Eichel skates with Golden Knights first time since disk surgery

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueJack Eichel skated with the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday for the first time since having artificial disk replacement surgery Nov. 12, eight days after Vegas acquired him in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres.The 25-year-old center took part in Vegas' morning skate before its home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, TSN4, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)."Bit of an emotional moment for me," Eichel said. "At the same time, you want to temper your enthusiasm, because this is just the first step."Eichel was on the ice on his own Dec. 2 according to an Instagram post by Brandon Wong Hockey, three weeks after having a procedure that had never been done on an NHL player. The next few weeks it was sort of, 'OK, I'm starting to feel better.' And then the next few weeks it's like, 'Wow I feel really good right now.' I almost feel back to normal." Eichel was traded to Vegas for forwards Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch, a top 10 protected first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, with the Golden Knights also receiving a third-round pick in the 2023 draft. They are averaging 3.47 goals per game, fifth in the NHL, with a lineup that includes forwards Mark Stone (24 points, seven goals, 17 assists in 21 games), Max Pacioretty (21 points; 12 goals, nine assists in 16 games) and Jonathan Marchessault (team-high 18 goals in 33 games), and defensemen Shea Theodore (25 points; seven goals, 18 assists in 35 games) and Alex Pietrangelo (23 points; five goals, 18 assists in 36 games).After the trade, Eichel was projected to be the center on a line with Pacioretty and Stone. At this moment, it's important for me to put myself in the position to be back at 100 percent and help this team win hockey games." The No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel has not played since March 7, 2021.