Mitch Marner’s first season in Vegas has been a fascinating case study in adaptation-and in some ways, reinvention. While the numbers might not scream “career year,” they quietly tell the story of a player who’s making a real impact in a new role, on a new team, in a new conference. And if you’re the Golden Knights, you’ve got to like what you’re seeing.
Let’s start with the raw 5-on-5 metrics, where Marner has been quietly elite. His on-ice shot attempt differential (CF%) is sitting at 54.56%, with the Golden Knights generating 62.33 shot attempts per 60 minutes when he’s out there.
That’s a top-three mark in his career. And defensively?
He’s allowing just 51.91 attempts against per 60, the best rate he’s posted in that department. The goals-for percentage (GF%) is a healthy 61.67%, and the expected goals (xGF%) sit at 57.45%.
In plain terms: when Marner is on the ice, Vegas is controlling play-and doing it in both directions.
A big reason for that? Usage.
Marner’s not being leaned on as the top-line guy like he was in Toronto. Instead, he’s slotted in primarily on the second line, often behind Mark Stone in the depth chart.
That’s allowed him to feast on slightly softer matchups and focus more on his two-way game. It’s a smart deployment by the Golden Knights’ coaching staff, and it’s paying off.
Marner’s most consistent linemates this season have been Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev. That trio has seen the bulk of his 5-on-5 minutes, though he’s also spent time alongside Stone, Ivan Barbashev, and Brett Howden.
Interestingly, he’s logged more even-strength time with all of them than with Jack Eichel, the team’s top-line center. Despite that, Marner is second only to Eichel in total minutes among Vegas forwards at 5-on-5.
What’s really surprising is where his ice time has dipped: the penalty kill. In Toronto, Marner was a staple on the PK, often one of the Leafs’ most trusted defensive forwards.
But in Vegas, that role has been scaled back. Instead, his power play usage is steady-he’s averaging 3:43 per game with the man advantage, right in step with Eichel.
Marner’s picked up 16 power play points, good for fifth on the team, and his two goals on the power play are, interestingly, two more than Eichel has this season.
But the real story is at even strength. That’s where Marner has done the bulk of his damage-he leads the Golden Knights with 35 even-strength points, three ahead of Eichel, despite playing seven more games. Eichel still holds the overall points lead (56 to 51), but Marner’s ability to produce at 5-on-5 is a key reason Vegas sits tied atop their division.
One of the more intriguing wrinkles this season? Marner’s been taking shifts at center.
That’s not something we saw much of in Toronto, where the Leafs were oddly more open to experimenting with him on defense than giving him a shot down the middle. But with William Karlsson out, the Golden Knights saw an opportunity-and it turns out, they might be onto something.
Marner’s hockey IQ, defensive awareness, and playmaking ability make him a natural fit in the pivot, and he’s been more than serviceable in the role.
The assist distribution also tells us something. In Toronto, the Marner-to-Matthews connection was almost automatic.
In Vegas, it’s more spread out. Mark Stone has assisted on four of Marner’s goals, and Barbashev on three-neither of whom have been his most consistent linemates.
That kind of versatility and adaptability is exactly what you want from a high-end forward.
So, is this a “revenge tour” for Marner? Not exactly.
He’s not lighting up the league or chasing 100 points, but he’s playing smart, effective hockey-and doing it in a way that fits what Vegas needs. He’s driving the second line, filling a key role at center, and helping the Golden Knights stay atop a competitive division.
And with three games in hand on the Oilers, they’re in a strong position to cruise into the playoffs.
As for whether this version of Marner will haunt the Leafs? Probably not.
But if he keeps playing like this into the postseason, he might just be the kind of difference-maker that helps Vegas make another deep run. Through 44 games, he’s been exactly what the Golden Knights hoped for-maybe not the flashiest version of himself, but a steady, impactful presence who’s helping them win.