Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel is this season’s recipient of the First Star Award and Vegas Strong Service Award.
Every year, the Golden Knights hand out three awards as part of their annual regular season awards ceremony.
On April 18, Jack Eichel became the second VGK player to win two of those awards in the same season.
He joins William Karlsson, who won the First Star and Seventh Player Awards in 2017-18 — the team’s inaugural season.
It’s Eichel’s first time winning the Vegas Strong Service Award, but second time winning the First Star Award. He’s the first VGK player to win multiple First Star Awards in their career.
First Star Award
The First Star Award is given to the team’s top performer on home ice, as determined by ‘three star’ votes during VGK home games.
Previous winners include: Evgenii Dadonov (2021-22), Max Pacioretty (2020-21), Reilly Smith (2019-20), Marc-Andre Fleury and Cody Eakin (2018-19), and Karlsson (2017-18).
Eichel led the team in assists (20) and points (39) at home — despite playing in just 32 of the team’s 41 home games. His 19 home goals were second-best on the team.
He ended the year on a 10-game home point streak — one game shy of a team record. He did, however, break the team record for most points per home game with 1.22 in 2023-24 (min. 30 games).
The Vegas Golden Knights were 23-7-2 at home with Eichel in the lineup, but just 4-5-0 without him.
Vegas Strong Service Award
The Vegas Strong Service Award is awarded to the player most involved in serving and giving back to the Las Vegas community, and is selected by VGK staff.
Previous winners include: Reilly Smith (2022-23), Mark Stone (2021-22), Shea Theodore (2020-21), Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny (2019-20), and Deryk Engelland (2018-19; 2017-18).
“His contributions in the past year include separate $40,000 donations to Best Buddies Las Vegas and Cure 4 The Kids,” the team wrote in a press release.
Eichel was also named the Golden Knights’ nominee for the NHL’s King Clancy Award.
“Even more significant was the time he spent and friendships he developed with participants in the Best Buddies program or patients at Cure 4 The Kids and other pediatric medical centers in Las Vegas,” the team added.
Jack Eichel Ready for Another Playoff Run
Eichel missed 19 games earlier this year with a lower-body injury, but returned to the lineup on March 4. He has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) and six multi-point performances in the 21 games since that return.
And the Golden Knights have needed every single one of them.
The team went just 9-8-2 without him in the lineup. They struggled to find their identity late in the season, but it’s a different ball game now.
It’s the playoffs. And until someone unseats the Golden Knights, they’re still the team to beat.
Eichel led all skaters with 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists) during last year’s title run. He failed to score in the final two rounds, but dished 12 of his assists in those rounds.
Vegas is going to need that same production this year if they want to repeat. He has a wealth of new talent around him, but will that translate in the playoffs?
Only time will tell.
The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 20. The Golden Knights open their first-round series against the Dallas Stars on April 22. Their first home game is April 27 (Game 3).
It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year. The playoffs are here, baby!
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