Jack Eichel, the Vegas Golden Knights' forward, broke his silence after a Rotowire poll named his team the most-hated franchise in the NHL. Vegas topped the list in 11 different states.

Rather than simply dismissing the result, Eichel argued that the opinion of rival fans tells only part of their story.

"I'll say this," he said in a presser as posted by FOX5Vegas analyst Vince Sapienza on June 16. "If you ask guys in the league, Vegas ain't on people's 'no-trade' lists. This is a place people want to be, and people want to play."

The reputation Vegas has is tied directly to its performance throughout the years. They entered the league in 2017 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season but lost. The Golden Knights have won the Stanley Cup once in 2023. They reached the Final three times, and missed the playoffs only once.

Eichel, who was traded to Vegas from the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, acknowledged the same reputation. He explained how NHL players actually think about the franchise.

"This is an organization that people want to be a part of, and I would say all the players in (the locker room) are very proud to represent the city and play for this organization, and there are a lot of amazing things that come with that," Eichel shared.

According to him, the no-trade clauses are among the most secure pieces of leverage in the NHL. The players who hold them are usually very careful about which teams they approve.

Rather than trying to sway rival fans, he focused on separating outside opinions from what takes place behind the scenes in the hockey world.

Eichel, who set a franchise record for the most points in a season, is one of the most recognizable players in the league and one of the core figures. So, he holds enough credibility when speaking about the ranking.

Vegas has been consistent in offering its players a chance to make their own mark in the league.

Vegas' Run to the Stanley Cup Final

The Golden Knights kept up a strong form by making another deep postseason run in 2026. They went on to defeat the Utah Mammoth in the first round before pressuring and ultimately defeating the Anaheim Ducks in the second.

Vegas then eliminated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. They then moved on to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history.

Their campaign ended in six games against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a painful loss that finished their season. But Vegas had gone a lot further than most expected, if we consider their mid-season coaching change and the injuries that disrupted their roster in the later rounds.

What do you think of Eichel's remarks on the ranking? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar