Jack Eichel's return date is revealed

Eichel could be cleared for contact practice after NHL All-Star break, Peter DeBoer said today in a interview with NHL.com.

Eichel had his successful surgery back on November 12th 2021 and has been practicing without contact since January 11th, but he hasn't done any contact drills yet.

"The doctor was adamant that three months from surgery there will be an absolutely no contact and I believe that's this week", DeBoer said. "So I think coming over the break that's going to be on the table about starting contact."

"There's been a couple (practices) in the last week where he's maybe the best player on the ice, so I would say he's progressing pretty well," DeBoer said. "We haven't started contact yet. I would say that's the next step and that's a big step. Obviously, everything changes once we get into full contact".

"But from a sheer practice and skill point of view, he's elite, elite and every day we're out with him the group gets more excited".

The Golden Knights (27-16-3), who lead the Pacific Division, play back-to-back games in their return from the break, at the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and at the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

"The further along Eichel gets with this, the more exciting it gets for us," Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "This is a big step for him, big change. I think he's excited to be on a team that can compete year in and year out. That's the big thing for him. Different culture for him to come here where we've been successful since the franchise begun."

"The trickle-down effect of having [him in] the lineup, it's going to be fun to see. It's going to bring some good depth. We like where our lineup is, and when you add guys like him of his caliber, it's only going to make us better".

"Eichel is one of the best skaters I've ever seen, easiest skaters I've ever seen," Vegas captain Mark Stone said. "I think he's going to help in pretty much every part of the game. He's going to help us score goals, he's going to help on the power play, [present] matchup problems. You're adding one of the best centermen in the world into your lineup, however long it is, a month, two weeks, whatever it is."

"You're adding one of the best players on the planet."

I think he can just come in and do his thing," DeBoer said. "He doesn't have the pressure to carry a team, and I talked to him the other day. He's never played an NHL playoff game yet, and I know that's exciting for him. That's a whole different level of hockey when you get to that time of year. So I'm excited for him because I think he's going to excel in that type of game and I know he's excited about the opportunity to play playoff hockey".

Credit: NHL.com