One of the biggest stories in the National Hockey League this week is the fact that two Americans signed long-term contracts with Western Conference superpowers. After the Winnipeg Jets signed Kyle Connor of Shelby Township, Michigan to an eight-year contract worth $96 million on Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights signed centre Jack Eichel of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts to an eight-year contract extension worth $108 million according to Rogers Sportsnet. The contract means Eichel will earn $13.5 million per season. Eichel is set to earn $10 million in 2025-26.
Long term contract not surprising
Eichel was expected to sign a long-term deal and it was expected to be just a matter of time. On September  3, I wrote “Jack Eichel Free Agency Rumors: long term extension with Vegas imminent.” My feeling why Eichel was so committed to the Golden Knights organization was because of Vegas’s consistency in recent years. They also have an ownership group deeply committed to winning. That is why they went out and traded for Mitch Marner, an elite NHL forward who had a career-high 102 points last season.
Eichel’s 2024-25 NHL statistics
Eichel had 28 goals and 66 assists for 94 points in 77 games. He had 34 power-play points, two shorthanded points, three game-winning goals, 233 shots on goal, one hat trick, 572 faceoff wins, 55 blocked shots, 22 hits, 28 takeaways, and 90 giveaways.
Who will be on Eichel’s line?
Eichel is expected to be on the Golden Knights’s first line. He would play with Ivan Barbashev and Marner.
Not satisfied in Buffalo
Eichel began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres, and played six seasons there from 2015 to 2021 after being the Sabres’s second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After missing the playoffs in all six seasons, Eichel got frustrated, and the Sabres traded their prize possession on November 4, 2021. Eichel was traded with a draft pick for two draft picks, Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch.
The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023. During the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eichel led all players with 20 assists and 26 points. The Sabres have still not made the playoffs since making the transaction.
Eichel in 2025-26
So far this season, Eichel has been part of a Golden Knights franchise that has three points in their first two games. He has two goals and four assists for six points, is a +3 with three power-play points, eight shots on goal, 21 faceoff wins, one blocked shot, three hits, two takeaways, and three giveaways. The blocked shot came in a 4-3 Golden Knights overtime win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
