“It only took 7 years and me leaving for them to get into it” - Jack Eichel Buries Buffalo Fans
Last night was a big night of reunions across all sports. You had baseball being reunited back with the players. You had Ben Simmons making his return to Philadelphia to sit on the bench while the rest of the Nets kicked the crap out of the Sixers. And then you had Jack Eichel making his return, and actually playing, in Buffalo.
Now I’ll still never for the life of me understand how any Sabre fan can have their anger and hatred directed at Eichel in this situation rather than ownership and management. The whole reason he’s not playing in Buffalo anymore isn’t because that dog shit organization wasted 7 premium years of his career. It’s because the team wouldn’t allow him to get the surgery he wanted on his neck and he wasn’t comfortable putting his future health in jeopardy for a team who hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in a decade. If the idiots in charge in Buffalo just shut up and let their superstar captain get the surgery he wanted, there’s a chance Eichel is still in a Sabres uniform right now. But sure, get mad at Jack because the Pegulas are sociopaths.
Anyhoo, this is what’s great about hockey. Ben Simmons couldn’t even be bothered to look any media member in the eye yesterday in Philly, let alone answer any questions about his return. Meanwhile over in the NHL, Jack Eichel isn’t afraid to take 9 full strides and bury Buffalo fans into the boards like this. If that’s what it takes to get Buffalo back to being one of the rowdiest fanbases in hockey again, then consider this Jack Eichel’s last parting gift.
Oh and by the way, Alex Tuch didn’t have to say anything about the Golden Knights. He’ll just have the scoresheet do the talking for him.