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Golden Knights' Mitch Marner Speaks on Las Vegas Lifestyle and Jack Eichel Chemistry

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 11:30 AM ET

The Vegas Golden Knights opened training camp Thursday with Mitch Marner skating in gold and black for the first time since his move from Canada.

Marner, who completed a sign-and-trade deal to Vegas on July 1 and inked an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights, arrives in Las Vegas as one of the NHL’s elite playmakers.

He will share the ice with another player Vegas acquired via trade a few years ago, Jack Eichel, and both are already looking to help push the team into another Stanley Cup.

Marner embraced the fresh start, speaking for the first time at Golden Knights' camp on Friday and saying the transition has been smooth on and off the ice.

"We're just going to keep trying to find ways to use each other's skill and open each other up."

Mitch Marner skating on a line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev to open up Golden Knights training camp and immediately gets asked, "Who shoots?" #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/Sr6igYL9BO
— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) September 18, 2025

“It’s been a lot of fun getting to know the area pretty well now,” Marner said. “It’s been great going out for walks — the sun, the heat, the mountains. The dog’s still getting used to it here with the heat, but it’s just been awesome.”

Marner joined Eichel and fellow forward Ivan Barbashev on the top line during the first practice. With both Marner and Eichel known more for their passing than their finishing, the question is how their skill sets will balance.

“We’re both going to have to shoot it,” Marner said. “I think we’re both going to get some good opportunities. We’ve got to be comfortable in the areas to not be afraid to shoot. (Barbashev is going to be around the net hunting those pucks, so just try to get it around there.”

Marner enters camp following a career-high 102-point season with the Maple Leafs, while Eichel produced 94 points of his own in Vegas. Together, the two give Vegas one of the most dangerous duos in the league, even as Eichel’s long-term contract status remains unresolved.

Eichel is entering the final season of his eight-year, $80 million contract with the Golden Knights, finding himself in the situation Marner lived just a year ago.

Vegas will open its season on Oct. 8 in a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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