Before the season, the NHL Network released its top NHL player rankings. Of course, Vegas star Jack Eichel was among the Top 20 but would be much higher if we were to realign the list today. It’s no secret that VGK’s star is having a career season and is projected to pass his best by 20 points. After his outstanding 2024-25 campaign, Eichel has certainly climbed the ranks of the NHL’s preseason player rankings.
NHL.com’s Preseason Player Rankings
- Connor McDavid
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Auston Matthews
- Cale Makar
- Leon Draisaitl
- Igor Shesterkin
- Nikita Kucherov
- Aleksander Barkov
- Matthew Tkachuk
- Quinn Hughes
*17. Jack Eichel
It’s difficult to argue against the league’s Top 10 player list before the season and even now. While Eichel will outperform several names on that list, there’s an argument that he’s just outside the league’s ten best. Now, if you believe goaltenders should be separate from skaters, then Eichel most certainly can slide onto that list after his fabulous projected 105-point season. Statistics alone should elevate him.
At this point in their careers, can you consider Eichel a better player than Sidney Crosby? Same goes for Mikko Rantanen, Artemi Panarin, and Brayden Point, who were all ranked ahead of Eichel last fall. If the NHL.com player rankings were solely based on production, then Eichel passes all four.
(Credit: NHL,com)
As of today, Vegas’ top center has the fourth most points among all NHL players. Assuming he reaches the century mark, Eichel will have his career best in points, assists, and possibly games played. After a successful season like that, there is no way NHL.com can leave him out of their Top 12.
Re-Ranking NHL.com’s Preseason Player Rankings
- Connor McDavid
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Cale Makar
- Leon Draisaitl
- Nikita Kucherov
- Auston Matthews
- Aleksander Barkov
- Quinn Hughes
- Matthew Tkachuk
- Victor Hedman
- Sidney Crosby
- Jack Eichel (17th)
Understandably, Golden Knights fans would fiercely argue Eichel should be higher on the list. However, this is #9’s first 90-point season. Seven out of eight forwards ahead of him have multiple 90- and 100-point seasons. Not to mention all of their hardware. It’s certainly possible Eichel can follow up this season’s stats with even more points in the years to follow. There’s no doubt that next October’s player rankings will be different, possibly even impacting the NHL.com’s future top centers list. After his golden season, it wouldn’t be a shock if Eichel moved up from the eighth center spot above Point and Crosby.
Sure, merits are important to recognize, and rankings make for fun conversations. However, it’s the top remaining center that leads his team to a Stanley Cup championship that should be considered the season’s head honcho. It’s the Cup that really changes lists and rankings. Eichel made his case in 2023 and will try and do so again starting in a few weeks.
