With 2026’s free agent class expected to be one of the most star-studded of all-time, teams are hoping to get their hands on some of the world’s greatest players including potentially Connor McDavid.
Another player who has gotten a lot of attention as a potential free agent is Vegas forward Jack Eichel, who is a key part of their team and expected to form a magical partnership with newcomer Mitch Marner, and extension talks have been in the works.
However we could be closer than anticipated according to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli. Appearing for Bleacher Report, Seravalli noted that the Golden Knights and Eichel are expected to come to an agreement shortly, and expects it to happen before Vegas’ opening night game on October 8:
“I still predict a deal to materialize for Eichel and the Golden Knights before opening night.”
After Kirill Kaprizov’s insanely lucrative $17-million per year deal he recently signed, it’s going to be interesting to see how Vegas can afford Eichel going forward especially with Marner getting paid $12-million, with guys like Mark Stone and Shea Theodore making $9.5-million and $7.43-million respectively.
Already nearly $8-million over the cap, Alex Pietrangelo’s injury is going to help alleviate that with an LTIR stint, however do need money in the future for someone like Pavel Dorofayev.
Eichel could command upwards of $15-16 million per season, and with an extremely competitive market, he might decide to just dip his foot in the water with Vegas already in mind; if he can get $17-million or higher then perhaps that would be enough entice him or handicap Vegas and get them to figure out how to work out the finances.
Drafted 2nd overall by the Sabres in 2015, Eichel has put up 608 points in 616 games (239 goals, 369 assists) and exploded for a 94-point season last year (28 goals, 66 assists) which topped his previous high of 82 points in 2018-19.
An integral part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup win in 2023, Eichel is no doubt one of the locker room leaders and while Vegas is strong without him, they certainly aren’t the same team.
Although free agency might be tempting, especially with how ludicrously expensive some deals can be, the comfort ad familiarity of Vegas matters more to Eichel, meaning we’ll be likely hearing an extension within the next week.
