Jack Eichel spoke with Stu Grimson and Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network, saying what it meant to him to be a part of the Vegas Golden Knights organization.

Eichel’s career hadn’t gone how he and many others believed it would but since joining the Golden Knights organization, he’s proved to himself and others that he is the player he once thought he could be.

Drafted second overall to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, Eichel was supposed to be the player that rivals Connor McDavid. A near impossible and unfair task that Eichel did believe he could do. With injuries and a dreadful Sabres team, Eichel’s career was derailing a bit and the discussions about the two stars ceased to exist.

A major injury to his neck and disagreements with the Sabres about which surgery he should undergo led to a trade request and the Golden Knights swooped in and acquired the North Chelmsford, Massachusetts native.

The Golden Knights permitted Eichel to get the surgery he desired and when he became healthy, he proved why it was the correct decision. He was the driving offensive force in the Golden Knights Stanley Cup-winning run and out-duelled McDavid in the playoffs as well.

Now with every Golden Knight UFA exiting this offseason, the 27-year-old will need to carry the offensive burden once again and prove he is the franchise player. The Golden Knights believe in him and he believes in the Golden Knights organization.

“Coming into the organization and being a part of it, it’s such an easy place to play hockey in the sense of that the organization takes such good care of us, there’s so many great guys in the locker room. So many veterans, leaders and amazing people so for me it was a seamless transition. I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Vegas Golden Knights organization and everyone from Bill Foley to the equipment managers to the trainers, make you feel very welcomed since day one.”

With greater offensive duties, Eichel must step up and further prove the player he is and how much he cares about the organization’s success.

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