LAS VEGAS - Jack Eichel insists he's consumed by the day-to-day existence of an NHL star, single-mindedly focused on preparing for his 11th season.
At the same time, the Golden Knights center says he's the type of person who doesn't need to push aside potential distractions as the season ramps up. Eichel, a pending unrestricted free agent, would in fact love to sign a contract extension with Vegas and has no issues with negotiating during the season.
"I just try to focus on the things that are in my control. If a contract happens organically, then it happens," Eichel said Tuesday at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour, one week away from the start of Golden Knights training camp.
Eichel, 28, is entering Season 8 of the eight-year, $80-million deal he signed with the Sabres in 2017. One legitimate possibility: a long-term extension with Vegas (perhaps committing to the maximum eight years again), with an average annual value in the neighborhood of $13 million.
Eichel re-upping with the Golden Knights would be a significant blow to the 2026 UFA class, though it's got no shortage of star power. Connor McDavid is the whopper, while Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, and Adrian Kempe headline an exceptionally strong second tier of potential UFA forwards. How many of them actually make it to market remains to be seen.
Kempe, who's spent his entire nine-year career in Los Angeles, hopes he and the Kings' front office can find common ground on a deal "that's fair for me and for the team." The electrifying shoot-first winger predicts talks will pick up in the "next weeks or months" and hinted he'd prefer something long term.
"It's tough for me because this is probably the biggest contract of my career. Probably the last contract, hopefully, of my career," the 29-year-old said.
Kempe added, "I don't want to rush anything. I feel like we're not in a rush on my part. I feel like the team is not in a rush."
Barzal may 'never feel back to 100%'
Mathew Barzal was penciled in by many as a potential future Olympian as recently as a couple of years ago. Making Team Canada isn't even on the center's radar right now thanks to a long, patience-zapping rehab process.
"My mindset is a little bit shifted from that and more so (aimed at) just trying to get back to the player I know I can be," said Barzal, who was limited to 30 games in 2024-25 after blocking a shot off his kneecap in early February.
In one breath, Barzal notes he'd be healthy enough to be in the Islanders' lineup if the season started this week. In the next, he laments the lingering physical effects of the injury and the associated mental and emotional grind.
"An injury like this, you'll potentially never feel back to 100%. Mentally, I'm at a point now where it doesn't really matter," he said, later adding: "I've got six years left on my contract and I'm just fully committed to doing everything I can to be the best player I can be."
Hughes wants bro on Devils' PP1
Jack Hughes raised eyebrows this week by publicly admitting he wants to play with big brother and Canucks defenseman Quinn one day. The Devils star of course already plays with the third Hughes, and it turns out Jack believes little bro Luke deserves a full-time spot on New Jersey's top power play unit.
"Hopefully Luke can come in and just be on power play one from Day 1," Jack said of the currently unsigned 22-year-old blue-liner. "I think that's so important for him. He's got so much upside, and when we do give him (high-leverage minutes) that all the other No. 1 D-men get, we get great return."
Veteran Dougie Hamilton led all Devils defensemen in power play ice time last season with 180 minutes over 62 games. Luke, then in his second full NHL campaign, finished with 115 minutes over 69 games. Overall, the club scored 10.6 goals per 60 minutes to rank third in the NHL in power-play efficiency.
Featuring Luke more prominently on PP1 versus PP2 would be "a start," Jack said. "Then the rest of the game he'll take care of himself. He's a great skater. He's a really good defender too. I think he can be a true No. 1 for us."
Ditch shootout for extended OT?
The NHL introduced the shootout in 2005-06. Has it run its course? Linus Ullmark thinks so. The Senators goalie would like to see the shootout ditched for five additional minutes of overtime action - like at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Ullmark, who ironically sits sixth all time in shootout save percentage, likes the idea of all games being decided by action that at the very least resembles regular hockey. He has a love-hate relationship with the breakaway challenge.
