Some Vegas Golden Knights fans are worried about Jack Eichel's whereabouts in 2026-27. They're panicking that he won't get a deal done with the Golden Knights and head elsewhere.
Could he be a *Chuckle* Vancouver Canuck?
Might he ship up to Boston and head back home to Massachusetts?
Well, Elliotte Friedman stated on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Saturday that this wasn't the case. In fact, he had some reassuring words about his current contract situation.
"I think Jack Eichel, I think he's staying in Vegas; he's probably just waiting to see how the market is set, and then he locks himself in."Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts
This is fairly understandable. Currently, big names like Kirill Kaprizov and Connor McDavid will be unrestricted free agents (among others) after 2025-26. Those big names are just a few that'll gauge the market for the best deal possible, leaving Eichel searching for something similar.
Now, I know what you're thinking.
"Oh well, Frank Seravalli said that it'd be impossible to fit a player like Eichel into Vegas's salary cap next season!"
Well, dear reader. Contract negotiations don't get settled overnight. It's a long, arduous process that takes months to resolve. Besides, there are some positives to Friedman's words.
Why Elliotte Friedman's words about Jack Eichel matter
For one, the salary cap will rise next season. It'll go up to $104 million in 2026-27, leaving plenty of room for Kelly McCrimmon and company to strike a deal. Heck, you could fit an Eichel deal with a Dorofeyev deal and make it work.
In fact, the salary cap will rise the season after that. $113.5 million will make whatever deal Eichel gets look softer, regardless of the number. If fans are so concerned about a deal not being done, the cap isn't going to be a problem.
In this instance, you can also bank on the salary cap rising beyond its $113.5 million threshold after 2027-28. In essence, this will look like pennies on the dollar once a deal is struck.
Besides, McCrimmon is no stranger to signing players during the regular season. In 2024-25, he got names like Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Adin Hill locked up for the foreseeable future. In fact, five unrestricted free agents were extended during the regular season, shoring up the Golden Knights' core.
Therefore, there are plenty of reasons to believe that Elliotte Friedman's words hold here. McCrimmon has earned his reputation as a trustworthy general manager. That should be enough to keep the superstar around for the foreseeable future and establish a legacy in Las Vegas.
Breathe in. Breathe out.