"Kaprizov and McDavid represent opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to player salaries, but Eichel's eight-year deal worth $13.5 million annually is a happy medium that demonstrates a balance between giving a player what they're worth and saving the team a few extra dollars along the way. Kaprizov signed a record-breaking exten s ion worth a whopping"
"McDavid, on the other hand, is a player who left millions of dollars on the table in order to dedicate two more years of his prime to a team that he believes is capable of winning the Stanley Cup in the very near future. The generational talent could have handily commanded more than Kaprizov's massive cap hit, but ultimately chose to take a pay cut to the tune of $12.5 million annually starting in 2026-27."
"Eichel falls somewhere in the middle of these two. The 28-year-old has certainly earned the big-time bucks: he led all Golden Knights skaters in ice time last season, set new franchise records in both points and assists, and rightfully so becomes the highest-paid player in team history. Yet, the projections had Eichel earning anywhere from $14 million to $15 million."
Jack Eichel signed an eight-year contract worth $13.5 million annually with the Vegas Golden Knights, positioning his deal between Kirill Kaprizov's record $17 million AAV and Connor McDavid's team-friendly extension. Kaprizov's contract used 16.35 percent of the Minnesota Wild's cap and showed how cap space can enable superstars to secure massive AAVs amid a rising salary cap. McDavid accepted a lower annual average of $12.5 million starting in 2026-27 to preserve cap flexibility for the Edmonton Oilers and help build a championship roster. Eichel led the Golden Knights in ice time, set franchise records in points and assists, and becomes the franchise's highest-paid player despite projections of $14–$15 million, reflecting a compromise between player value and team cost control.
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