Jack Eichel's first game-worn jersey fetches a pretty penny at auction

By foxsports
Published

NHL players often keep memorabilia from most of their "firsts" at the professional level, but apparently Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel is not overly sentimental. The 19-year-old did not keep his first game-worn jersey, as the sweater was included in an auction to benefit the Buffalo Sabres Foundation. 

It's only fitting that Eichel set an impressive precedent in the auction. While most jerseys garnered a few hundred dollars, Eichel's jersey sold for $39,112. According to The Buffalo News, the winning bidder wishes to remain anonymous, and Eichel told The Buffalo News he was happy to see the money go to charity but was otherwise tight-lipped on the auction. Some of Eichel's teammates, however, were more impressed by the whopping winning bid. 

Via The Buffalo News: 

"That’s huge,” Marcus Foligno said. “I don’t know if it’s ever been like that before. It’s great to see people out there doing it and supporting a great cause. That’s a great contribution to a great foundation."

It's not surprising that Eichel's first jersey would be a coveted item. The rookie has been viewed as a type of savior for the Buffalo organization moving forward, and he is enjoying a solid rookie season. Eichel has 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 50 games this year and ranks second among all NHL rookies in scoring.

The 19-year-old earned the first weekly honor of his career on Monday, as Eichel was named Third Star of the Week for the week before the All-Star Game following a four-point performance through the Sabres' two games that week. 

Arielle Aronson writes about the NHL for FOX Sports. You can follow her on Twitter @aharonson28.