The Vegas Golden Knights are used to being the league’s villains. But during exit interviews this week, Jack Eichel reminded everyone why that label doesn’t bother him — or his teammates.
After a Stanley Cup Final loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Knights are heading into a long offseason without a championship. They came within two wins of the ultimate prize, but fell short. And while many NHL fans celebrated Vegas’s defeat, Eichel used the moment to deliver a message that hit harder than any check.
When told the Golden Knights had been voted the most hated team in the NHL, the star center didn’t flinch.
Eichel’s Reply Says It All
“If you ask guys in the league, Vegas ain’t on people’s no-trade list,” Eichel said during his media availability on Tuesday. “This is the place people want to be and people want to play. This is an organization that people want to be a part of. I would say all of the players here are proud to represent this city and play for this organization. There’s a lot of amazing things that come with that. I sure know that I’m proud to be a part of this city and this organization.”
The line drew immediate attention online. Fans and analysts noted that Eichel essentially flipped the hate on its head — turning a poll about animosity into a testament to the franchise’s appeal.
A recent Rotowire poll had shown the Golden Knights as arguably the most disliked team across the league. That disdain has been building ever since Vegas entered the NHL as an expansion team and immediately found success.
Winning Changes Everything
Eichel knows the hate comes with the territory. The Golden Knights tore through the Western Conference this postseason, with Eichel racking up 22 points — second across the NHL behind his teammate Mitch Marner. That kind of production makes a target out of any team, and Vegas has embraced the role.
“I think they’ve used it as fuel,” one league source noted. “They know people want to see them lose. That just makes winning even sweeter.”
The locker room will look different next season. The team announced Tuesday that head coach John Tortorella will not return after losing in the Cup Final. Tortorella had taken over late in the regular season when Bruce Cassidy was fired, and he managed to steer the club deep into the playoffs. But the organization is already looking ahead.
What’s Next for Vegas
Whoever takes the helm will inherit a roster loaded with talent, led by Eichel. The fans may keep booing, the polls may keep ranking them last in likability, and the league might keep rooting against them. But if Eichel’s words are any indication, the Golden Knights aren’t losing sleep over it.
“This is where people want to be,” he said. And that’s the only poll that matters inside the locker room.
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