logo
4 Nations is another chance for Jack Eichel to show how he has evolved into an elite NHL player

4 Nations is another chance for Jack Eichel to show how he has evolved into an elite NHL player

BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) — Jack Eichel is not the most well-known American in hockey. He's not even the most famous center from his country, thanks to captain Auston Matthews and his star power.
He's just the United States' best and most important player, less than two years removed from keying the Vegas Golden Knights' Stanley Cup run and yet still somehow underappreciated beyond the most dedicated watchers of the sport and those around him.
Drafted second behind Connor McDavid a decade ago and having persevered through a neck injury that threatened to derail his career, the international stage of the 4 Nations Face-Off with the Milan Olympics a year away is another chance for Eichel to play his way out of that shadow and show off how much he has evolved.
'He's elite in so many capacities,' U.S. coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday. 'He's always had an offensive dimension to his game. The physical attributes that he has, just with his size, his skating ability, his puck-handling ability, his vision, he can play any type of game. He can beat you a number of different ways.'
And he does. Eichel, at 6-foot-2 and just over 200 pounds, has the size to overpower opponents and a skating stride so effortless that he blows by defenders. Vegas captain Mark Stone said, 'It doesn't look like he's going very fast' but Eichel can turn on the afterburners with ease.
'He might not be miles an hour the fastest guy in the league, but if he needs to take two hard steps and beat a guy, he's beating him — the guy's not catching him,' Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill said. 'He's so strong and just a freak athlete.'
What makes Eichel elite is how he augments that athleticism with keen awareness of who's around him on the ice, where the puck is and how to navigate just about every situation in a game. U.S. teammate Chris Kreider marvels at Eichel's 'ability to take over the game and make everyone play at his speed.'
'His skating's so smooth with how he handles the puck and his ability to scan and take in information and then make the right plays, there's really not anything he can't do,' Kreider said.
Eichel scored 26 goals and recorded 45 assists in 40 games in his one season of college hockey at Boston University, and he quickly became a point-a-game player a few years into the NHL with Buffalo. But the defensive prowess that sets him apart from his peers came more recently, after Bruce Cassidy began coaching him in Vegas after having six-time Selke Trophy-winning center Patrice Bergeron in Boston.
'As I've gotten older and wanted to build my game, it's a detail that I think I've learned to focus on a bit more,' Eichel said. 'It's something that helps you win games, and I realized how important it was if I wanted to gain the coach's trust and to be out on the ice in big moments that I needed him to be able to trust me in those situations, and that meant being responsible defensively. I definitely put a lot of work into it and take pride in it. You're always an unfinished product, so always working to get better.'
Former Sabres teammate Rasmus Dahlin, who's playing for Sweden at the 4 Nations, said Eichel 'was using his speed a lot back in the days, but now he's using his brain way more.' Sullivan has noticed Eichel's play away from the puck improving, as well.
Maybe it takes seeing him up close on a daily basis to understand everything Eichel can do.
'I didn't realize how good he was until I played on his team,' Hill said. 'He can take over a game and is so calm and poised with the puck, just sees the ice different. It is like the game is moving in slow motion out there. He's one of those rare players.'
Now 28, Eichel is squarely in his prime and, along with the country's absurd goaltending talent, is a big reason the U.S. could seriously contend for Olympic gold in Milan. After the NHL skipped the Games in 2018 and withdrew late from sending players in 2022, Eichel said playing in that tournament is an opportunity he and many others around the league would love to have.
But first, he's got the 4 Nations in front of him, with games in Montreal and Boston to add another chapter to his legacy. Viewers will get an up-close look at Eichel against the best competition from Finland, Canada and Sweden and might see why teammates like Florida's Matthew Tkachuk think he's a dominant No. 1 center.
'It's his size, it's his skating, it's the hands and it's the shot, the smarts,' Tkachuk said. 'Quite frankly, he's one of the best players in the league.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

LAFC close to loan deal: Dutch winger set to turn out at Club World Cup
LAFC close to loan deal: Dutch winger set to turn out at Club World Cup

