Guess what time it is, dear reader? That's right, my friend. It's time to talk about Mitch Marner for the upcoming 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Some can already tell that the Toronto Maple Leafs are over the guy. They've talked about sacrificing babies, how the former "Core Four" member spins things (allegedly), and how he was a deliberate liar along with his agent.
I don't know about you. But that sounds like some people might be mad that one of their own left. Oh well, you can't please them all, especially in today's world.
What you can do is lead your new team to a Stanley Cup. That's the expectation of one of the most successful teams in the past decade. What else would you expect from Bill Foley and company?
But let's dive into that question and see where the newest Golden Knight stands heading into the season. What new changes will he see compared to his Maple Leafs days? What differences lie between his ol' buddy Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel?
What factors will determine Marner's first season with the Golden Knights?
Oh, well, there are your usual suspects in determining a player's season. There are injuries, who's on his line, and what the offensive system is. These things will be integral in determining his first campaign with the Golden Knights.
But some notable differences stand out. For example, his top-line center plays a different game from Auston Matthews. Just look at the two careers to truly see where both superstars stand.
Player | Goals | Assists | Power Play Goals | Power Play Assists | Short Handed Goals | Short Handed Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auston Matthews | 401 | 326 | 104 | 99 | 2 | 1 |
Jack Eichel | 239 | 369 | 62 | 143 | 2 | 6 |
Granted, Eichel's played one more season than Matthews. Still, the comparison tells an eye-opening story. For one, Matthews is more of a goal-scorer than Eichel is. But that isn't for a lack of trying.
Eichel loves shooting the puck, which was evident by his 233 shots last season (second-most on the Golden Knights). But Matthews shot the puck a bit more, notching 261 shots with the Maple Leafs last season. Don't forget that he scored 69 (nice) goals the season before.
Plus, the former first-overall pick missed some time, playing 67 games last season. He could've been his usual dominant regular season self if he got the usual slate of nearly playing in every NHL game.
While fans saw what Eichel could do in a nearly full regular season, it was similar to what Marner had done during his time in Toronto. Will that translate into the first 100-point season in franchise history, though?
Mitch Marner will score 90 points for the Vegas Golden Knights this season
Let's be honest here. It's tough for a Golden Knights player to get 100 points in a season. Jack Eichel was the closest to that mark with 94 points in 2024-25, followed by... William Karlsson with 78 in 2017-18.
Here's the thing about Vegas that not many people know. The team is run on a balanced attack that doesn't rely on one goal scorer or offensive piece. It doesn't matter if it's Eichel, Mark Stone, or Marner himself. The team doesn't believe in one or two people taking the reins offensively.
That logic applies here, where Marner will create offensive magic with his new buddy. The onus will be on Eichel to convert on his goals since he has no problem shooting the puck (233 shots on goal last season). That's why it shouldn't be shocking if Marner gets fewer than the 102 points he got last season with Toronto.
Of course, that could change based on a few factors. That includes whether he stays healthy, who plays on his line, and how the power play does. All that should equal 90 points in his first season.
All standard stuff. But Marner's first season with the Golden Knights could be anything but. Wouldn't that be something?