Jack Eichel Contract 'Important Piece of Business' for Golden Knights, GM Says

Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said he considers extending Jack Eichel to be an "important piece of business" this offseason.

Eichel, who is signed through the 2025-26 season, is currently set to hit free agency in 2026.

"That would be an important order of business for us," McCrimmon said when asked about extending Eichel during Saturday's end-of-season press conference. "The guy's a tremendous player. He's one of the top guys in the NHL. He's got great character, great leadership, you see night in and night out what he does for our team.

"So that'll be a really importance piece of business for us, and we sure hope to keep Jack in our organization. Jack loves it here, so I would hope that we can find common ground and keep him a Golden Knight."

Eichel led the Golden Knights with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 11 playoff games prior to the team's second-round elimination by the Edmonton Oilers.

He recorded a career 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 77 games of the regular season as one of the eight most productive players in the NHL. He was also named a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist after recording just eight penalty minutes over that stretch.

When asked about his contract status after the Knights' elimination in overtime of Wednesday's Game 5, Eichel told reporters he believes contract negotiations are "sort of out of my control" before praising both the Golden Knights organization and Las Vegas as a city.

"It's a phenomenal place to play hockey and live, and a community to be a part of... Super proud to be part of this organization, and this city, and represent the Vegas Golden Knights," Eichel said.

Eichel continued, "Contractually, I think those things kind of take care of itself. I'll just worry about trying to prepare for next season this offseason, and go from there."

The 28-year-old is heading into the final season of the eight-year, $80 million contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres at the beginning of the 2017-18 season. At the time, the deal boasted the sixth-highest average annual value in the league.

Another eight-year contract, the maximum allowed under the current CBA, would lock in Eichel through his age-38 season.

The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta previously reported that McCrimmon and Pat Brisson, who represents Eichel, have held "unofficial discussions at various points this season" about a new contract. Those talks could now get more serious leading up to July 1, when Eichel will be eligible to sign a new deal.