Yahoo

time31 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

LAFC close to loan deal: Dutch winger set to turn out at Club World Cup

Javairo Dilrosun could be in action at the Club World Cup. According to VoetbalPrimeur, the latest rumours suggest Los Angeles FC have signed the Dutch forward on loan from Club America. 'Dilrosun is the first – and possibly only – signing during the special transfer window for one of the three MLS clubs participating in the World Cup,' GiveMeSport claim, with Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami keeping quiet. Advertisement 'Dilrosun will bolster Los Angeles FC's attack for the Club World Cup behind star player Denis Bouanga.' Details about the potential transfer of Dilrosun, who is under contract in Mexico until the summer of 2026, were not shared. LAFC are in a group with Chelsea, Flamengo and Espérance Sportive de Tunis at the Club World Cup. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is among the players under contract with the American team. Dilrosun was part of the youth academies of Ajax and Manchester City and eventually ended up at Hertha BSC in his career. Via Girondins de Bordeaux he moved to Feyenoord in 2022. The Rotterdammers sold Dilrosun to Club America at the beginning of 2024. In 2018, Dilrosun played one international match for the Dutch national team in the Nations League. GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield

Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural
Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins are joining efforts to restore the defaced mural of baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso in Miami's Overtown neighborhood, which was marked with racist graffiti last week. City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King announced Wednesday that she along with the Marlins, Urgent, Inc., Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and other community activists will lead the restoration at Dorsey Park, where community leaders said a 7-year-old boy first discovered the vandalism last Sunday and asked his mother what the words and the Nazi symbols meant. 'This vile assault was an attack on our values, history, and community,' King said in a statement. 'We are actively working with law enforcement and the public to identify the individual(s) responsible for this intolerable act. However, even in the darkest hours, light finds its way to shine. This is a reminder and testament to the strength of our community, coming together to restore peace, beauty, and pride to this neighborhood.' Police were investigating the incident but have not made any arrests. City workers have since partially covered the murals of Robinson and Miñoso, an Afro-Cuban player, with wooden boards. The murals are along a fence at Dorsey Park, where Negro League teams once played baseball. The Marlins' home ballpark loanDepot park is just a few miles from the park. 'In light of the deeply troubling acts of vandalism at Dorsey Park, the Miami Marlins today proudly stand in solidarity with the City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King, and our local leaders in unequivocally condemning this hateful and racist act,' said Marlins owner Bruce Sherman. 'Dorsey Park is not only a landmark of historical and cultural significance in South Florida — it is a powerful symbol of resilience, pride, and the enduring contributions of trailblazers to the game of baseball." Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 to become the first Black player. Miñoso became the league's first Afro-Latino player and the first Black player for the Chicago White Sox. The murals have been displayed in the park since 2011 and are a collaboration between artists Kyle Holbrook and Kadir Nelson and various community groups. ___ AP MLB:

Adam Scott at another US Open and headed for century mark in the majors
Adam Scott at another US Open and headed for century mark in the majors

Yahoo

time33 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Adam Scott at another US Open and headed for century mark in the majors

