Golden Knights' Head Coach Excited for Eichel-Marner Era

When there's a big fish available, the Vegas Golden Knights always seem to find themselves in the middle of everything. This summer was no different. The Toronto Maple Leafs knew they were losing Mitch Marner, and the Golden Knights stepped up and offered a solid depth center in return, for a player Toronto knew was leaving. 

Everything worked out for both teams and now the Golden Knights can get set for an Eichel-Marner era to begin. Head coach Bruce Cassidy is very excited to see how things play out, and will give the two dynamic forwards a chance to build something big during training camp and preseason action. 

“We’ll see what the best fit is, but it’s probably that simple,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday after a meeting of NHL coaches and general managers via NHL.com. “I mean, everyone’s asked me. They will have time together. Whether they have chemistry, that’s to be determined.”

“As a coach, you’re looking for, ‘Are they producing, are they reading off each other or are they getting in each other’s way? Is it fluid? Is it just organic chemistry that results in, well, them outplaying the other line they’re playing against?’” Cassidy continued. “I think it’s that simple.

“And sometimes on paper you look at chemistry and think it’s going to work, and it doesn’t. And sometimes other lines just come together naturally. So that, to me, is a little bit unpredictable. There’s always cues that you think, ‘It will work.’ But who knows?”

Eichel is coming off a career season, posting 94 points in 77 games, meanwhile, Marner posted his first 100-point season, collecting an impressive 102 in 81 games. While his tenure didn't end as expected in Toronto, including needing full-time security at his house after their playoff exit, he's excited to get things started down in the desert.

Marner is signed to an eight-year extension, and Eichel's new contract could be announced before the start of training camp. Two superstars ready to produce together, get ready Golden Knights' fans, the Eichel-Marner era is beginning.

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Vegas Golden Knights