Could Jack Eichel Be a Realistic Possibility Next Summer?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) scores during the overtime shootout against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Vegas Golden Knights on November 25, 2024 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire)

The 2026 free agent class is absolutely loaded, with names like Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, Kyle Connor, and many more. However, with most of these big names, it’s hard to expect any of them to make it to the open market.

The Philadelphia Flyers will be in a position to spend in 2026, with over $40 million in projected cap space, per Puckpedia, and likely only having to retain four RFAs next offseason.

The cap space in the NHL is rising, so other teams will have a little more cash to spend; however, some teams will remain in better positions than others, while a few will stay in a state of cap space purgatory.

One of those teams? The Vegas Golden Knights.

There is an excellent argument for Eichel being a top-3, at worst top-4 player in this upcoming free agent class. After inking Mitch Marner to a five-year deal, you’d think Vegas won’t let Eichel slip through their fingers.

However, the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggests that Eichel reaching the open market may be more realistic than it seems.

The Golden Knights have a projected $20 million in cap space next season, per Puckpedia, which would leave them with $5 million remaining after Eichel’s suggested contract. Vegas only has seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goalie under contract for the 2026-27 season.

Anything is possible, especially when it comes to a player like Eichel. But Vegas would have to do some serious maneuvering to make it work.

With all of that said, it seems a bit more realistic now that Eichel could reach the open market.

Eichel Would be Everything the Flyers Need

The Philadelphia Flyers have been missing a dynamic top-line center for a little while now. Jack Eichel would be just that.

Eichel will be 29 when the 2026-27 season begins, turning 30 before November. But that is ok. If the Flyers are spending top-dollar on a free agent, that means they’re ready to win, so age isn’t a significant factor.

The Knights’ center is coming off a career high of 94 points in 77 games, with a career high of 66 assists.

Now, to get this out of the way: yes, Eichel has an extensive injury history, including a lower-body surgery in 2024 and a herniated disc surgery in 2021. He has never played a full 82 games in his career, but his 77 games in 2024-25 were the most in a single season for Eichel since 2018-19.

Despite that, Eichel is still everything the Flyers need.

The Flyers are loaded on the wing. With the amount of talent the Flyers have at wing, a “top-line center” for the Flyers is pretty much a playmaker. Well, Eichel can do both. He is an elite play-driving center who, in seasons where he has played more than 60 games, has never had fewer than 32 assists. Eichel is also a goalscorer. In that same filter, in seasons where Eichel has played more than 60 games, he has never scored fewer than 24 goals.

For what it’s worth, both of those totals came in his rookie season with Buffalo.

Eichel is also a very responsible player defensively. While he’s never won the Selke Trophy, Eichel has received plenty of votes, including five first-place votes and 12 votes for each second in third place, placing him fifth in Selke voting for 2025.

So, Would You Sign the Center?

Again, a lot can change between now and next July. I am sure the Knights value Eichel just like the rest of the league would, and will do everything they can to keep him around. However, it’s going to be hard.

The Flyers would not be the only team active in the bidding if the star centerman made it to the open market.

If I were the Flyers, I would take advantage of the vast cap space to sign the dynamic forward the team desperately needs. I can understand if injury concern plays a factor, but at this point, the Flyers need a top center to feed Michkov and Martone down the line.

To me, Jack Eichel is everything the Flyers need. Would you cough up the $15+ million it will take?