I had the funniest dream (or nightmare, I guess) last night. It involved me being tied up in a chair. I was approached by three people, all of which had conflicting messages for me.
First was Rachel Zegler, who I could've sworn was left in Disney's fairy tale land because she lost her mind. She rolled over to me to lecture me on how bad a person I was. I thought to myself, "This crazy lady doesn't know my backstory." I sneezed on her and she rolled away, angry.
Weird, weird!
Then came Connor McDavid, who gave me some of his black licorice. Even with no movement, I turned away. I couldn't stand the mere scent of that contraption. McDavid just shrugged and frolicked away in his holey socks.
Then came Charlie Kirk. He crawled like a crab and got so close to my right ear that I could hear him breathing. Then, he whispered to me in the quietest tone four words with a creepy smile.
"What is Jack Eichel?"
Talk about a nightmare, eh? But that goes back to a broader point about nightmares. You see, Eichel doesn't have a new deal and will become a free agent in 2025-26. It's something that has some fans feeling like they're having a bad dream.
Is a lack of a new deal concerning for Vegas Golden Knights fans?
There's plenty of reason for fans to be concerned if Eichel doesn't get re-signed. For one, he had a breakout year in 2024-25, scoring 26 goals and 94 points. Along the way, he set numerous franchise records, establishing himself as the team's de facto face.
He also carries a solid two-way game, making him one of the NHL's best. Pair him with newcomer Mitch Marner, and it has Golden Knights fans going ga-ga like a wolf in a Tex Avery cartoon.
Certainly, fans don't want to see the duo be a simple one-off for Vegas. They'd love to see their newest top-line member run it back with the former second-overall draft pick for more than a year.
Therefore, it's imperative that Kelly McCrimmon gets a deal done. The fans will become so outraged that bring their torches, pitchforks, and picket signs in front of his office. Sounds nightmarish, doesn't it?
After all, it's telling when fans would rather avoid sacrificing the former Sabre for Connor McDavid. He's established himself firmly within the Las Vegas community, becoming the biggest athlete in Sin City.
When I will start to worry about a Jack Eichel contract extension
Vegas Golden Knights fans shouldn't look too far into a lack of a contract extension if the season starts. Sure, it might be a bit of a distraction and could hamper Eichel's performance. However, McCrimmon had a heavy dosage of re-signing players during last season. That includes the following players:
- Shea Theodore: October 24, 2024
- Brayden McNabb: November 15, 2024
- Brett Howden: November 22, 2024
- Keegan Kolesar: December 13, 2024
- Adin Hill: March 14, 2025
That's five players that McCrimmon re-signed during the 2024-25 season. Five! He was a busy bee ensuring he kept his core around for the Stanley Cup window, giving them friendly deals in the process.
Some Golden Knights fans might have some traumatic memories of the Jonathan Marchessault debacle from last summer. However, McCrimmon dispelled those bad feelings with a wave of extensions during the 2024-25 season.
That should be no different during the 2025-26 season if it gets to that point. Therefore, I will truly be concerned when June 2026 rolls around and there's no deal. McCrimmon has a track history of giving players deals when people least expect it. That will be no different in this scenario, especially when it involves your best player.
If that time passes? Well, that'll be a nightmare for everyone.