The Vegas Golden Knights center had an artificial disk replacement (ADR) surgery Nov. 12, a procedure that had never been done on an NHL player. The Golden Knights said that day that Eichel's surgery was successful with no complications and he was expected to make a full recovery. They did not provide a time frame for his return to the ice.
Prior to the surgery, Eichel said he thought he'd be able to return to play in three months.
"The rehab process, you're working out probably a week to 10 days post-operation," Eichel told NHL Network on Nov. 5. "It's not like you're doing a workout with heavy weights or anything, but you're able to move around. Hopefully at six weeks I'll be able to get back on the ice and start skating. And I'm hoping around 12 weeks, three months, that I'll be back playing."
If Thursday was Eichel's first time on the ice, it came 20 days after the surgery. The Instagram post, which included a video of Eichel skating at an unidentified rink, said he was doing so in North Carolina.
Eichel was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4 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. The Golden Knights also received a third-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Eichel wanted to have the surgery since the spring after sustaining a herniated a disk in his neck last season. But the Sabres said they preferred a fusion procedure. After the trade, the Golden Knights said Eichel would have the surgery he chose.
The 25-year-old has not played since March 7. He scored 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 21 games last season and scored 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 games in six seasons with Buffalo, which selected him No. 2 in the 2015 NHL Draft.
