Being drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL entry draft, Jack Eichel brought hope back to Buffalo fans that their era of constant rebuilding was over. Now, eight years later, Eichel is enjoying a Stanley Cup victory after being cast out of Buffalo.
Wishing to receive a higher-technology neck surgery that the Sabres were unwilling to approve, Eichel's frustrations bubbled over with the organization. After years of failure to build a competitive team in Buffalo, on top of his injury concerns, Eichel was granted a trade to Vegas in 2021. Sabres fans now have since had an utter distaste for Eichel, who seems to particularly enjoy his personal success given the alternative in Buffalo.
Now that Eichel has the pedigree of being a first line centre of a cup-winning team on the back of two extremely successful years in Vegas, his reputation around the league has changed for the better. After being mired in years of poor rosters in Buffalo, maybe fans are finally just getting to see the true Jack Eichel.
