The Jack Eichel saga continues with no end in sight. The Vegas Golden Knights are looking to lock in their superstar center for the long term after a record-breaking season. After all, Eichel's in the last year of his current deal and is looking for more money.
Frank Seravalli had some insight during the weekend regarding Eichel's current contract situation. In fact, the number is jaw-dropping, to say the least.
"I don't know how they could move on from him. But looking at their cap table, it's hard to wedge in; I think what you're talking about... is a $15 million+ AAV deal."Frank Seravalli to Bleacher Report
Now, Seravalli has made some bold claims regarding specific contract situations. One can take the Mitch Marner discussions as an example, where rumors were flying that he'd make $14 million AAV. However, this is entirely different.
Eichel would fetch Leon Draisaitl-type money for a player who hasn't topped 100 points in a single season. Mind you, the center had to overcome various injuries in the process. It's made life hard for him to finally get over the hump and become an elite center. But fans shouldn't look too far into Seravalli's comments, specifically for a few reasons.
Why Vegas Golden Knights fans should take Frank Seravalli's comments with a grain of salt
First, Kelly McCrimmon isn't well-known for overpaying on players. He takes a "Moneyball" approach to his contract negotiations by carefully evaluating each potential Golden Knight's overall value. In turn, Marner gets $12 million AAV and hangs around for eight seasons.
Fan shouldn't expect their superstar center to fetch a $15 million AAV deal. It's not because he doesn't deserve that contract as much as that's not McCrimmon's overall strategy. Look at how Bill Zito and Jim Nill operate regarding contracts.
As mentioned, injuries have made it tough for the center to consistently stay on the ice. Sure, he averages over a point per game and can take over a game when given the chance. However, debilitating lower-body injuries and prior neck issues have prevented him from unleashing his true talents.
Again, that shouldn't diminish his talents as a player. After all, he did score 94 points in 2024-25 and set the single-season franchise record in the process. He deserves a solid deal that'll complement his talents as an elite center.
So why not go with a $13 million AAV deal? It fits McCrimmon's need for value-based contracts and makes Eichel the highest-paid player on the team. Believe it or not, the Golden Knights have $20.375 million in cap space for 2026-27, giving them enough to extend their elite center and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Now, that would be a win-win. Making your player the focal point of your franchise while working your salary cap magic. That's something that's made McCrimmon one of the best general managers in the modern NHL landscape. It's also something that could serve the franchise well during their Stanley Cup contention window, especially since they want to bring home another title.