The best NHL teams have a superstar center that acts as the franchise face. For example, the Edmonton Oilers have Connor McDavid, who was voted No. 1 in the NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list. Believe it or not, Jack Eichel is in the Top 10 in this respective list.
In fact, he ranks No. 10 in the list, bumping himself up four spots from last year's ranking. He's the highest-ranking Golden Knight with his teammate, Mitch Marner, ranking No. 16 in the annual list. Eichel beat out Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and fell just behind Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild.
Jack Eichel of the @GoldenKnights kicks off the top 10 of NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list!
— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) September 27, 2026
📺: #NHLTopPlayers on NHL Network pic.twitter.com/TElKuvRZp6
Last season, Eichel recorded his second straight season of 90 or more points, making him the first Golden Knight in franchise history to achieve this mark. He scored 27 goals and 63 assists in 74 games. While his playoff run last season wasn't as successful (two goals in 22 games) as his regular season campaign, the Olympic gold medalist has shown that he can handle the workload.
The latest ranking also shows how important Eichel is to the Golden Knights. He produces at a high clip (when healthy, of course) and creates countless scoring opportunities for his teammates. Without the Boston native, does Vegas win the Stanley Cup? Do they even get past the Edmonton Oilers in the Second Round? Believe it or not, Eichel's No. 10 spot in the rankings is well-earned, specifically since he produces the amount of points that Vegas needs to be a Stanley Cup contender.
Jack Eichel deserves to be No. 10 in the NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list
Some people will chide Eichel for being ranked No. 10 in the latest NHL Network rankings. They might say that the Olympic gold medalist gets hurt too often and disappears when it's playoff time. Sure, those claims might be true at times. But look at how Vegas does when he's not on the ice.
The Golden Knights have an all-time record of 223-128-35 without their superstar in the lineup. They have a points percentage of .623 without Eichel, compared to a points percentage of .630 with him in the lineup (record of 178-96-41). If you don't have your best star on the ice, you're going to suffer.
It's partially why fans are hedging on the center to get the first 100-point season in franchise history. He's an incredibly talented player who makes his teammates instantly better through reading opposing defenses and blowing past his foes. Vegas needed someone who can dictate the pace of the game and can control the match. That's where Eichel comes into play, for he can pick apart opposing teams and can take over a game without any issues.
Being ranked No. 10 in the NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now list comes with some added responsibilities. You must be good at what you do and you must carry the workload for your team. The Golden Knights have that player in Eichel, who's growing into his own as a hockey player.
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