMark]

As a hockey player Jack is great, no doubt about it. I just think he’s selfish. Buffalo should have let him get that surgery, it’s his body and his literally his neck on the line. But in hind sight, I’m so glad he’s off the team. I know he’s the king of assists for Vegas and I’m not going to get into the body language, but it says a lot. Good for him for winning and I can’t wait for his visits to Buffalo and vice versa in the future.

[@knightofkhonshu8330]

As a Sabres fan, Eichel was an amazing player and I wanted him more than me David

[@markelscott100]

The two man game of ech and marchy is gonna be elite for yrs to come

[@paulrath7764]

Buffalo fan here - never thought Eichel was selfish, or locker-room cancer. He's always been highly skilled. IMHO, he's a shy guy, not very outgoing. He's not comfortable with media, I think would prefer not to have to talk to them at all - so it gives people a "standoff" vibe. Buffalo wanted him to be a four-star general and face of franchise at age of 21, It just isn't his personality and he was too young and green. Moreover, owners/management made stupid decisions. So Eichel felt the responsibility of big contract, and team failure - and it showed. In Vegas he doesn't need to lead and isn't face of the franchise - so its a good spot for him.

[@jeffreym.8957]

If you're just a quiet guy, why get the Stanley Cup winning coach fired and team's best leader traded?

[@MountR]

As a cats fan, congrats to Vegas number 9 and all Las Vegas fans. I hope they enjoy a once in a time opportunity like this.

[@Javster]

Very happy his surgery was a success, the cup is just such a delicious cherry on top. Now is McD's turn!

[@braddorcas9363]

Eichel played great. It wasn't just production either. He was incredibly sound defensively, back checking very effectively and disrupting a number of opposition rushes to turn it around into a break out.

[@rjcolombe]

Jack Eichel is a Stanley Cup champion. Period.

[@jeffreym.8957]

Yeah. So is Ben Hutton.

[@gabrielidusogie9189]

What website did you reference for the contracts?

[@patauclair8835]

I'm a Sabres fan and I'm happy for him. I think Buffalo didn't treat him the right way. Watching him play in Buffalo made me appreciate his skill and also his hard work. Many games playing for Buffalo it looked like Eichel was alone out there. With saying all that I think trading him helped elevate Tage Thomson's game and also made Dahlin step up to be that guy we expected him to be. I think in the end this was a trade that both team needed. Vegas gets a cup and Buffalo well hopefully they battle for one soon.

[@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj]

Gotta disagree about Buffalo not treating him right. We gave him the C (which he wanted and was upset about when it was given to O’Reilly) and $10 million dollars per year. I really can’t think of any hockey player that’s ever lived that would be upset with that.

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj They never gave the "C" to ROR. Or are you implying they were going to do that? They should have given it to ROR. It was Gionta before Jack got it.

[@SeiyaSoiya-un4jj]

@@jeffreym.8957 Ah, you’re right. Actually nobody wore the C the year I’m referring to, but ROR and Eichel were both alternates. Jack thought he deserves the C though because he was the “face of the franchise” and when he finally got it, he led the Sabres nowhere.

[@davidslife989]

GLAD someone else think the way I do, about Jack.