Justin Emerson
Golden Knights striker Jack Eichel speaks to the media at the City National Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, November 8, 2021.
Monday, November 8, 2021 | 5:45 p.m.
If Jack Eichel had undergone the operation he wanted, if he wanted, he would most likely have recovered and play hockey again.
Eichel was sold last week by the Sabers to the Golden Knights, with whom he had publicly argued over the best way to take care of his injured neck. That’s an important reason why a player of his caliber was available in the first place, and an important reason why he stood on the podium at the City National Arena on Monday as the new Golden Knight.
“Relief is the best way to describe it,” said Eichel. “I’ve been through a lot in the past eight months, physically, mentally and emotionally. I think calming it all down and playing hockey again is a pretty good feeling. “
Eichel is expected to undergo artificial disc replacement surgery (ADR) on Friday and begin the recovery path that experts predict will take three to five months. Eichel is hoping to hit the shorter end of that timeline which could make him his Vegas debut after the All-Star / Olympic break in late February.
And yes, this is an operation that Eichel wanted more than three to five months ago. He was injured during the Sabers game against the Islanders on March 7 and has not played since.
NHL players suffering from this type of neck injury are more likely to undergo a procedure called anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF), which has a longer recovery time and which one of Eichel’s doctors said was at greater risk of getting worse again later and more surgeries could have life.
ADR has never been performed on an NHL player, but it’s not uncommon outside of hockey, even in the sports world. Eichel insisted on ADR, but the Sabers had the final say on his treatment and declined his request.
They didn’t want to give him an ADR, and Eichel refused the merger. It resulted in a stalemate that has recently sparked rumors or complaints and complaints about a solution. The relationship between Buffalo and Eichel was broken.
Eichel’s situation made headlines nationwide and sparked a conversation about player autonomy. As stipulated in the collective agreements (CBA) between the league and the players’ association, the teams have a full say in the treatment of their players.
“I think my situation has shed some light on some things that could be changed in our CBA, and I hope that will be the case in the future,” said Eichel. “I think the whole process around it is maybe a little gray. I don’t necessarily agree that the team has a full say in your medical treatment. I think it should be a collaboration. “
He admitted that he didn’t know when a change might come, considering the CBA was only renegotiated last year. It will run in its current form until 2026.
As an unofficial spokesman for players ‘medical rights, Eichel joins a former Buffalo teammate in Vegas who has also spoken out for players’ rights. Robin Lehner was one of the first to reach out to Eichel about his situation, and Lehner was noisy in Eichel’s corner during his argument with the Sabers.
“First and foremost, I’m just happy for him,” said Lehner last week. “He’s allowed to go and take care of his body in his own way. I think it’s a big step for us players in the league that we respect his choice and I wish him all the best in his recovery. “
Eichel was drafted to second overall by Buffalo in 2015 with the promise of taking a franchise to new heights with a rabid fan base. He certainly did his part in making the all-rookie team in 2016, scoring 139 goals and 355 points in 375 games with the Sabers, and finishing eighth in the MVP race in his last healthy season.
But with Eichel, the Sabers never reached the postseason. One of the brightest stars in ice hockey never had a chance to play when the games were most important. However, Eichel was unwilling to recall any negative aspects of his tenure on the ice in Buffalo.
“I think when you look back on the big picture, you’re very lucky,” said Eichel. “The city has done me, my family, so good, we have had a lot of great experiences there. We didn’t achieve what we wanted successfully and that’s frustrating because the fans there were so good to us and supported us in good times and bad, so you definitely get the feeling that you wanted to give them more and we did couldn’t to.
“I think it was a bit unfortunate how things ended, but I’m very grateful to have been part of the organization and wish we could have done more to make the city a success.”
Acorn is in Vegas now, all the baggage of the end of his time with Buffalo behind. He was welcomed like a hero yesterday when he arrived at his hotel for a welcome party hosted by mascots, show girls and a band, although he joked that when he passed the airport without fanfare, he thought he knew.
He joked about the weather and how after 25 years in Boston, Michigan, and Buffalo, he doesn’t know what it will be like to live in Pacific Time and warm weather. As a Patriots fan, he said he had always admired Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and was looking forward to testing out his new home’s soccer team.
“It’s probably a cliché, but everything happens for a reason,” said Eichel. “All of the stuff I’ve been through and worked on all summer brings you to this point I think and I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
Comments are closed.