Jack Eichel Has Surgery, Return Timeline Revealed By Golden Knights

The defending Stanley Cup champs are going to have to make do without their top center for some time to come, as Jack Eichel has undergone lower-body surgery and has been labeled week-to-week for a return.

UPDATE: Jack Eichel had successful lower-body surgery and will be out week-to-week. #VegasBorn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 16, 2024

Eichel had his left knee pinned against the boards after a hit by the Boston Bruins' Matt Grzelcyk, but was originally thought to have suffered just some sort of skate blade malfunction when he was shuttled off the ice on his knees on January 11th. But in the days since, insider Elliotte Friedman has noted that the Golden Knights were getting “nervous“ about Eichel’s status.

Here's where Jack Eichel initially lost his skate blade and labored off the ice a little bit#VegasBorn https://t.co/QQK0a2SqPf pic.twitter.com/okPv3zg1z9
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 12, 2024

In 42 games this season, he's found the net on 19 occasions, while adding 25 assists for 44 points.

Eichel, the No. 2 overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres back in the 2015 NHL entry draft, has played 518 career games to date, recording 199 goals and 291 assists for 490 points.

It’s an especially tough loss for the Golden Knights, who are already without center William Karlsson, who is also out week-to-week.

“We need guys to step up when anybody gets hurt,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said after Eichel went down. “ When you take any team’s two of the top three (centers) out, it’s going to affect your group.”

Chandler Stephenson and Nicolas Roy will really have to step up their contributions in the pivot with those two key centers out.

The Golden Knights have struggled of late, going 4–6 in their last 10 games, and sit second in the Pacific Division with 55 points on a record of 25 –14–5, trailing the first-place Vancouver Canucks by seven points. They’ve split the two games since Eichel has gone down, and will try to stay close to the Canucks until their top pivots return.

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports