The 2026 NHL free agent class is headlined by none other than the world’s best player, Connor McDavid. Until he finalizes a new deal in Edmonton, which many believe should soon happen, the Oilers captain will remain the center of attention for hockey fans.
Once McDavid does come off the board, the next best option is no consolation prize. Vegas Golden Knights superstar center Jack Eichel is also entering the final year of his contract, an eight-year, $80 million deal signed back in 2017.
Much of the talk regarding 2026 free agency has understandably been about McDavid or even the likes of Kirill Kaprizov and Kyle Connor. However, over the weekend, some chatter around Eichel’s next contract began to emerge.
Here was what insider Frank Seravalli had to say during his weekly B/R Open Ice segment.
“I don’t know how they could move on from him, but looking at their cap table, it’s hard to wedge in; I think what you’re talking about is a $15 million+ AAV deal,” Seravalli said.
Frank Seravalli: Re Eichel extension: I don’t know how they could move on from him, but looking at their cap table it’s hard to wedge in; I think what you’re talking about…is a 15m+AAV deal – Bleacher Report (8/22)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 23, 2025
The 28-year-old just had the most productive season of his 10-year NHL career in 2024-25, racking up 28 goals and 66 assists for 94 points in 77 games played.
Eichel is likely to stay in Vegas
While the Golden Knights will have to juggle the salary cap, expect Jack Eichel to remain in Vegas for the long term.
Fellow insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet spoke about Eichel’s pending contract in the latest edition of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast.”
“I think he’s staying in Vegas; he’s probably just waiting to see how the market is set, and then he locks himself in,” Friedman said.
Elliotte Friedman: I think Jack Eichel, I think he’s staying in Vegas; he’s probably just waiting to see how the market is set, and then he locks himself in – 32 Thoughts Podcast (8/23)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 24, 2025
Eichel has found a home in Vegas after a very up-and-down tenure with the Buffalo Sabres, so it’s hard to believe he’d have any desire to leave. Not to mention, management just brought in superstar winger Mitch Marner to presumably be his linemate, creating one of the more dynamic duos in hockey.
