NHL Analyst Breaks Down Jack Eichel's Potential Future Golden Knights' Contract

Although Friedman doesn't put the extension in doubt, he cautioned against assuming the center will reach the $16 million annual salaries that McDavid and Kaprizov may command in their upcoming extensions.

"Vegas is going to say, ‘Look, you are worth what you can get out there. You’re a number one center. You’re a great player, but like Edmonton and McDavid, we want to win,'" Friedman said. "Marner just got $12 (million annually), so I could see Eichel getting a big number — $13, maybe $14 — but I don’t think it’s going to go into the stratosphere like a Kaprizov or McDavid.”

The Golden Knights must be mindful of the salary cap, even with the NHL ceiling set to rise by $9 million next year. As things stand entering training camp, Vegas is already $7.6 million over the cap.

Marner’s eight-year, $96 million deal already added significant strain, and a McDavid-sized contract for Eichel would limit flexibility, if not being entirely unfeasible at this point.

“I just don’t see it because it just hurts Vegas’s ability to win,” Friedman said.

Eichel is coming off a career-high 94-point season, is finishing an eight-year pact worth $10 million annually signed while he was still with the Buffalo Sabres before they traded him to Vegas.

In an interview with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun , Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that securing an extension is a “priority” and said there is strong interest in such an agreement from both sides.

“That’s a priority,” McCrimmon said. “It remains a priority. He’s been a great player for our organization. I think our organization has been great for him. So, lots of interest, obviously, I think from both sides to make something work.”

If talks progress quickly, there's a high probability Eichel is locked up for the long-term future of the Golden Knights before the start of the regular season, scheduled for Oct. 7.