Have you ever gotten a phone call that featured the best news possible? It would bring a smile to your face and leave you feeling like there's nothing that can stop you.
For example, maybe you got a job offer from the company that you've always wanted to work for. I know I've been there. Perhaps your test results came back negative, meaning you're free from a specific disease.
Jack Eichel is awaiting that call from the Vegas Golden Knights regarding a contract extension. However, he might be getting a bigger deal than anticipated from Kelly McCrimmon than others might expect. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that talks were underway between the two sides, with the expectation being that he'll get more than Mitch Marner.
"Okay, that's good. So what's the catch?"
Well, dear reader. The catch is that we're looking at $13 million AAV for this deal. That would push his overall value up to $104 million, making him a lucrative player. When you score 28 goals and 94 points in a single season, you're afforded such a luxury.
Why Jack Eichel deserves a $104 million contract for his next Vegas Golden Knights deal
Obviously, there are many reasons why Eichel deserves that $104 million deal. First, it's his team now. He runs everything from the offensive attack down to the penalty kill. He's earned that role since coming over from the Buffalo Sabres and it shows every night.
Think back to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the 2010s. Sidney Crosby reigned supreme on those teams, running everything through him. Whenever the Penguins were setting up the attack, there was "Sid the Kid." The forecheck? There's ol' No. 87.
It's similar to that in Las Vegas. Eichel's the same heartbeat that runs the offense as Crosby was. Everything goes through him in Bruce Cassidy's system.
He runs the forecheck.
He runs the attack.
He runs the penalty kill.
There's a reason why he deserves a $104 million payday. Even if Buffalo Sabres fans want to disagree, the Golden Knights wouldn't be Stanley Cup champions without his services.
Eichel is a better alternative compared to another superstar
Remember that conversation about Connor McDavid possibly coming to Las Vegas? It was listed as a possibility because Kelly McCrimmon would do anything humanly possible to make that happen. Well, when you're crunching numbers, you want to have a smaller cap hit on your hands.
That means going with the $13 million AAV option over paying someone $15 million or $16 million. You'd have to be brain-dead to not figure that one out. But that extra $2 million or $3 million could go to other places, whether it's the fourth line or for a key depth piece (think Reilly Smith).
Look at what happened to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final the past two years. Both seasons saw them get overwhelmed by better depth and defensive play, leaving them struggling to generate anything. Who didn't have a single point in the last three elimination games during those Stanley Cup Finals? You guessed it. The "Black Licorice Bandit" himself.
If Eichel does get his $104 million deal, it'll look better over time. A rising salary cap that'll increase over time will give Kelly McCrimmon more flexibility to do whatever he wants to keep the Stanley Cup window wide open. Mitch Marner was the start. Keeping Eichel will be what delivers another Stanley Cup.