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The Eichel vs. Reinhart Showdown

The stage is set for the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, as Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart will face off for the NHL’s ultimate prize beginning this Saturday. The once-dynamic duo are two of a handful of former Buffalo Sabres players looking to capture the Stanley Cup, as the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights square off.

For Sabres fans, it’s either a bitter pill to swallow, or it isn’t – depending on who you ask.  On one hand, Sabres fans have long adored Sam Reinhart, and most seem to be rooting for his success. After all, he left Buffalo on good terms; he was a fan favorite during his time here, he’s a great player and seemingly a great person, too. What a joyous moment it would be to see him raise the Cup in a few weeks, right?

Generally, most people seem to agree. We ran a Twitter poll, and a whopping 75.7 percent of the 519 respondents said they’d be happy for Reinhart if he won the Cup this season.

Now it’s time to have your say. Vote in the poll below.

On the other hand: it’s Jack Eichel. This is where some mixed feelings are bound to come in. Eichel’s time in Buffalo was a difficult one, generally of no fault of his. He certainly did a lot for the Sabres during his years here, but much of that positive energy and goodwill was soured at the end of his time in Buffalo. Sabres fans can likely never forget how it all came to a head, and Eichel’s infamous comments that came later, where he appeared sour while criticizing the fanbase.

Can we be happy for him?

Well, it depends who you ask. We ran a poll on Twitter recently that received 793 votes. 47.3 percent of respondents said they would be angry/annoyed/etc. if Eichel won the Cup this year. 40% said they would feel indifferent. Only 12.7 percent said they’d be happy for him.

The comments range from “I could care less what he does the rest of his career” to “We did him pretty dirty on the surgery fiasco” to “He can suck it.”

There are definitely still some feelings there.

Readers, how do you feel? Vote in the poll below, and feel free to discuss in the comments.