"When you go out there and you actually manage to save all three (attempts) and you win in the shootout, you feel like the best guy," the affable Swede said with a smile. "You have a rush and you're so happy with it because you know the game is on the line and it's just you and the shooter."
On the flip side, the goalie often gets blamed for shootout losses, which sucks, "plain and simple." It's even worse when the netminder is unbeatable in regulation and overtime action. As Ullmark puts it, if the opposition solves you in the shootout, all of a sudden, "You feel like you're the worst goalie ever."
Makar's clever D-man award idea
There's only one award dedicated to defensemen: the Norris Trophy, which is "presented to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in the position during the regular season." Some Norris winners aren't particularly strong all-around D-men, just the year's top point-getter at the position.
Fans and media have long wondered if creating an award for the best defensive defenseman would be an effective way to reward blue-liners who dominate in less glamorous ways. Hold on, 2022 and 2025 Norris winner Cale Makar may have a better idea: Why not establish the Bobby Orr Award for most points?
Makar's rationale is simple. In theory, it sounds nice to introduce a defensive defenseman award, but in practice, "It's always hard to quantify what that means." Hockey statistics, while vastly improved over the past decade, don't capture the essence of defensive play well. So, keep the Norris as is ("greatest all-around" D-man) and add the Orr as the defenseman's equivalent of the Art Ross.
"I might get roasted on that, but that's my take on it," Makar said.
Hey, it's actually a pretty clever idea.
Ovi's bullet, Cats three-peat, Jarvis chirps
Ovi's bullet: Dustin Wolf of the Flames is one of 184 goalies to dig a puck out of the net thanks to Alex Ovechkin. His two goals against Wolf came in the 10th game of his young career. The first was an inner-slot deflection, the second a gorgeous one-timer from the sniper's so-called office. "You don't understand what it looks like until you stand behind it," Wolf said of Ovechkin's legendary shot. "It comes off like a saucer disc. The puck's flat. There's no wobble to it. You pray you're in a good spot and it hits you. There's a reason why he has almost 900." Ovi, who turns 40 next week, will start the season at 897 goals.
Cats three-peat: Reporters from various national media outlets, including theScore, interviewed players in a small room at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for three days this week. Division rivals Sam Reinhart and Victor Hedman visited back-to-back on Monday. The first thing out of the Lightning captain's mouth as he walked in? "No! They're not going to win three in row!" It was a playful jab. Everybody laughed. But there was some weight to Hedman's remark: The Panthers are very much the kings of the NHL following two straight Stanley Cups, and rivals are extremely motivated to squash their three-peat dreams.
Jarvis chirps: Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is arguably the funniest dude in the league. He's cheerful, childlike, and self-deprecating. He comes off as someone who would excel in the dark arts of in-game chirping. The truth is, he gets tongue-tied at ice level. "I have such an appreciation for (elite chirpers). I'm not quick enough," Jarvis said. "When someone says something to me, I just can't snap back at them right away. I need like four to five business days to come back with something. It's usually a little late." See, this guy is funny!
Updates from deputy commissioner
Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly fielded questions from reporters Tuesday on a variety of league-related topics. Here are three tidbits worth sharing:
- The investigation into the Oilers' use of LTIR relating to forward Evander Kane is officially closed. Kane missed the entire regular season due to multiple injuries before returning to the lineup for the second game of the playoffs. The league found no wrongdoing, so neither Edmonton nor Kane will face punishment.
- A decision on the status of the five former Hockey Canada players acquitted at trial in a high-profile sexual assault case is expected "at some point in the relatively near future," Daly said. Former NHLers Michael McLeod, Callan Foote, Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, and Alex Formenton are all currently ineligible to sign an NHL contract.
- The NHL pivoted to a decentralized draft this past June and, at the urging of its teams, will keep the format for the 2026 event despite widespread criticism of 2025's slow, cringeworthy Round 1. The league will make "significant changes" to the TV product. "It's not going to be a four-and-a-half-hour first round," Daly said.
John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter/X (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email ([email protected]).
