Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel takes jab at booing fans in return to Buffalo

Jack Eichel didn't hold back in his return to Buffalo on Thursday.

The Vegas Golden Knights center played his first game against the Sabres since being traded to Vegas on November 4, coming out on the losing end of a 3-1 decision.

Eichel, 25, was Buffalo's second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and he captained the squad from 2018-21. But the relationship soured last season, leading to the trade.

Eichel was in Vegas' starting lineup for the tilt and received a healthy number of boos from the gathered crowd each time he touched the puck. The Sabres showed a tribute video for him during the first TV timeout as well, which drew more boos — and applause — from the season-high crowd of 12,437.

It was Eichel, though, who got the last word.

«It's the loudest I've heard this place ever. Really,» Eichel said after the game. «It only took seven years and me leaving for them to get into the game. It was a nice tribute. There was plenty of people here that were supporting me and there was plenty of people that were booing me. They must just be booing me because they wish I was still here, I don't know.»

It wasn't just boos that rained down on Eichel, either. As he patrolled the ice during Thursday's warmups, Eichel was greeted by a smattering of signs along the boards at Keybank Center that ranged from upbeat, «Welcome back, Jack!» to malcontented, «Thanks for nothing, Eichel.» When the final buzzer sounded, a fan tossed their Eichel Sabres' sweater to the ice, too.

In another wrinkle, both players Buffalo acquired in the Eichel trade — Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch — scored in the Sabres' victory. Eichel himself finished minus-one, with two shots on goal in 17:31 TOI.

Over 375 games with the Sabres, Eichel produced 139 goals