VGK will be appearing on National TV 15 times this upcoming season.  That's one more game than a season ago.  The TV schedule was announced Wednesday and includes one appearance on ABC, four ESPN-televised appearances, four more on ESPN+, and six TNT appearances.  The much-anticipated VGK game versus Toronto will be aired on ESPN Jan. 15.  Jack Eichel says the expectation for Team USA is to win Olympic Gold in Milan.  And, don't count VGK acquiring Rasmus Andersson.  Flames Captain Michael Backlund says "it's obvious" Andersson will be traded, likely before the season begins.  

Jeremy Tingley, of NHL Rumors, has VGK listed along with the Rangers and Panthers as potential landing spots for future Hall of Famer Evgeny Malkin.  This is expected to be his final season in Pittsburgh, and if the Penguins are out of the Cup race early, Malkin could be available by the trade deadline.  He could be a late rental for the Cup chase. He currently makes $6m a year.  We have VGK sightings on the ice at City National by Cris Gawlik. And, to no one's surprise, VGK is ranked near the bottom in Pipeline Rankings.

Jack Eichel could command $15 million a year according to Frank Saravalli from Bleacher Report, as negotiations continue for a contract extension.  Eichel's contract expires after this season.   Initial reports said Eichel would want between $12.5 ad $13 million a year.  But now that number escalated.  Will Eichel test the free agency market?  Should VGK fans be concerned? We wonder how VGK would handle the cap with two superstars on the team.  William Nylander, Mitch Marner's former teammate, said this weekend that Marner was focused during the playoffs.  Despite scoring 13 points in 13 games, fans and media in Toronto feel Eichel might have been checked out during the playoffs with the Maple Leafs. We also have Auston Matthews comments on #MarnerMonday.  And, VGK reportedly took Alexander Holtz off its roster over the weekend.  Holtz turned down an offer sheet for $874,000

Jack Eichel is probably a lock to make the U.S. Olympic team, Noah Hanifin will have a hill to climb to join the team in Italy this winter.  Both have been invited to next week's team orientation.  A total of 44 players have been invited and the team roster has to be pared down to 25 before the Games.  We discuss VGK's current top-heavy lineup and what effect it might have on the team long-term.  And it's WTF day with fan comments. 

NHL Network released its Top 20 Centers list Wednesday and Jack Eichel moved up a spot from a year ago and is now ranked sixth on the list. Connor McDavid is the top center according to the list. Eichel had his best season in the league with 94 points last season.  He missed five games while flirting with the century mark.  We talk about confidence for the VGK front office, based on a new Athletic survey.  And former Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson signs with Colorado.

We discuss Fantasy Hockey on today's episode.  Jack Eichel is rated the best in the NHL.com Top 200 at 12th.  Mitch Marner is ranked 24th.  In all there are seven VGK players in the Top 200.  We check out the Golden Knights on the ESPN Misery Index.  And Silver Knights fans aren't too happy about ticket and concession prices at their arena. 

With Toronto using similar 1-2-2 forechecking structure, Marner should prosper in Las Vegas. VGK also played a 1-2-2 power play as did Toronto.  All signs point to Marner feeling comfortable in the Vegas system.  Alex Pietrangelo and two other former Golden Knights are named to the NHL Network's all Quarter Century team (the others Jonathan Quick and Shea Weber.) And Canadian air travel to Las Vegas is down significantly. Will this hurt VGK at the gate.

VGK player rankings for Locked On's Top 100.  We put Marner over Eichel at #1.  We didn't do it to stir things up.  Listen for our reasoning. We also discuss how VGK has to break the habit of playing down to opponents.  And, it's WTF Day round here!

Shea Theodore was ranked 15th in the NHL Network's Top 20 Defenseman list, released Wednesday.  Theodore would probably be rated in the Top 10 if not for the injury he sustained in the Four Nations.  He scored a career-high 57 points.  Noah Hanifin was ranked 18th in last year's poll and fell off the list.  Cal Makar was the top defenseman again.  We talk about the VGK Mt. Rushmore list and wonder where is Mark Stone? And VGK has its doors open for 25 hours to get more season tickets, premium seats and suites sold.

What could be holding up Jack Eichel's contract extension? Could it be AAV, term?  It has been more than 40 days since VGK and Eichel's team started negotiations.  We have yet to hear anything about where the negotiations are headed, but the concern level grows the longer there is silence.  We talk about an expanded role for Tomas Hertl this season.  He will be centering Mitch Marner at some point, when Cassidy splits Eichel and Marner.  And we also talk about outside of goaltending and defense what is VGK's greatest concern?