(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
It’s unlikely that Vegas star Jack Eichel will win the Hart Trophy this season, but he will receive high praise for the first time in his career. In 2019-20, Eichel scored 78 points in 68 games and 8th in Hart voting. It was his best individual season before becoming a Golden Knight. Well, now things have changed and Eichel is not just a center with an occasional Top 10 season. Since his arrival in Vegas, #9 has been one of the league’s elites.
Eichel Since February 16, 2022
- Points: 252
- Points Per Game: 1.05
- Goals: 99
- Assists: 153
- Plus/Minus: +63
After his wonderful 2024-25 campaign, Eichel is projected to be a top-ten Hart candidate and possibly even higher. With his standout stat line, there’s a real chance the VGK’s top center climbs within four spots behind the winner.
The second-biggest discrepancy between an elite scorer and his club’s next-best producer resides in Vegas, where Eichel’s 93 points sit 26 above any of his teammates. It would be tough to make a case for the Golden Knights pivot over any of the four names above him here, but there’s no question the 28-year-old has come into his own and authored a career year. –Sonny Sachdeva on Sportsnet.ca
It’s an uphill climb to nowhere for Eichel when it comes to winning the Hart Trophy. At this point, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov have simply done enough to separate themselves from the pack. Heck, some even believe Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the league’s most valuable player. However, Eichel put himself in a position to gather more votes than Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
(Credit: NHL.com)
Surely, Eichel is being recognized for his two-way play. His points are considerably lower than the other two centers ahead of him, but his impact is just as visible.
… stringing together his most productive season and emerging as the most important cog in the Golden Knights machine. He’s been an important piece since he first arrived in Vegas — Eichel paced the Knights with 26 points in 26 games during their 2023 championship run — but the former Sabre has found a new level. Whether it’s enough to snag a Hart Trophy remains to be seen, but there’s no question it changes the complexion of Vegas’s hopes at a return to the Stanley Cup summit this spring. –Sachdeva on Sportsnet.ca
Hopefully, Eichel will make his return to the ice soon and allow him a chance to reach the century mark in points. He’s already matched his career high but collecting that many points in an 82-game schedule is a remarkable accomplishment. On average, six players per year register 100 or more points. There’s no doubt the 28-year-old would like his name on another exclusive list.
JB
Need the next two at home starting tonight vs the Kracken. Get these and the pacific is ours, probably! :)
Vic
All that matters is the second season. Most of us are not worried about point milestones, awards or who the playoff opponent will be. What matters is being healthy and at peak performance to be ready for the hard checking and exciting games coming soon. Winning 16 games takes a fast, hungry team with everyone playing above their heads. Also throw in some luck.
ThG
Eichel is a team player, not a me player.
Pistol Pete
Agreed
Pistol Pete
Hertl listed in the lineup. Eichel still day-to-day. Olofsson ill but expected to play otherwise Holtz.
Larry
Drudgering along, if I had my druthers, I would rather face the blues rather than minny basically cause Ek is a major handful and Kaprizov is a world class superstar!
Larry
Should have been ‘druthering’.