(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
In the first intermission of Tuesday’s Golden Knights and Kings game ESPN analyst and hockey legend Mark Messier made some interesting observations after only 20 minutes played into the 2022-23 season. The six-time Stanley Cup winner was critical of Jack Eichel’s patented passive attitude.
I love Jack Eichel, I think he’s one of the most talented players in the league. It’s a massive year for him. I’d like for him to come out and say ‘I want to be the best player in the league and I want to win a Stanley Cup’ and take the assertiveness that the team wants to see on and off the ice. He doesn’t have to be apologetic for saying he wants to be the best player in the league and win a Stanley Cup. Massive year for Jack Eichel. -Mark Messier, Hall of Famer & ESPN analyst
Some would argue Eichel’s mild demeanor is an important element of his success. The 25-year-old has never suited up for a postseason series, and yet he’s done an admirable job of covering up past frustrations. The Messiah believes it is time for Eichel to put that behind him and act more brash and cocky.
Messier made his remarks after Eichel’s intermission interview. Keep in mind, ESPN aired this interview twice to highlight Messier’s pronouncement.
I just want to try and play well every night and help this team win hockey games. Whether it’s helping offensively or defensively, whatever it is. Just try and win hockey games. -Jack Eichel on ESPN
In no way was Messier challenging Eichel’s character, the ESPN analyst simply stated it’s time to drive a team to a Stanley Cup Final. And it wasn’t just him. Even Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios echoed Messier’s plea. The former Red Wing acknowledged Eichel’s steady play but demanded a full season of success.
He’s been in the league long enough, he has to understand now what his role has to be. He’s got to be a leader and he has to sound like a leader. -Chris Chelios, Hall of Famer & ESPN analyst
Right on cue, Eichel later broke an early 3rd period tie, which the two hockey greats acknowledged. In 120 minutes of play the Golden Knights top offensive weapon has one goal, took nine shots on skated 33 minutes.
That’s what any reasonable analyst could ask for after only two games.
Could Messier’s critique have any influence on Eichel? He’s realistic and understands Connor McDavid is the best player in the NHL, and he’s not interested in distracting or alienating his team. Both show signs of being a great teammate focusing solely on winning and not giving a bleep what former players have to say. Stating he’s the best player in the league would only draw confusion.
Then again, Mess did win six Cups.
TS
Jack needs to really step up in the 4th quarter this year…Go LVGK!
TS
Ts, nice try. I’m not as stupid as your fake post is, dude. Go back to your cave.
THE hockey GOD
I had a cockmeat sandwich several times but once in the town of Idaho Falls Idaho. I ordered a tomato jizz pizza, precisely, and when I got it , it was all white. I bit into it expecting extra tomato sauce under the cheese. More cockmeat. I asked the person who took my order “What is this?”
“you ordered a potato pizza”
“No I ordered a cockmeat sandwich”
“I am sure you said potato!”
“no I said cockmeat”
“Nope, potato”
“Cockmeat”
“potato”
“tomato – I am not eating this, it tastes like ,well potato”
“sorry but you said potato”
“let me speak to manager”
“Hello my name is John Mormon, and I hope you are having a nice day.
Isn’t it beautiful today in Idado Falls, have you seen the Falls…”
“yes nice, I ordered a cockmeat sandwich not a potato pizza”.
“let me see that, oh yes, this is a potato pizza, I truly hope you enjoy it.
There are many nice things to do in Idaho Falls. Like see the first
Mormon Temple every built in Idado along the Snake River, and
see all the wildlife. The other day some elk…”
“excuse me what about this potato pizza, I ordered a tomato….”
