The Golden Knights were reeling early in the season without Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, William Karlsson, and Jack Eichel. After 41 games, though, they are a respectable 22-17-2. That’s good for 46 points and second in the Pacific behind the upstart San Jose Sharks who have two games in hand. At the halfway point of the season, Jack Eichel is still listed as being 2-3 months away from returning to action.
The Winter Olympics came and went without Jack being able to participate. Without him, Team USA lost to Canada 5-4 in the semis thanks to a Brad Marchand hat trick. The Canadians ultimately won gold and Team USA settled for bronze. At the conclusion of the Olympics, Jack is 2-3 weeks away from recovery.
In March, the Golden Knights set out for a five-game eastern swing and with Eichel listed as day-to-day, I will assume he is on the trip. VGK will go through Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Winnipeg. It is the first time in this simulation that I am tempted to interfere because I want him to be able to play against Buffalo so badly. But alas, I let it play out.
He doesn’t play in the Golden Knights’ 4-3 loss in Philadelphia. However, by the next day, he’s finally on VGK’s active roster for the first time since the trade. The AI was not adequately prepared, though, and Nolan Patrick is on waivers as a result. But my god, how ridiculous would it be if Eichel’s first game as a Golden Knight is in Buffalo against the Sabres?
I realize now looking at the active roster that VGK made some trades before the deadline. Looks like Stephenson to MIN for a third and Janmark to NYI with a couple of late round picks for Loustarinen. Dadonov was also dealt for a pick.
So we do get our wish, Eichel is in between Pacioretty and Stone for his Golden Knights debut at the KeyBank Center against the Sabres. He takes the opening face-off against Casey Mittlestadt and wins it. The Sabres drive the pace of play early feeding off of, I’m assuming, a raucous crowd. Zemgus Girgensons is now wearing Eichel’s old number nine.
And Jack has his first point as a Golden Knight! He gets an assist on a Pacioretty PPG halfway through the first period.
With just under five minutes left in the first, he adds another assist on another Pacioretty goal. Honestly, this could not be going any better. The drama.
Mittelstadt scores a PPG of his own to make it 2-1 five minutes into the second period. Former Golden Knight Peyton Krebs gets the assist. VGK starts the third on the power play, but Ethan Prow scores short handed to tie the game with the assists to Alex Tuch and Krebs. The former Golden Knights are refusing to let this be solely about Eichel. On the same power play, though, Jon Marchessault gets one back to put VGK back up by one. Marchessault scores again to make it 4-2 and that’s how the game ends. Other than a Jack GWG in OT, I’m not sure we could have scripted this any better.
After the high of a perfect debut in Buffalo against his former team, Jack puts together a solid rest of the road trip. He tallies a total of two goals and three assists in four games. In his home debut against the Panthers, he records an assist on the Pacioretty insurance marker and VGK wins 2-0.
Jack Eichel finishes the 2021-22 season with seven goals and 22 assists in 24 games. That’s 29 points and a scorching 1.2 points-per-game. He has not been nominated for any awards.
The Golden Knights finished second in the Pacific to Calgary and will face Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in round one.
