SLOW CONTRACT TALKS BETWEEN EICHEL, GOLDEN KNIGHTS

TORONTO, ON – The Vegas Golden Knights and star centre Jack Eichel continue to be engaged in ongoing contract discussions and negotiations, but a deal is not yet in the offing.

Speaking with league sources on Tuesday, talks between the Golden Knights and Eichel’s camp, led by agent Pat Brisson, are currently going slow.

While Kirill Kaprizov’s new eight-year, $136 million contract extension with the Minnesota Wild is expected to play a factor for other wingers in the middle of their own extension negotiations, like Adrian Kempe with the Los Angeles Kings and Kyle Connor and the Winnipeg Jets, it does not change Eichel’s talks with Vegas, “one way or the other,” as one source explained.

Kaprizov’s new deal shouldn’t affect Connor McDavid’s decision, either. Mind you, McDavid’s situation is different – there remains a good chance that he signs a shorter-term deal with Edmonton than a full eight-year extension, if he signs – and the Oilers are giving the league’s best player the time he needs before he’s ready to commit.

Eichel, 28, is in the final year of an eight-year, $80 million contract and owns a full no-movement clause as part of his deal.

He is expected to command a contract well north of $13 million per year, surpassing new teammate Mitch Marner’s current $12 million AAV. How much more, though, is the question.

While the lines of communication are open between the two sides, it is unclear when Brisson and Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon plan on escalating talks or if negotiations will carry out during the regular-season, which officially begins Oct. 7.

As my colleague Dennis Bernstein reported this afternoon, Kempe and the Kings are resuming talks this week. Perhaps he and Connor, with progress reported on that front, are next in line?

In 77 games with the Golden Knights last season, Eichel registered 28 goals and a career-high 66 assists for 94 points, the first season in which he has tallied 90 or more points in his career.