Graney: Credit Jack Eichel, Golden Knights for locking up extension now

You can credit both sides for this.

You can applaud both for getting it done.

Jack Eichel’s extension is complete. The Golden Knights star center signed an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $13.5 million Wednesday.

It’s obvious Eichel wanted to remain in Las Vegas and that the Knights wanted to lock him up for the future.

And they found common ground, even though you have to believe Eichel could have held out for a higher dollar sign.

But that’s a major draw of this franchise. That’s how much players desire to be part of it. That’s what success breeds.

It’s a culture that has been built over nine seasons, the latest opening Wednesday night with a 6-5 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

You pay the man, and he delivers. Eichel scored his first goal of the season five minutes into the third period. Newly acquired star right wing Mitch Marner had the assist. Of course he did.

Eichel finished with the goal and three assists. Not a bad start for the man with some serious security now.

“There’s definitely some piece of mind that comes with getting something done,” Eichel said. “I said all along I wanted to be here playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, so really happy to get it done and continue my career here in Vegas. It’s been an incredible place for me and my family. Just very thankful and grateful. It was obviously nice to get that out of the way. Tons of thanks to the organization and my teammates and everyone that’s been there with me along this journey.”

Best team?

This storyline with Eichel’s contract didn’t drag into the season, which is a good thing. It didn’t become a weekly narrative with headlines about where things stood in negotiations.

I’m also sure that part about no state income tax helped.

It didn’t take one ounce away from what is the best team in the short history of the organization.

That’s right. They’ve never been this good.

And this is a franchise that won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

And now that the contract is behind everyone, the Knights can go out and prove it.

They’re all using the same words: On paper.

How things look when written down. How much talent there seems to be across the lineup.

“We need to get it off the paper and onto the rink,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We’re obviously at the start. Let’s get this team looking like it’s supposed to look and if it’s going to play winning hockey for nine months and not just a month. Let’s get up to speed.”

What fans really want to see is what this Eichel and Marner pair look like on the top line. And they looked just fine Wednesday.

Cassidy calls them dangerous but that they don’t have to necessarily carry the load nightly because of the team’s depth.

They don’t have to put a level of pressure on themselves that they have to make something happen every time they’re on the ice. But the line can do some serious damage along with left wing Ivan Barbashev, who also scored.

Sure. It’s all about how fast things jell. All about how quickly chemistry can develop up and down the lineup and not just between Eichel and Marner.

It might not take long. It might. But the overall skill is unquestioned.

“It’s one of the reasons why I think it’s a special place to play,” Eichel said. “It’s an organization that wants to win the Stanley Cup every year and as a player, that’s all you can ask for. You know they’re going to do what’s necessary to give us a chance to win and that’s what I want to do, continue to push to win another Stanley Cup here in Vegas. It was a huge part of my decision.”

Pay Pavel?

Eichel leads the way. Two of his assists came on two of right wing Pavel Dorofeyev’s three goals. A hat trick on opening night.

Eichel didn’t get the $17 million a year Minnesota recently bestowed upon left wing Kirill Kaprizov or even the $14 million Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl makes annually.

But he obviously is content with the deal, and you can bet so, too, are the Knights. Credit both sides for getting it done.

“Of course, I have tons of appreciation and gratitude toward having the opportunity to sign a contract like that and at the same time, I think my focus was on the game,” Eichel said. “But it’s something we’ve been working on a while and I’m happy to get it done and so happy to be here in Vegas. It’s a place I love, so it meant a lot.”

Then again, Dorofeyev will be a restricted free agent after this season and due a new contract. And after Wednesday’s opener, what is that guy going to demand?

I mean, he’s only on pace for 246 goals.

Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. He can be heard on “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Follow @edgraney on X.