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Xander Schauffele tees off on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Adam Scott, of Australia, tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the sixth hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Xander Schauffele tees off on the seventh hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Adam Scott, of Australia, tees off on the 14th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Adam Scott, of Australia, prepares to hit out of a bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Adam Scott is one year away from an impressive streak that the Australian considers to be a classic glass half-full moment in golf. The U.S. Open is his 96th consecutive major championship appearance dating to the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Advertisement 'It sounds like a lot to have won one,' Scott said with a laugh, referring to his lone major title in the 2013 Masters. 'It would be twice as good if there was one more.' Still, he realizes he is approaching a big milestone. The PGA Championship next year, assuming he qualifies or gets an invitation, will be his 100th career major. He could make it 100 in a row if he makes it to Shinnecock Hills for next year's U.S. Open. A streak like that requires eligibility and good health. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson only had eligibility in their favor. Woods played 46 straight majors until knee surgery after he won the 2008 U.S. Open. Mickelson played 61 in a row before he sat out the 2009 British Open as his wife was being treated for breast cancer. The record is among the most untouchable in golf — Jack Nicklaus played 146 in a row from the 1962 U.S. Open through the 2008 U.S. Open. Advertisement 'Probably whenever it ends, whether it's 100 or more or less, I think it will be hard for guys to get to that number going forward,' Scott said. 'I think it's getting harder. And I think I have been a consistent player over a 25-year career. I could probably pick three troughs where my game was looking pretty ordinary and I fell outside the top 50 and I was really struggling. But over 25 years, I'd expect that of almost any player.' Scott had a few close calls in the U.S. Open. He made it through 36-hole qualifying with one shot to spare in 2018. He failed to make it through qualifying last year (he was first alternate) but became exempt at No. 61 in the world. Grayson Murray, who took his life in May 2024, was still ahead of him in the world ranking and the USGA went down one spot. Scott said Mickelson and Rory McIlroy are among the few who never went through bad spells or serious injury 'and we're talking about two of the greatest of their generation.' Advertisement McIlroy's streak was interrupted when he injured his left ankle and couldn't play the 2015 British Open. Oakmont is his 39th consecutive major. US Open prize money For the first time since 2021, the U.S. Open is not increasing its prize money. It will be $21.5 million for the second straight year, with $4.3 million going to the winner. It remains the biggest purse of the four majors. The Masters was $21 million this year, while the PGA Championship was at $19 million. The British Open hasn't announced its total purse for next month at Royal Portrush. It was at $17 million last year. The U.S. Open purse was $12.5 million in 2020 and 2021 before making a big leap to $17.5 million in 2022 at Brookline. Advertisement 'I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger,' USGA CEO Mike Whan said Wednesday. The Players Championship has a $25 million purse. The USGA and R&A get the bulk of their revenue from their Opens. They also use that money to invest back in the game, including the Women's Opens and amateur events such as the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup that several of the top stars once played. 'But at the same time, we understand. We want to be relevant,' Whan said. 'We know that this probably isn't really about the money for the person who puts it there, but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement. ... It's part of creating what we want to be the greatest championship in the game.' Driver testing Advertisement Xander Schauffele couldn't contain his laughter when he said both his drivers were tested this week and both passed the USGA limits of trampoline effect. It was no joking matter for Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship when word got out that his driver didn't pass the test from too much use. Turns out Scottie Scheffler's driver didn't pass for the same reason, and they had to get new drivers. The results are supposed to be confidential. The post on McIlroy's driver was published without any context — the random testing at every major, and the service being done for players (and equipment makers) who otherwise would be unaware when the faces of the drivers become too thin from constant strikes. Whan said he felt stronger than ever to keep results private Advertisement 'In terms of what happened at the PGA Championship, it made us more committed to not wanting to have this be the topic of the town,' Whan said "Because I think when you talked about a rules violation or somebody who's playing with a hot driver, that gets so much more sensational than the reality. 'I can tell you as a rules body, if we had concern about this incredible advantage, we would change the degree in which we test,' he said 'But we think the testing that we're doing now is commensurate with the size of both the issue and the size of the reality of the issue.' Rain and rocks The Pittsburgh area had one of the wettest Mays in history, not ideal for a U.S. Open that would prefer Oakmont to be firm, fast and scary. Advertisement But it's not just the golf course. It can turn into a sloppy mess outside the ropes, and for some of the lots the U.S. Open is using for parking. That's why Whan was quick to celebrate Thomas Construction, a local company that has supplied gravel to create paths in walkways and parking lots. 'He no longer has gravel — true story — and he's only had one customer in the last 60 days — us,' Whan said. 'Suffice it to say, he told us there's more gravel here than in the quarry right now. And I apologize to all you (Oakmont) members. Good news is it's outside of the rope lines.' ___ AP golf:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store