The Vegas Golden Knights made the biggest splash in NHL Free Agency, acquiring Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade. This deal has given Vegas a ton of hope for the 2025-26 NHL season. With the offseason deep into the quiet season, it’s time to take a look at some early predictions for this team.
Vegas is hoping to overcome its recent playoff failures. In 2024, they were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Stars, and this past postseason, they lost in the second round to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Golden Knights open their 2025-26 season on October 8. That night, Vegas plays host to its Pacific Division rival, the Los Angeles Kings. Before we get there, though, let’s take a look at some early predictions for their 2025-26 season.
Jack Eichel Enters MVP Conversations
Outside of Marner, the most important player for the Golden Knights is undoubtedly Jack Eichel. The former second overall pick is coming off his best season offensively, scoring 28 goals and 94 points in 77 games this past year.
Eichel is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. He is going to be more motivated to perform this year than in year’s prior. With a player like Marner on his wing, he should do more than perform well. He should absolutely thrive.
Eichel surpasses the 100-point mark for the first time in his career this season. More than this, he produces at such a level that he enters the Hart Trophy race as NHL MVP. Whether he wins the award is tough to call, as he’ll have stiff competition. Still, being in that conversation is a huge win for him both as a player and for contract negotiations.
Mitch Marner’s Playoff Woes Carry Over, For Now
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesMitch Marner will have his playoff performances with the Vegas Golden Knights scrutinized.
The Golden Knights have wanted to add Marner for a long time. And make no mistake, this is a fantastic move for Vegas. However, there is a major concern around the newest Golden Knights star. He has struggled to score goals in the playoffs in a long time.
This is not to say that Marner doesn’t contribute in the postseason. He has produced around a point-per-game pace in two of his last three postseason runs. At the same time, he has eight goals in his last 51 playoff games.
Will Marner eventually find his stride in the postseason? It’s definitely possible. He has the talent to make an impact in the most important games. However, these struggles won’t go away overnight. The superstar winger will have difficulty scoring goals in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, despite a fantastic regular season.
Golden Knights Represent West in Stanley Cup Final
Vegas had a good team before adding Marner to the roster. However, adding Marner could give them the final piece of the championship puzzle. And he should help them make the Stanley Cup Final in 2026.
Even if Marner struggles to score goals, Vegas has players that can pick up the slack. Eichel, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofayev, and William Karlsson can find the back of the net. Players such as Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith, who returned on matching one-year, $2 million contracts, are experienced players who can provide important depth.
The Golden Knights’ defense is solid, and Adin Hill has proven he can backstop a team to the Cup Final. Vegas has the pieces in place to do it all again. As of now, they seem well-equipped to represent the West in the Final next year.
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