Because the Vegas Golden Knights take in being knocked out within the second spherical of the NHL playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, they do not have to attend lengthy earlier than planning for his or her future. Jack Eichel, who has one season left on his eight-year, $80 million contract, is eligible for an extension starting July 1.
“He is one of many high guys within the NHL,” common supervisor Kelly McCrimmon mentioned. “He is obtained nice character, nice management. You see night time in, night time out what he does for our crew, in order that shall be a very vital piece of enterprise for us. We definitely hope to maintain Jack in our group. Jack loves it right here, so I’d hope we might discover widespread floor.”
Eichel, 28, comes off one of the best season of his 10-year profession, the previous 4 with the Golden Knights. He set profession highs with 66 assists and 94 factors to go together with 28 targets as the middle on the crew’s high line. He additionally skated for Crew USA within the 4 Nations Face-Off, the place his membership completed second to Canada.
“Cannot say sufficient about my teammates and the folks on this constructing and the those who make this group what it’s,” Eichel mentioned. “I am tremendous proud to be a part of this group and the town and signify the Vegas Golden Knights. Contractually, I believe issues sort of deal with itself. I will simply fear about making an attempt to arrange for subsequent season this offseason and go from there.”
Administration, which isn’t identified for sitting on its arms, can have different important choices to make as nicely on the crew’s path after the Golden Knights have been eradicated within the second spherical for the second yr in a row.
“I like our crew,” coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned. “I haven’t got an issue with any participant in that room. I believe each certainly one of them is a good teammate. They care about each other. Are there areas of our sport we might complement higher? Most likely. We’ll consider that.
“All the blokes that have been up, their contracts, they have been all good gamers for us. All good gamers. No disappointments in any respect. We’ll most likely have to have a look at areas as a result of we’re not the final crew standing. Normally, you suppose, ‘The place can we improve? The place can I improve what I do?'”
McCrimmon supplied an analogous evaluation.
“I really feel our crew was adequate to win,” McCrimmon mentioned.
The Golden Knights received the Stanley Cup two years in the past and thought they’d one other contender this season after capturing the Pacific Division and securing the Western Convention’s second-best report. However Vegas needed to rally from a 2-1 collection deficit to beat Minnesota within the opening spherical, successful twice in additional time. Then the Golden Knights misplaced two additional time video games within the 4-1 collection loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
“I did not stroll away from Edmonton saying, ‘We had no probability. They’re simply higher,'” Cassidy mentioned. “I did not really feel that means. I felt we wanted to execute higher in a number of of the video games and we may very well be the crew shifting on.”
Ahead William Karlsson mentioned shedding to the Oilers made it “a wasted season.” McCrimmon wasn’t as blunt, as an alternative labeling the loss as “a missed alternative.”
Change will come, however at the least given the tenor of the feedback by Cassidy and McCrimmon, the Golden Knights will largely return their roster intact subsequent season.
“I believe we have now a fantastic group,” goaltender Adin Hill mentioned. “Greatest administration I have been underneath. I believe they’ll do the issues that they see match for [the] roster, whether or not it is holding it the identical or whether or not it is altering up a number of issues. I do not know. That is their determination, above my paygrade, however it is going to be thrilling to see. We all know that we’ll be contenders yearly.”
Ahead Reilly Smith made it clear he desires to return. An unique Golden Knight, Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after successful the Stanley Cup after which despatched to the New York Rangers a yr later. The Golden Knights reacquired the 34-year-old on March 6.
Smith made a easy transition again into the lineup with three targets and eight assists in 21 video games. Then he delivered the play of the postseason for the Golden Knights, scoring with 0.4 seconds left to beat the Oilers in Sport 3, and completed with three targets and an help in 11 playoff video games.
“Most likely one of the best hockey I’ve performed in my profession has been carrying this jersey,” Smith mentioned. “It is a enjoyable group to be part of and a enjoyable place to name house. My household loves it right here, so if there is a approach to make it work, it would be nice. On the finish of the day, it is a enterprise. My contract negotiations, I most likely know as little as [the media does] proper now.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
