Eichel is recovering from artificial disk replacement surgery Nov. 12 and has been practicing with the Golden Knights since Jan. 11, but the center has been held out of contact drills.
"The doctor was adamant that three months from surgery there be absolutely no contact, and I believe that's this week," DeBoer said. "So I think coming out of this break that's going to be on the table about starting contact."
Vegas, which acquired Eichel in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4, has not provided a timeline for when the 25-year-old might make his season debut.
"There's been a couple (practices) in the last week where he's maybe the best player on the ice, so I would say he's progressing pretty well," DeBoer said. "We haven't started contact yet. I would say that's the next step and that's a big step. Obviously, everything changes once we get into full contact.
"But from a sheer practice and skill point of view, he's elite, elite, and every day we're out with him the group gets more excited."
The Golden Knights (27-16-3), who lead the Pacific Division, play back-to-back games in their return from the break, at the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and at the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
"The further along [Eichel] gets with this, the more exciting it gets for us," Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "This is a big step for him, big change. I think he's excited to be on a team that can compete year in and year out. That's the big thing for him. Different culture for him to come here where we've been successful since the franchise [has] begun.
"The trickle-down effect of having [him in] the lineup, it's going to be fun to see. It's going to bring some good depth. We like where our lineup is, and when you add guys like him of his caliber, it's only going to make us better."
Eichel scored 18 points (two goals, 16 assists) in 21 games for Buffalo last season. He has not played since March 7, 2021.
"[Eichel] is one of the best skaters I've ever seen, easiest skaters I've ever seen," Vegas captain Mark Stone said. "I think he's going to help in pretty much every part of the game. He's going to help us score goals, he's going to help on the power play, [present] matchup problems. You're adding one of the best centermen in the world into your lineup, however long it is, a month, two weeks, whatever it is.
"You're adding one of the best players on the planet."
Selected by Buffalo with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel has scored 355 points (139 goals, 216 assists) in 375 NHL games. He scored at least 24 goals in each of his first five NHL seasons, including a career-high 36 in 2019-20.
"I think he can just come in and do his thing," DeBoer said. "He doesn't have the pressure to carry a team, and I talked to him the other day. He's never played an NHL playoff game yet, and I know that's exciting for him. That's a whole different level of hockey when you get to that time of year. So I'm excited for him because I think he's going to excel in that type of game and I know he's excited about the opportunity to play playoff hockey."
NHL.com director, senior fantasy editor Pete Jensen and NHL.com independent correspondent Danny Webster contributed to this report
