Two months after complex neck surgery, Jack Eichel finally put the skates on the ice with his new Vegas Golden Knights teammates on Tuesday.
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“It was incredible,” Eichel told the media after practice. It was an emotional moment for me. I am like a child on Christmas Day. ”
Eichel wore a red non-contact sweater during Tuesday morning’s optional practice in Vegas.
In mid-November, the 25-year-old American center, who suffered from a herniated disc, had an artificial vertebrae in his neck, unheard of in the National Hockey League (NHL).
A less arduous process than expected
“I almost feel recovered,” added the second overall pick at the 2015 auction, behind Connor McDavid. [L’opération] was much simpler than I expected. To be honest, everything went really well. ”
After a saga that lasted more than a year, the Buffalo Sabers, who refused to Eichel undergo the operation he wanted, finally traded to the Golden Knights on November 4. In return, the Sabers got their hands on forwards Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs as well as two draft picks.
“I’m really happy to have stayed true to my beliefs,” continued the former Boston University. At the end of the day, everything turned out as I hoped. “
In 375 NHL games, Eichel has scored 139 goals and amassed 355 points. He still hasn’t made a playoff game in the league.
The striker also took the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of the NHL from the Beijing Olympics.
“Like a lot of players, I was very frustrated,” he said. I’m not saying I would have been healthy in time to be able to participate, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t have been either. I am really frustrated with this decision. ”
He thus joins his voice to several other stars of the NHL, such as Brad Marchand and McDavid, who have criticized this controversial choice.