“we make the best potato pizza’s in the whole state. I hope you
enjoyed the pizza. Did you see all the potato farms. Idaho is number
one in potatoes. And Isee you are from California. Most people
like it when you Califonians visit our wonderful state, but we
hope you don’t stay”/
“geez, we are getting no where, have a nice day”
“yes have a nice day, I hope you enjoyed your potato pizza, the
BEST in the state. Come back again! Here’s a condom, buy
one cockmeat sandwich and get half off on a second one. Don’t be a
stranger!”
knights fan in minny
your sick punk
TS
Minny, I think Obvious is now coming after me. Guess he gave up on you, so it’s my turn. Obvious is obviously just a manchild/ boyinfant. His mommy let him borrow her phone..
THE hockey GOD
^^^^ who is this clown , can’t even do copy and paste right on an excellent piece of work lamenting Ken’s lack of finding potato’s at Boise game in Idaho ?? Plagiarizes a classic well written work and proceeds to insert sick and twisted words, completely changing the spirit of the original work into something evil, sick and twisted.
Seek help lots of it. The original piece was copy righted, expect a call from a lawyer soon. Then get out your check book. Be prepared to write a lot of crooked numbers followed by a lot of zeros.
Blitz
LOL
Nessa
hockey god, What the hell is the matter with you? Came to this site looking for Vegas hockey news and found this Thanks for making me puke.
TS
I haven’t had one of those sandwiches in decades
TS
I’m just here for the hockey. Pete DeBoer has our boys ready this year, and boy did Lehner look great last night! I love LVGK so much!
knights fan in minny
you are the dumbest person on the planet playing your little games and playing stupid f off dumb ass crawl back under your rock loser
knights fan in minny
get lost you nauseating piece of crap
Blitz
LOL
Sorvino
I think Eichel just needs to be himself. I disagree with Messier. If Eichel tries to take over the team he will be looked at as selfish and disrespectful. I think he just needs to be a guy and let the leadership stuff be on the shoulders of Stone and Pietrangelo for now. Go get your 45 goals and 95 points and everything else will fall in place.
THE hockey GOD
i see no purpose for this piece, author could have picked from a large amount of other topics to write about during opening week of hockey.
I used to respect this HOFer (not chelios) until I saw him picking up “women”, let’s call them that to keep this post family G rated, during a pre season game in which the Rangers used to play back in the day at Ceasar’s palace.
Sarah
No purpose for this piece? You have 4 of the 18 comments including a very strange trip to Idaho.
THE hockey GOD
sarah, half those posts were not mine, but the False God !! aka OBVIOUS poster, also known as TS (fake poster for real TS), who really is clown from North vegas who has had about five prior aliases. I lost track of them all.
and welcome to the jungle.
ten commandments, commandment no. 4 “thou shall not have false gods before the Lord thy God ”
the fifth line
Emmanuel
30-40-70 is reasonable but very difficult. Only 17 players scored 40G last year, and it was a high scoring year. Jeeez give JE a break.
What this team needs is 2 or 3 guys to move up to 15-20 G plateau and a commitment to defense.
THE hockey GOD
meanwhile in real news that matters
Matyas Sapovaliv
is tearing up the OHL playing for the, the , wait for it. Saginaw Spirits (what is a spirit?)
five goals in six games.
Keep this up , and he will be up with big team soon ! He’s 18. (just don’t send him to Portland pot heads).
THE hockey GOD
in last night’s action
detroit “hockeytowned” the Hab (less) 3-0
winnipeg “jet lagged” the blue shirts 4-1
Carolina filleted the sharks 2-1
and Tampa Bay bullwhacked the Blue Jackets 5 to 2. giving them no quarter
at all in this game
THE FIFTH LINE
gkg
Tim
Big game tonight we need the points against an inferior opponent because the road gets much more difficult after this game. Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Colorado now that’s a tough 4 game span thank goodness three of the four games are at home. If we split I’d be very happy.
Bud
Alex Tuch scores against the Calgary Flames has more goals than Eichel and as many points. He is also a team leader.
Bud
Alex Tuch scored 3 goals against the Calgary Flames tonight. He has five times as more goals than Eichel. He is also a team leader. Oh and he gets paid less than half the 10 million each year that Eichel gets.