Jack Eichel has been on fire since March 17. The Vegas Golden Knights star had seven points in three games, the best in the NHL. It's also pushing him closer to the vaunted 100-point mark. In fact, he's projected to score 102 points by season's end (he's projected to score 27 goals and 75 assists).
It's no wonder the center earned the NHL's Second Star of the Week. His excellent play helped sweep the three-game homestand, keeping much-needed distance between the Golden Knights and hated adversaries (looking at you, Kings and Oilers).
Filip Gustavsson (@mnwild), Jack Eichel (@GoldenKnights) and Dylan Holloway (@StLouisBlues) have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending March 23.#NHLStats: https://t.co/Vhmt4wQGpV pic.twitter.com/a4lOrHtNMu
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 24, 2025
His collection included the following numbers during the homestand:
- A pair of assists against the Boston Bruins on March 20
- A goal and three assists against the Detroit Red Wings on March 22
- A goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 23, a game-winner
These stats make him a vastly underrated candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy. Sure, Nathan MacKinnon sits at the mountaintop with another incredible season (28 goals and 77 assists). However, you can't deny how effective the North Chelmsford native has been this season.
He's provided a steady two-way style that fits in seamlessly in Bruce Cassidy's system. He's also been essential to the NHL's second-best power play (29.7%). Mind you, Tomas Hertl also had a stellar week with four goals in three games. However, fans are holding their collective breaths regarding the Prague native's health.
"Will he be okay?"
"How could Emil Lilleberg do this?"
That's where Eichel comes in. If the 31-year-old is out for an extended period, it's on his teammates to step up. That includes the "Second Star of the Week," who's carried his team offensively throughout the season.
Jack Eichel can't stop here, though
This latest achievement is another notch in Jack Eichel's belt. The forward already has the most single-season assists in franchise history (64) and most single-season points (87). Throw in the aforementioned 100-point mark and it's just another historical mark.
Considering Tomas Hertl's health status is up in the air, Eichel's play will be critical. Vegas needs him to carry the power play, which shouldn't be a problem. He's second in the league in power play assists (29) and third in power play points (33).
But that also stems from even-strength opportunities. Eichel is tied for ninth in even-strength assists (34) and tied for 12th in even-strength points (52). Handling five-on-five opportunities better and taking control of the possession battle is vital to weathering the storm.
It isn't just Eichel that must help the Vegas Golden Knights, though. Should Hertl be out for a while, it's on players like Mark Stone to shoot the puck more. It's also on players like Nicolas Roy to build on the last two games and continue contributing. Even the goaltending must hold strong to keep the Golden Knights in games.
2024-25 will go down as the best single-season performance for a player in Vegas Golden Knights history. Sure, it doesn't seem like much when compared to Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon. Those megastars have done this for years. However, it's noteworthy for a team that's been surprisingly successful since its inception. Monday's latest honor proves that.