After a lengthy feud with the Buffalo Sabres organization, Jack Eichel underwent neck surgery. The 24-year-old centre got a disc replacement surgery, his preferred treatment. Eichel’s surgery was announced on Friday and is said to have went well.
Jack Eichel‘s artificial disc replacement surgery in his neck has been completed, and early reports say that the procedure went well.https://t.co/etpLYQ1b47
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 12, 2021
Jack Eichel Gets Neck Surgery
During the 2020-21 season, Eichel suffered from a herniated disc. While both he and the Sabres recognized the need for surgery, each party favored a different type of operation. Eichel’s preferred option, disc replacement, involved inserting an artificial disc to replace the herniated disc. The Sabres management, however, pushed for the fusion of the vertebrae, a more documented treatment.
Last season, Eichel scored two goals and 16 assists for 18 points. He also recorded six penalty minutes. His possession numbers were 63.0 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 18.3. Over his six-year NHL career, Eichel has remained with the Buffalo Sabres. He has 139 goals and 216 assists for 355 career points in 375 career games. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, second overall in the 2015 NHL draft.
What This Means for the Future
For the the Knights, Eichel’s scheduled surgery is great news. Buffalo struggled greatly last season even with Eichel in the lineup. Consequently, having the star centre miss so many games during the latter half of the season was disastrous for the team. Although Eichel will have to miss the beginning of the upcoming season, he may be able to take the ice later on if he gets the surgery soon.
However, Eichel’s spat with team management over his surgery may be the last straw. He has featured heavily in trade rumours over the past couple seasons, and this incident only served to heighten speculation. Vegas took a gamble on the former second overall pick and now awaits his debut in a lineup needing goals.
