It’s tempting, in late October, to dismiss hot starts as just that—a heater, a statistical anomaly, a mirage that will evaporate by the time the American Thanksgiving benchmark rolls around. We’ve seen it before.
But what’s happening in Vegas feels different.
Seven games into the 2025-2026 campaign, the Vegas Golden Knights are 5-0-2. Alongside the Colorado Avalanche, they’re one of only two squads yet to suffer a regulation loss. This isn’t a team squeaking out wins; they’re making statements, like handing the Carolina Hurricanes their first “L” of the season.
The primary catalyst for this dominance isn’t complicated. It’s Jack Eichel. And he’s not just playing like a star; he’s playing like a man intent on cashing every check, earning every dollar of his new contract, and collecting some significant hardware in the process.
The $13.5 Million Man Delivers
Let’s rewind to October 8, opening night. The ink was barely dry on Jack Eichel’s massive eight-year, $108 million extension. That $13.5 million AAV places him squarely among the league’s elite earners, a stratosphere that invites suffocating pressure.
Eichel’s response? He’s leading the NHL in scoring. By a lot.
As of October 23, Eichel has put up a staggering 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in seven games. He’s found the scoresheet in every single contest. To put that in perspective for the Art Ross race, he’s already lapped the field, sitting nine points clear of 2024-25 Hart Trophy finalist Leon Draisaitl.
Yes, the pace is absurd. He’s technically on track for 187 points, a number that is, of course, highly unlikely to stand. But this isn’t just empty-calorie offense. He’s driving the bus. In a 6-1 dismantling of the Calgary Flames, Eichel notched four assists, with three of them coming on the power play.
He’s making everyone around him better. Before going down with an injury, captain Mark Stone was tied for second in league scoring with 13 points in six games, feeding off Eichel’s elite playmaking. When coach Bruce Cassidy had to shuffle the lines, it didn’t matter. Eichel simply posted three goals and seven points in his next three games. He is, in no uncertain terms, in the zone.
Chasing More Than the Art Ross
For the knowledgeable fan, however, Eichel’s point total isn’t the real story. The narrative shift is in his other 180 feet of ice.
Last season, Eichel finished fifth in the voting for both the Hart (MVP) and the Selke (best defensive forward) Trophies. It was a clear sign of his evolution. This season, he looks committed to winning them both.
Talk to Eichel, and he’ll credit his head coach. He has openly attributed his enhanced defensive soundness to the demanding, structured system of Bruce Cassidy. Eichel noted that building that defensive trust with his coach is what gets him on the ice in critical late-game situations.
The metrics back up the eye test. When Eichel is on the ice at 5-on-5 this season, the Golden Knights are controlling over 58 percent of the expected goals—a figure that would shatter his previous career best. He’s matured from a dynamic offensive weapon into a true, dominant, play-driving 200-foot center.
Want the most telling stat? Look at the dot. Eichel has been a notoriously poor faceoff man for most of his career, hovering at a 44.9% average. This season? He’s winning 51.6% of his draws. That’s not a statistical blip; that’s a conscious, dedicated improvement in a crucial, thankless part of the game. It’s the hallmark of a player finding a new gear of maturity.
This commitment has Eichel in the early conversation to do something almost unthinkable: become only the second player in NHL history to win the Hart and Selke in the same season.
An Engine Built on Detail
Of course, a 5-0-2 record is never a one-man show. Eichel is the star, but the team’s underlying structure is why the success is sustainable.
First, the special teams are clicking at a terrifying rate. The Golden Knights’ power play is operating at a league-best 32.1 percent (it was as high as 37.5% after the Calgary game). When your top unit, quarterbacked by a white-hot Eichel, is converting on a third of its chances, you become a nightmare to play against.
Second, the team has bought into Eichel’s commitment at the faceoff dot. As a group, Vegas has seen a massive turnaround, winning 55.8% of its draws (tied for second in the NHL). This is a gargantuan leap from their 50.5% rate last season. That small difference translates into starting with the puck, controlling possession, and dictating play.
Finally, the depth is contributing. While Eichel and Stone (pre-injury) have dominated the headlines, Mitch Marner has quietly put up 10 points, and Pavel Dorofeyev has been a revelation, burying seven goals in seven games.
Leading Through Adversity
Perhaps the most impressive part of this early-season run is that it’s coming while the team is banged up. The Golden Knights are proving their resilience.
Captain Mark Stone is out week-to-week. Starting goaltender Adin Hill has been sidelined. Key defensive cogs Noah Hanifin and Alex Pietrangelo have also missed time. These aren’t minor losses; they are core pieces.
In their absence, the responsibility has fallen squarely on Eichel to lead the charge. He hasn’t flinched. He’s embraced the $13.5 million AAV, thrived under the pressure, and elevated his game to a new level.
It’s a long season. But the Golden Knights aren’t just winning games. They are dominating the details—faceoffs, special teams, and defensive structure—all while their best player is authoring the opening chapters of a potential MVP campaign.
Created with the aid of Gemini AI