Jack Eichel’s contract year: Will the Vegas Golden Knights keep their superstar?Jack Eichel’s contract status (Image Via Twitter) Jack Eichel is the kind of player who hits a home run whenever he takes the field. With his elite-level setting abilities, Eichel has led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in merely two years of his entry. The GMs and agents observe with curiosity about Eichel’s impending eleventh-hour trade. Alongside madmen like Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov, an intriguing dynamic is beginning to develop within the NHL.

Jack Eichel’s contract status and his desire to stay with the Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel has stated that Vegas feels like home to him. He emphasized that he loves the organization, his teammates, the city itself, and that he is happy to play in front of the Golden Knights fans. Though contract talks have stalled short of an agreement, his words clearly imply that staying in Vegas is Eichel’s first preference. In a franchise centered around star power, keeping hold of Eichel is not just something they should do; it is a must-do in order to keep that image of perennial contention intact.

Vegas Golden Knights’ salary-cap challenges during Jack Eichel extension negotiations

The Golden Knights have never shied away from making bold moves, but the extension of Eichel carries with it some complications. With Marner now in the fold and Pietrangelo’s contract still eating into long-term plans, Vegas figures just a shade above $29 million in available cap space for next offseason. Eichel would on his own demand $13 to $14 million annually, forcing management into hard choices on the filling of at least six spots on the roster.General manager Kelly McCrimmon has always had to make ruthless yet deliberate decisions, and this will probably be another big test for him. Whether it is to clear out veteran contracts or find more creative solutions with the cap, keeping Eichel as the number one center for the team will be the utmost priority.Also Read: NHL trades, rumors: Erik Karlsson could be the next trade target of the Detroit Red WingsJack Eichel’s future in Vegas may not be guaranteed yet, but everything that he has said, coupled with his performance, suggests that in the long term, he belongs with the Golden Knights. The franchise may have a tough financial call to make; however, there could rarely be a move more critical than locking in its star center. Eichel feels Vegas is no longer just another team for him but somehow a place wherein lies his success, stabilization, and room to build a name for himself.