It's no secret that Mitch Marner is good at hockey. I mean, you'd have to really hate his guys to deny that he can play the game. That was certified by his own Captain, Mark Stone, who promoted Marner's services on Saturday.
"But I think that’s what’s impressive about Mitch. You see the glitz and the glamour about him, but I don’t think a lot of people appreciate the subtleties to his game, the little things that he does... He’s probably watched a ton of hockey in his day, sees little things that a lot of guys don’t see, been through a lot of experiences that not many guys have been through, played a lot of high-level hockey. So I think that’s kind of where he finds those things — his brain is usually a step above most guys"Mark Stone on Mitch Marner
But he wasn't the only one who had some positive comments about Marner. John Tortorella jumped in to laud his services, talking about his play away from the puck.
"I’ve watched this guy play for so many years in this league. Up close and personal with him now, he’s a hell of a player. He does so many good things away from the puck. I think that helps him offensively have the puck more. How patient he is with the puck. It was fun to watch."John Tortorella on Mitch Marner
Man, those are some high marks for Marner. I wonder if his old team could see how he's doing now.
It also shows how the superstar has kept the Golden Knights afloat during one of their worst seasons ever. 23 goals and 54 assists are one of the best stat lines in Golden Knights history, making him a premier offensive player for Vegas. Heck, even a hat trick made some believers from previous skeptics.
Vegas Golden Knights fans will appreciate having Mitch Marner around, especially with John Tortorella in tow
John Tortorella has made it no secret that he wants more emotion from his team. The new Golden Knights head coach wants to see his team put in more effort while keeping most of Bruce Cassidy's old system.
It's also no secret that Tortorella has made slight modifications to the team's attack. He's bigger on generating shots on goal, as proven by the Golden Knights' 101 shots on goal in the last three games. The two-time Jack Adams winner wants a north-south style where Vegas is the aggressor throughout the game.
That fits Marner perfectly since he's adept on the rush. The forward does well on the rush and can even spot "golden" opportunities to strike. The Golden Knights are great at getting high-danger chances (they're fourth in the NHL entering Monday with 677), giving them an edge against the competition.
That alone will make him the most interesting hockey player in the world. No, you don't need to break out the Dos Equis for this one. However, you can't overlook the impact that he'll have on the team after Tortorella came on board. That will be important to watch down the stretch.