Jack Eichel Signs Monumental 8-Year, $108M Extension with Golden Knights

NHL News

Star center Jack Eichel has agreed to an extensive eight-year contract extension with the Vegas Golden Knights. The deal, announced by the team on Wednesday, is valued at an impressive $13.5 million in average annual value (AAV).

This significant agreement was finalized merely hours before the Golden Knights were set to kick off their season opener against the Los Angeles Kings in Las Vegas. Both parties had intensified negotiations since the start of training camp, aiming to secure a long-term commitment before the season commenced.

The new contract for Eichel will commence in the 2026-27 season and will keep him with the team until he is 38 years old. With this new AAV, he will become the third-highest paid player in the league, surpassed only by Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million) and Leon Draisaitl ($14 million).

Currently 28, Eichel was entering the final year of his existing eight-year, $10 million cap hit contract, a deal he originally signed with the Buffalo Sabres, the team that drafted him.

In 2021, Buffalo facilitated Eichel`s trade to the Golden Knights.

The catalyst for that trade was Eichel`s insistence on undergoing an artificial disk replacement (ADR) surgery for a neck injury. This procedure was groundbreaking for an active NHL player and carried considerable risk. His agent, Pat Brisson, played a crucial role in orchestrating the trade.

The Golden Knights permitted Eichel to have the surgery, which proved to be remarkably successful and has since been adopted by several other NHL players.

The American-born forward was instrumental in leading Vegas to their first-ever Stanley Cup victory in 2023, where he contributed an impressive 26 points across 22 playoff games.

“Approximately four years ago, Jack pioneered the first ADR surgery for an active NHL player,” Brisson remarked on Wednesday. “Vegas supported this process. They`ve since won the Cup. It`s a fantastic environment for him, and he`s truly content with his decision.”

Eichel has also been confirmed as one of the initial six players selected for Team USA`s roster for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

The Golden Knights are widely considered strong contenders for the Stanley Cup, especially following the acquisition of winger Mitch Marner this summer. Eichel and Marner are anticipated to form a potent top line for Vegas in their season opener against the Kings.

This new agreement also means another prominent name is off the market for next summer`s potentially star-studded free agency class. Earlier in the week, Connor McDavid secured a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers, and Kirill Kaprizov signed an eight-year deal with the Minnesota Wild before the season began.

Finn Harrow
Finn Harrow

Say hello to Finn Harrow, a journalist calling an English city home. Specializing in sports news, Finn covers everything from golf greens to Formula 1 tracks with flair.

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