Jack Eichel takes one final shot at the Buffalo Sabres and their fans

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Josh Tupper
September 15, 2023 (3:55 PM)

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Jack Eichel was drafted 2nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL Draft. With him Eichel brought hope to Buffalo, giving fans something to finally cheer for during a dark period for the franchise. Now, fast forward eight years, Eichel is now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights and he is now a Stanley Cup Champion.

Eichel demanded a trade after he and the Sabres were unable to come to an agreement on a course of treatment for Eichel's injured neck. Eichel's frustrations bubbled over with the team. After years of failure to make the playoffs in Buffalo, on top of his injury concerns, Eichel was granted a trade to Vegas in 2021.

Since the trade Eichel has been public enemy number one in Buffalo.

In a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic, Eichel had a specific comment directed towards the Sabres organization and the fans that gave up on him.

If I were going to sit here and tell you it didn't feel good to shut a lot of people up or prove them wrong, I'd be lying.

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.