Apr 17, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) jumps during the warmup before a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Golden Knights Superstars Ready for Challenge

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Jacob Punturi | Last updated Sep 6, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The Vegas Golden Knights made a huge move this offseason, acquiring superstar winger Mitch Marner. The always bold Golden Knights brought in another elite player in their perennial pursuit of the Stanley Cup. Marner now joins top center Jack Eichel as the new potent pairing in Vegas.

The challenge facing the Golden Knights’ superstars is a simple, yet daunting one. Establishing chemistry between Eichel and Marner is the first and most important task for the duo and their head coach, Bruce Cassidy. Each player is coming off career-high offensive campaigns and are in the prime of their careers, so it should be easy, right? Eichel believes it will great once they get things started.

"Yeah, it’ll be great,” he said. ”He’s a guy who can create so much by himself, and he can create so much from nothing, and there’s only so many guys in the world that can do that. That’s a really special talent that I think he has. He makes the players around him better. I think we’ve seen that since he’s come into the League, so he’s going to do the same in Vegas."

Marner’s Ready to Work

Marner shared a similar level of excitement about playing alongside Eichel. At Marner’s introductory press conference with the organization, he discussed how he’s looking forward to starting with Eichel and finding that chemistry as quickly as possible.

“(Eichel is) obviously an exceptional player, a guy that really moves well up and down the ice, both ends of the ice very responsible,” Marner said. “At the same time, he’s got a deadly shot with his vision and playmaking style as well. I’m very excited to start working with him and try to figure out the chemistry quickly and get that rolling.”

Coaching Challenge

While the Golden Knights dynamic duo are saying all of the right things, the ultimate decision on who plays where comes down to the head coach. Bruce Cassidy is one of the top bench bosses in the NHL, and his latest task is to figure out the best lineup combination. The challenge with Marner and Eichel is that both players thrive with the puck on their stick, presenting an obvious potential issue that could emerge.

The veteran head coach has an approach to deal with this. His goal is to establish pairs of players that fit well together, then build out the rest of the forward unit. If that leads to Eichel and Marner sticking together on the top line, then so be it.

“I think it’s pairs first, and then the threesome,” Cassidy explained. “That’s how I’ll look at it.”

It’s an interesting and important test facing the Golden Knights when training camp opens. Their top two forwards will be expected to play together at least partially, and it’s a challenge the superstars are eager to meet.

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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