Trusted NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has just confirmed the fate of a top free agent joining the New York Rangers organization in the near future when his contract expires after the 2025-26 season.![Jack Eichel with the Golden Knights]()
Chris Drury and the New York Rangers will continue to revamp their roster this offseason after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs a year after just winning the Presidents Trophy, and one of their top targets fate just may have been confirmed.
The New York Rangers desperately need to add another center to their roster, something and someone they have been looking at for a while now is Vegas Golden Knights star forward Jack Eichel, after they failed to land him in a trade back in 2021.
After having a very disappointing season it's clear that the New York Rangers must switch things up in their top six. However, According to Elliotte Friedman things may not work out as the Rangers planned.
Elliotte Friedman has confirmed where Jack Eichel stands as he enters free agency
During Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts Podcast he stated that he doesn't believe Jack Eichel will be parting ways with the Vegas Golden Knights as he's happy with the organization.
"But every summer, when you think when they (Vegas) think they can win and they think they can win, you better be prepared for them to take a big swing at something. And it's pretty obvious, you know, Eichel is an unrestricted free agent in a year. He's eligible for an extension.
They will do whatever they need to do around making sure that gets taken care of. They're happy with him. He's happy with them.
You know, these negotiations, they're always a grind. That's what negotiators do. They grind.
But I can't see. I would be shocked if he is anywhere but Vegas in a year from now. Shocked."
They will do whatever they need to do around making sure that gets taken care of. They're happy with him. He's happy with them.
You know, these negotiations, they're always a grind. That's what negotiators do. They grind.
But I can't see. I would be shocked if he is anywhere but Vegas in a year from now. Shocked."
Eichel's contract is up at the end of the 2025-26 season, and it expires at the same time as Artemi Panarin's deal and one year ahead of Chris Kreider's, and with both players names speculated in a lot of trade rumours this offseason it's clear the Rangers will need an elite No. 1 center like Eichel.
Eichel is also coming off a career year in which he managed to tally 28 goals and 66 assists for a total of 94 points in 77 games, making his price tag go up even higher.
