Eichel set for first return to Buffalo with Golden Knights

BUFFALO --Jack Eichel said he has no ill will toward the Buffalo Sabres.

"No bitterness. None whatsoever," the Vegas Golden Knights forward said ahead of his return to KeyBank Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE).
"I had a phenomenal time here in Buffalo, living out a childhood dream playing my first NHL game. The city, the organization was great to me and my family.
"Again, no bitterness whatsoever."
Eichel was traded to the Golden Knights by the Sabres, along with a third-round pick in the 2023 or 2024 NHL Draft, for forwards Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, a first-round pick in the 2022 or 2023 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2023 or 2024 draft on Nov. 4, 2021.
The 25-year-old, who was selected by the Sabres with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, said it was awkward arriving at the arena he called his NHL home for his first six seasons and finding his way to the visitors locker room.
Eichel and the Sabres parted ways because of a disagreement on how to treat a herniated disk in his neck that kept him out of the final 33 games last season. Buffalo was not comfortable with his desire to have artificial disk replacement surgery, which had never before been performed on an NHL player, and opted to trade him to Vegas, which allowed him to have the procedure.
He had the surgery on Nov. 12 and made his Golden Knights debut on Feb. 16, his first NHL game since March 7, 2021. He has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games with Vegas.
"Listen, there was a disagreement in the medical [treatment]," he said. "They're doctors and I'm not. I seeked out my own opinions and I felt more comfortable going one way. The [Sabres] felt more comfortable the other way. We disagreed and things played out the way that they did.
"Obviously, I was moved and was able to get the surgery that I wanted. And here I am healthy playing hockey again. I'm just happy to be playing hockey again."
So is Vegas coach Peter DeBoer, who said Eichel played his best game with the Golden Knights in a 2-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, when he had an assist and nine shots on goal in 20:29 of ice time.
"I think when I first started, I wanted to give myself 10 games," Eichel said. "Obviously, you don't have a training camp, you don't have a preseason. It's a long break in terms of playing and everybody else has been playing for however many months. They're 50 games into their season. Everyone is in top shape. I wanted to give myself 10 games.
"I feel like I've gotten better. Tried to work on different things every game. Last night, I felt like I had a strong game, so I just want to try to build off that."
Eichel said he has been wondering what the reaction will be like from the Buffalo fans toward the former Sabres captain, who scored 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 NHL games with them.
"Obviously, you have those thoughts and think about what sort of reception you are going to get," he said. "But I can't control that. I feel I gave everything I had during my time in Buffalo to the organization and to the community, so I'm at peace with all that. Whatever their reception is, I'll be able to handle it.
"It's hockey. And when the puck drops and you get a shift under your belt, I think it just becomes a game."
Eichel wore a big smile during much of practice Wednesday, looking around the KeyBank Center stands that were so familiar to him. At one point, he laughed with a teammate after unleashing one timers from the top of the face-off circle.
"I told him I'd scored a few from that very spot," Eichel said with a chuckle.
His time with Buffalo wasn't always so jovial, though, especially because the Sabres never qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs during his time with them.
When asked if he wished things had worked out better with his first NHL team, Eichel responded, "Of course."
"This city gave me so much, the organization gave me so much. So I think if you asked any guy that came through here during the time I was here, we had some really, really good groups in the locker room and a lot of really good people," he said. "There are some amazing people that work for the Sabres organization. Those are the people you want to have success for."
Eichel also said he takes his share of blame for Buffalo's inability to reach the postseason.
"I think every guy has to look in the mirror, myself included," he said. "I was the captain and the leader of the group and we didn't have enough success. So of course, a lot of that falls on my shoulders."
DeBoer said he hopes Eichel doesn't feel similar pressure when he takes to the ice against his former team.
"He was fully invested in Buffalo, in this team, in this franchise, in these fans, so that's not easy," DeBoer said. "And you know, it's something that's weighing on him.
"We've got to work through it together here."