Look at that. Isn't that a beautiful sight?
It's like something out of an action movie, where the reinforcements come in. When the protagonist is down, you need an excellent sidekick to come in and help out. That's where Mitch Marner comes into play. He helps Eichel out and the Vegas Golden Knights live happily ever after.
Speaking of Marner, he made his Golden Knights debut on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The winger stepped in and made an impact, creating scoring chances and excelling in the two-way game. Heck, he even got an assist, helping Jack Eichel score!
It’s preseason. But with that said, Marner has taken three shifts and has created a scoring chance on each one of them.
— Ryan The Hockey Guy (@RyanHockeyGuy) September 26, 2025
Everyone's favorite action hero, Mitch Marner, everyone.
Already, he's captivating the audience with his hockey excellence and acumen, giving a fanbase hungry for another Stanley Cup hope. Sure, it's been two seasons since the Golden Knights were Stanley Cup champions. But what's not to say that you can't win another one?
That's what winning franchises do. They don't get comfortable with just winning one championship. No, that title's reserved for teams like the Chicago Cubs, who are living off their 2016 World Series.
But let's focus on the man of the hour himself, Mitch Marner. He made his presence felt during his first appearance, flying up and down the ice. Therefore, let's dedicate these takeaways to the newest Golden Knight and see what fans should expect from him.
1.) Don't expect Mitch Marner on the bumper for the power play
Bruce Cassidy talked about how he was familiarizing himself with Marner's position in the Toronto Maple Leafs' power play. He mentioned how the former "Core Four" member spent plenty of time at the point, among other positions. But there was one spot where Marner didn't hang out.
That position? The bumper.
It's a position popularized by Joe Pavelski, who's made a living from specializing in this spot. Playing in the high slot isn't something that Marner's familiar with, which is why Golden Knights fans shouldn't expect him on the bumper any time soon.
2.) Marner, Eichel, and Barbashev will take some time
Both teams combined for five shots in the first period. That's enough to conclude that the Golden Knights didn't do much offensively. For Marner, spending more time with his new teammates is a must. That means familiarizing himself more with Eichel's game, along with Barbashev's.
The good news is that it's the preseason. It should give the trio time to understand how each party's game works, whether it's setting up in the point or getting dirty in the slot. Bruce Cassidy also knows how to iron things out and get his team prepared for the season, making things easier.
3.) Marner's two-way game was on full display
While the newest Golden Knight was relatively quiet offensively, he was a steady contributor on the other end. Through two periods, he had a blocked shot. Fans saw an aggressive winger who skated quickly up and down the ice, doing whatever it took to regain possession.
Fans can expect more of this style from him during the regular season. As mentioned, that will come with familiarizing yourself with the Golden Knights' style of the 200-foot game. However, that's a task that Marner's capable of taking on.