On Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights saw a top line reunion. Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel were reunited in the top group during practice, playing together in the following game.
For Golden Knights fans, it would seem like an absolute no-brainer. You have a playmaker in Marner and his uncanny ability to set up his teammates for success. As for Eichel? Well, he can do it all, including working great from home.
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The reunion marks a return of two of the most dynamic players in today's NHL on the same line. Adding a rising Ivan Barbashev, who's familiar with Eichel's game, should make things better... At least, that's the expectation.
According to MoneyPuck, the trio ranked 11th on the Golden Knights in xGoals% at 50% (minimum 10 minutes). The unit just feels like it should be scoring more with Vegas, especially with a playmaker and an all-around leader on the same line. However, part of that has been due to Marner thriving with Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, posting a xGoals% of 71.9%.
The good news? The season's early and the trio have played only seven games altogether. That should give the boys some time to sort things out, especially since the offense has gone silent. But why else is Marner joining the top line a great thing for Vegas?
Why Vegas Golden Knights fans should look forward to Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel reuniting
Everyone knows about Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce playing together on the Kansas City Chiefs. The duo have created countless magical touchdowns, leading the Chiefs to three Super Bowl wins during their tenure. That could be what Eichel and Marner can pull off together if they get more time together.
While Eichel looks like hockey Mahomes in this situation, he plays more like Travis Kelce (trust me, it sounds silly). Entering Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Golden Knights center leads the team in shots on goal (50). Not even Pavel Dorofeyev is close to him, sitting in second place at 35. Therefore, he's getting the puck and firing it for, well, points (or in this case, goals).
As for Marner? Well, he looks less like Mahomes than Eichel does. However, he takes on the three-time Super Bowl winner's role here. He's the one making the passes and picking apart opposing defenses. In this case, he's spreading the puck around and creating said goals.
Of course, we're talking about Kelce in his prime, along with a young Mahomes. However, the premise is simple. You got a playmaker and a point-producer. Eventually, that will translate to more offense for the Golden Knights, bringing in the goals. That should help Vegas ease the pressure off the goaltending (hello, Carl Lindbom) and make life easier for everyone involved.
If Eichel and Marner can channel their inner Kelces and Mahomes, that's great news for the Golden Knights. The Pacific Division has been surprisingly enigmatic, seeing teams like the Seattle Kraken and the Anaheim Ducks jump ahead. Still, they're not beating Mahomes and Kelce (in their primes, of course) anytime soon.
The only question is who would Ivan Barbashev be?