Jack Eichel: 2022 Fantasy Hockey Ride Or Die
I am taking a stand. If there is one player I’m leaving every fantasy hockey draft this year, it’s Jack Eichel. The VGK first-line center has league winner written all over him the breakout season is on the way. Eichel is my ride-or-die and there is just nothing I want more stock in than this.
Eichel, 25, is set to have a monster year. Don’t listen to Emma Brown, our guy Jack wasn’t 100% last year and it should be viewed as a miracle he even played last year. Eichel’s career high point total in Buffalo was 82 as a 22 year old. The year after he notched 78 points. In 2022? I think we’re looking at over 100 points for the former Boston area product.
A: This is the most talent by far that Eichel has ever been surrounded by. It’s not even close. His powerplay unit will consist of Mark Stone, Reilly Smith, Shea Theodore, and Chandler Stephenson. Let’s also not forget about Alex Pietrangelo and Jonathan Marchessault too. This VGK side is just infinitely better than anything Eichel has ever had.
B: Eichel played out of his mind last year all things considered. We’re talking about a guy that was coming back from a serious neck procedure. The procedure he got is also beneficial for his long term health. Eichel is still in the midst of his prime here. With a full offseason to recover while being pissed at the haters who doubt him? Yeah, sign me up.
C: The coaching change is going to help him. Bruce Cassidy has been foaming at the mouth to coach this guy. The Bruins had serious interest in trading for Eichel who is from the Boston area. Instead, Cassidy gets Eichel in Vegas instead. This Knights team missed the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history after the year of hell. Vegas finds its way back in the postseason and it will be on the heels of a big year from Eichel.
D: Even if Eichel doesn’t have the 100-point year I think he will, this ranking is still far too low. ESPN has Eichel ranked 41st overall. My first year doing fantasy hockey which was three years ago, Eichel was ranked 9th on a terrible Sabres team. This is an all-world talent. There just simply are not 41 hockey players better.
Don’t sit here and tell me Chris Kreider is going to outscore him. Ditto for Timo Meier. It’s blatant disrespect. We’re talking about the guy who got picked in the draft one spot behind Connor McDavid and would have been the first pick any other year. This is a first-line center making a $10 million AAV. Eichel should be viewed as a top-20 play. Being ranked outside the top 40 is sinful and ESPN ranker Sean Allen will look silly again.
Ride or die. Jack Eichel is your man. He’s the league winner for fantasy hockey in 2022. Monster season coming. Just know who called it when it happens.
