A shocking rating shows why Jack Eichel must be in the Hart Trophy discussion

Is it that time? Is it time to talk about Jack Eichel representing the Vegas Golden Knights in the Hart Trophy discussion? The talks have quietly picked up steam in the past year, with Eichel's breakout 2024-25 campaign (28 goals and 66 assists).

However, HockeyStatCards showed the top forwards by offensive rating on Tuesday. While Nathan MacKinnon is unsurprisingly at the top, Eichel's name was also near the mountaintop. In fact, you could say that his name is in "medal position."

Of course, scoring 10 goals and 20 assists (tied for second in the NHL) certainly helps a player's case. But second place? Ahead of big brands like Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard? That's a huge development. This basically solidifies his case for the NHL's equivalent to the MVP award.

It's a promising sign for the Golden Knights, who haven't played like MVPs this season. A 10-5-7 record and 27 points have Vegas in fourth place in the Pacific Division, leaving fans wondering if this team's... overrated.

But let's not think about that too much. Let's dive deeper into the numbers and see what they mean. After all, this is the Golden Knights' MVP that we're talking about here. Let's promote him on a bigger stage and present a case for his Hart Trophy candidacy.

Why Jack Eichel's offensive rating matters for the Vegas Golden Knights

Boasting an offensive rating of +6.6 should already fetch you Hart Trophy honors. However, he's also doing better with his shot selection. This season, he has a Corsi of 56% and a Fenwick of 58% (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck). He's also created eight rebounds, 2.4 above his expected total. That's not even mentioning that his shooting talent above average is 14%.

What does that say about the superstar? First, you don't give Eichel open space to work with. The Golden Knights center knows how to attack in the open, making him a lethal offensive weapon. But that's not all, though.

He's also becoming more aggressive in his shot selection, taking more chances. That has led to rebounds and redirections for his teammates, garnering more assists for the center. It's no wonder that he leads the Golden Knights in shots on goal this season (91).

While all that sounds as sweet as cookies for Santa Claus, some things must be ironed out. For example, I would love to see him lead the attack in overtime. That's especially true with the Golden Knights losing six straight overtime games. When you're on the ice, you're expected to take care of your team and not turn over the puck.

Still, there's no doubt that Eichel belongs in the Hart Trophy conversation. He's shown to be a steady force for the Golden Knights throughout the past couple of seasons, providing ample goal scoring and playmaking. If that offensive rating isn't enough to put him in the discussion, I don't know what will.