After covering Mark Stone and how his season will turn out, it's time to turn the attention to Jack Eichel. The focal point of the Vegas Golden Knights offense has dealt with health issues during his tenure in Las Vegas, which includes an array of lower-body injuries. Despite this, he produced 1.08 points a game last season, showcasing his value to the team.
That consisted of 31 goals and 37 assists, with 11 of each coming on the power play. It's no secret he's been a dominant player on the ice when healthy. He can take over the game and dictate its pace, making him a matchup nightmare. The former first-round pick has developed a reputation as one of the more reputable centers in the NHL as a result.
But is this year different for the superstar? Is this the season where he plays a full tilt for the Golden Knights and lights up the stat sheet (and the NHL)? There's good reason to believe he'll break out and take over the league. He's been the main attraction for Vegas since he was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. Despite not being 100% during his Golden Knights tenure, he still carries the torch for the franchise.
Therefore, it's time to predict the season he'll have with the Golden Knights. Will the hockey world see him become the inevitable ruler he's destined to be? How will he adapt to the changing lineup Vegas has rolled out? Let's see how the former Sabre will do in another campaign for Vegas in 2024-25.
How a big acquisition could help the Vegas Golden Knights... and Jack Eichel
There have been persistent rumors of the Vegas Golden Knights plotting an earth-shaking move after the free agency period. Executives have talked about how Kelly McCrimmon's silence and lack of activity means he's eyeing something bigger. A perfect example was last season's trade deadline, where the Golden Knights acquired Noah Hanifin from Calgary and Tomas Hertl from San Jose.
Names like Mitch Marner and Patrik Laine have emerged in discussions, leaving fans wondering if either superstar will don the gray and gold next season. If either name comes to the Golden Knights, it'll help Jack Eichel's production. If he gains Laine as a linemate, Jonathan Marchessault's replacement will fill in, giving Eichel more power to make plays. If Marner comes to town, he'll add another playmaker to the top line, which helps the former first-round pick stat-wise.
No matter what happens, he'll be the beneficiary of another superstar on the team. Eichel's had the potential to score 80-90 points in a season throughout his career, hitting his mark in 2018-19 with the Sabres (82 points). However, he can push past that mark if McCrimmon pulls off another trade for Vegas in the upcoming months.