Jack Eichel. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Eichel to make Golden Knights debut vs. Avalanche

Jack is back -- well, he's about to be, anyway.

After not playing for almost an entire calendar year, forward Jack Eichel is expected to make his season debut for the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Eichel has not played since undergoing surgery to repair a disc in his neck earlier this season. The surgery was a source of tension between Eichel and his former team, the Buffalo Sabres. Vegas acquired Eichel from Buffalo in November.

Being this is Eichel's first game with a new team -- and one that's leading their division, at that -- he knows he has to make a great impression right off the bat.

Eichel's highly anticipated debut also comes at a time the Vegas Golden Knights lose two of their best players to injuries. Starting netminder Robin Lehner is sidelined with an upper-body injury, while captain Mark Stone has been placed on long-term injured reserve with a back injury.

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