Eichel savors Stanley Cup title after hard road to 1st playoffs

LAS VEGAS -- Jack Eichel always hoped he'd get this chance, to get the opportunity to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs and of course to win a championship.

Moments after he reached the pinnacle with the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, the forward, who hadn't been to the playoffs in his first seven seasons in the NHL, was asked if this is how he thought it would be.

"I'm going to soak this one in in a little bit and I'll let you know," Eichel said after the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup for the first time in their six NHL seasons when they defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

"I'm going to enjoy this one."

It was a joyous moment for Eichel, who celebrated the Cup with teammates, family and friends.

"It's a life-long dream, just to get your hands on that thing," Eichel said about hoisting the Stanley Cup. "You never know if it's going to happen, and to be able to do it."

Whether it was scoring, setting up his Golden Knights teammates on their goals, backchecking, Eichel was tremendous. He led the NHL with 26 postseason points (six goals, 20 assists), the assists the most in playoff history for the Golden Knights. Forward Reilly Smith had 17 in 2017-18, when Vegas advanced to the Cup Final in its inaugural season, losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.

"I mean, first playoff, first win for him, right? That's a pretty good average," said Golden Knights forward and Eichel's linemate Jonathan Marchessault, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason.

""Honestly, ever since he came in last year, we were just a different team and he's a game-changer for our group. He's been unbelievable and this (Conn Smythe) trophy could've definitely gone to him, too."

Eichel had eight assists in five games in the Final, tied for the most among active players with forward Mikko Rantanen, who had eight last season for the Colorado Avalanche in their Cup Final win against the Tampa Bay Lightning (six games).

"He's been very good," Vegas forward William Karlsson said. "He's playing a 200-foot game and yeah, he's been unreal. Just what we needed and that's why we're here."

Eichel played six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres after they made him the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft after Connor McDavid was selected No. 1 by the Edmonton Oilers. He had 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games with the Sabres.

But after sustaining a herniated disk in the 2020-21 season, Eichel wanted to have artificial disk replacement (ADR) surgery. The Sabres said they preferred a fusion procedure. On Sept. 21, 2021, the Sabres stripped Eichel of the captaincy after he failed his physical at training camp due to the herniated disk.

He was acquired by the Golden Knights from the Sabres for forwards Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch and two draft picks on Nov. 4, 2021, and had the ADR surgery, the first NHL player to do so, eight days later.

After a recovery time of just over three months, Eichel made his debut with the Golden Knights in a 2-0 loss to the Avalanche on Feb. 17, 2022. He finished the 2021-22 season with 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 34 games but the Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time.

This season, Eichel led Vegas with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games and he continued the production in the postseason.

"I'm just proud of Jack," Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. "No one needs to explain Jack Eichel. His play, his leadership, the kind of teammate he is, next to none."

RELATED: [Video: FLA@VGK, Gm5: Eichel speaks about winning the Cup]

Eichel said after Game 5 he doubted he'd ever reach this stage of the playoffs.

"It's the hardest thing in the world. So many people go through their whole career without having the opportunity to hoist a Stanley Cup. I think it's only human nature to let some doubt creep in when you don't make the playoffs for an extended period of time. You're wondering if it will ever happen," he said.

"Then you come here and you start to feel the culture and I don't know. I thought we just believed in ourselves through the whole playoffs. We knew the type of team we had. A lot of things have to go right for you to win it. I mean, we stayed healthy for the most part. We had contributions from everyone. I don't know, it was a pretty special run and to cap it off like this here at home makes it that much better."

Eichel's first Cup with was made more special with his family, including parents Bob and Anne Eichel, in attendance.

"You get choked up, seeing your family," he said. "They've been with you since the beginning. You almost want to win it for them more than for you, you think of all the [stuff] you've been through and they're by your side every day. It means a lot.

"I have such a great support staff back home, family, girlfriend, my girlfriend's family, my friends. So, I feel real fortunate and grateful for that and to be able to share this moment with them, that makes it that much more special."

Eichel has been through the ups and downs of the NHL. He's had the tough seasons, the trying injuries and he came out the other side. The Golden Knights gave him the opportunity he was waiting for: to get to the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup, and he was a massive reason why they hoisted the Cup on Tuesday.

"So happy to be a part of this team, this organization and this city with these fans. I mean, it's awesome," Eichel said. "I feel really fortunate and blessed to be a part of this."