LAS VEGAS — Jack Eichel came to Las Vegas in 2021 with lofty expectations that he has mostly fulfilled, including helping lead the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup championship two seasons ago. Now he has taken his game to an even higher level.

Past the season's midpoint, our staff's updated picks for Cup winner, dark horse, biggest disappointment, awards, playoff fields and more.

He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.

Oh look everyone! Hunter Crowther’s back! Yaaaaaaaaay! This will be good news if you don’t like Mike Gould or terrible news if you don’t like Hunter. Or maybe you just don’t like me and this news doesn’t change your feelings.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill became a folk hero during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite starting the playoffs as the backup to Laurent Brossoit, Hill took the reigns and led the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup.

The Golden Knights have lost three in a row just once this season, in mid-October, and haven't duplicated that skid since. Fans should brace themselves for Saturday's game in Chicago, the second leg of a back-to-back after Friday's 3-2 loss in Carolina.

Former Wolverine Adam Fantilli scored three goals for his first career hat trick in the Blue Jackets' 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

Five Pacific Division teams realistically have a chance to make the postseason. The Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings are battling for the top spot in the Pacific Division,

They’re now 3-4-3 since the Christmas break, partially due to a major uptick in quality chances allowed at five-on-five; they were at 2.18 per 60 heading into the holiday, fourth-best in the NHL. In the 10 games since, though, they’re over 2.5.

Internally, the Calgary Flames are confident in the path they’ve chosen. They’re getting younger while trying to stay competitive, refusing to acquiesce to the calls for a full teardown and rebuild. The Flames talk about “the Dallas model” of drafting exceptionally well,

When Leon Draisaitl won his first Hart Trophy in 2019-20, he made his case during a stretch when teammate Connor McDavid was out with an injury. The Oilers had missed the playoffs in back-to-back years in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and found themselves back in the mix in 2019-20 after a hot start to the season.

We’re a little under two months away from the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and Daily Faceoff has you covered for everything leading up to the unofficial hockey holiday.