Let's be honest. Jack Eichel is a terrific player for the Vegas Golden Knights. He's an offensive genius that reads every play and exploits the opponent's weakness. The stud center also does extra work defensively, putting his body on the line every night. Small things like this make him a superstar.
This season has shown he's capable of carrying the load. He already has the single-season assists record (61 entering Friday). He also has the single-season points record (82). This season has been an arrival party of sorts for the center. He's emerged as one of the game's best centers, acting as the franchise face in the process.
Of course, this isn't trying to sound like Nick Wright fanboying over the Kansas City Chiefs in his Patrick Mahomes pajamas. This is a fact of life. The Philadelphia Eagles aren't skating in to put a 40-burger on Vegas any time soon. Not if Eichel is around.
But let's go back to the history books for a second. The four-time All-Star has his eyes set on another incredible feat. This has never been done before in franchise history, mind you. Okay, so the Golden Knights have only been around for eight seasons. It might not seem like much.
Still, it's a big deal that this historical feat is achieved this season... Or the next. Eichel's emergence as an elite player gives him the ultimate opportunity to do something big. It's something that not even Mark Stone is capable of doing. What is it that's being referenced, you ask?
Jack Eichel can become the first 100-points player in Vegas Golden Knights history
No player has ever scored 100 points in a single season for the Vegas Golden Knights. The closest player before this season was William Karlsson in 2017-18 with 78. However, the North Chelmsford native can become the first Golden Knights player to achieve that mark.
Currently, he's on pace for 99 points (25 goals and 74 assists). That would put him one point short of the mark. But a big game against a team like, say, the Chicago Blackhawks or Nashville Predators, can inch him closer.
Some factors might come into play. For example, a rest period where Stone and Eichel are sitting could happen. There's also the injury bug that could end the pursuit prematurely. Luckily, that hasn't happened.
Achieving this mark would mean many things for the superstar. For one, he would go beyond being the franchise face. He would be a Golden Knights legend, putting another achievement under his belt. It would also solidify his emergence as an elite player. Hitting the century mark has become harder over the years. Players just settle for scoring 60-70 points these days. Why not break the mark now?
This isn't just a one-time offer, though
This doesn't just apply for this season, though. It can also happen next season as well. Why not cash in and deliver again in 2025-26? You have your core locked down sans a few pieces. That includes Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, and Pavel Dorofeyev.
These stars will make life easier for the four-time All-Star. That's especially true on the top line where the trio's thrived all season (stats from Natural Stat Trick).
Line | Corsi For% | Goals for% | XGF% |
|---|---|---|---|
Mark Stone-Jack Eichel-Ivan Barbashev | 50.27% | 56.76% | 51.38% |
This is scratching the surface, of course. Fans have seen what a healthy Stone (17 goals and 41 assists) can do. They've also seen what the Russian winger (20 goals and 23 assists) is capable of with a top-notch center. Add a pinch of an emerging power play (28.9%, second in the NHL) and the future's bright for No. 9.
2024-25 will forever be known as the season Eichel became a superstar. Well, not a superstar. Instead, he became a megastar. Fans are witnessing what the center can do if given a full season. They're also seeing him transcend beyond the "franchise face" label. Buckle up, folks. We're in the presence of greatness.