Jack Eichel
A supremely skilled center whose journey from franchise cornerstone to Stanley Cup champion with Vegas redefined his career and resilience.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: October 28·Millennials
Biography
Jack Eichel's hockey trajectory was marked by can't-miss talent and, later, a very public test of will. Hailing from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, he dominated the USHL and became a star at Boston University, winning the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top college player. Drafted second overall by Buffalo in 2015, he was anointed the savior of a struggling franchise, signing a massive contract and wearing the captain's 'C'. But years of team struggles and a bitter, season-long standoff over a preferred neck surgery for a herniated disk led to a seismic trade in 2021. Landing in Vegas, Eichel finally got his procedure and, with a clean bill of health, became the dynamic engine the Golden Knights needed. In 2023, he led all playoff scorers, silencing doubters and lifting the Stanley Cup, completing a dramatic redemption arc on hockey's biggest stage.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jack was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Jack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, leading all playoff scorers with 26 points.
- Awarded the Hobey Baker Award in 2015 as the top player in NCAA men's ice hockey while at Boston University.
- Represented the United States at multiple IIHF World Championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
- Recorded a career-high 36 goals and 82 points for the Buffalo Sabres during the 2019-20 NHL season.
Did You Know?
He played just one season of college hockey at Boston University before turning professional.
Eichel and Connor McDavid were the two headlining prospects of the 2015 NHL Draft, creating a long-term rivalry.
He is an avid golfer and has participated in professional celebrity tournaments.
His trade from Buffalo to Vegas involved Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, and two draft picks.
“I think I've been through a lot in my career. I've had some ups and downs. This makes it all worth it.”
