Vegas Golden Knights fans had plenty of players to blame for losing the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Obviously, people went after Carter Hart because he wouldn't stop allowing four goals in a game. But it was also defensive breakdowns along with a lack of scoring at key times. It was like the Golden Knights couldn't figure out the press that the Carolina Hurricanes were applying.
Part of that scoring problem came from Jack Eichel, who only mustered two goals throughout the Stanley Cup Final run. That left plenty of fans wondering where the franchise face went during the team's crucial moments.
I mean, yeah, he averaged a point per game during that Stanley Cup Final run. But Eichel feasted primarily on assists, getting 11 primary assists in the process. Unwrapping the stats further reveals that said franchise face didn't do enough when the team needed him most. In short? Disappointment.
But his goal-scoring problems don't just end there. In fact, if he simply scored more, he'd be a 100-point player. Obvious take. Still, what isn't clicking is where he's scoring the goals. You can say that Eichel has a literal gimme that he's not capitalizing on, especially during the regular season.
Where the Vegas Golden Knights need more from Jack Eichel
Golden Knights fans couldn't help but notice one thing about Eichel's 2025-26 production. The Olympic gold medalist only had one power play goal during the regular season and the postseason. One! That came on April 13 in a 6-2 blowout against the Winnipeg Jets, which was part of a four-point night for Eichel.
That's a stark contrast from his 11 power play goals during his 2023-24 campaign. Mind you, his overall goal totals are similar during his five-year Vegas residency with the exception of the shortened 2021-22 campaign (14 goals that season). But his power play goal totals in his other Vegas campaigns show that he's capable of much more.
For further perspective, he scored as many power play goals during that 2023-24 campaign as he did in his other Golden Knights seasons. The most that he scored sans 2023-24? The season after, where he scored five.
How can Jack Eichel boost his goal total with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2026-27?
Looking at Eichel's shot selection (source is MoneyPuck), he primarily thrives on high-danger chances. But there's a small problem. He doesn't get too involved in that area, as proven by his career-high High-Danger xGoals of 12.33 in 2018-19 with the Buffalo Sabres. In fact, his average shot distance is 34.6 feet, indicating that he prefers to go the long-distance route and hope for a deflection or a rebound.
But here's a wild proposal, dear reader. Why not feast on those rebounds and act as the catch-all when the power play presence breaks down, specifically up front? That makes life easier when opponents push Tomas Hertl or Mark Stone out of the bumper, putting additional pressure on the opponent.
Sure, it's not something that Eichel is accustomed to doing. After all, he doesn't carry the extra size that players like Hertl. But it's part of doing a little extra to help your team win a Stanley Cup. You can say that this was part of the missing element that left the Golden Knights two games shy of the ultimate goal last season.
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