Eichel starts Knights camp with Marner, leaves early with injury

The first day of training camp doesn’t answer every question, but the Golden Knights’ biggest one was answered before drills started.

Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Together on the same line.

The Knights’ new dynamic duo had its first reps together as linemates when the Knights opened camp Thursday to the excitement of the season ticket holders that got an exclusive look at the first of three sessions at City National Arena.

The intrigue lasted for all of 35 minutes.

Eichel suffered a “little tweak” and was held out of the second half of Group A’s first practice as a precaution, coach Bruce Cassidy said.

“It’s the first day. We didn’t want to risk anything,” Cassidy said. “Hopefully, he’s back in there tomorrow. We’ll find that out once he meets with the trainer.”

Look into the future

Cassidy spends the first three days working through each zone. The first day is spent on the defensive zone.

The brief time Eichel and Marner were together provided glimpses on how frustrating they could be to play against. They were physical in two-on-two drills and looked strong taking pucks away.

Marner, who was acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Knights on July 1, said he found out Wednesday he and Eichel were officially skating together.

The Knights’ new right wing said he and Eichel worked together during the team’s captain’s skates and scrimmages over the past week, but he was excited to start hammering down schemes and concepts together.

“We’ve talked about it quite a bit the last little week or so,” Marner said after his first practice. “We’re just going to keep trying to find ways that we can use each other’s skill and open each other up.”

There won’t be a more thorough evaluation of how Eichel and Marner look together until they play a game, Cassidy said.

Eichel does have a familiar face with left wing Ivan Barbashev staying on the top line.

“It’s the games that will probably decide when we’ll mix and match,” Cassidy said.

‘Jack is a priority’

Because of the injury, Eichel was not made available for comment. That closed the chance to ask him about the other elephant in the room.

Eichel is entering training camp without a contract extension in place. He’s playing the final year of an eight-year, $80 million contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres in October 2017.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon reaffirmed his stance from July that getting Eichel signed long term is a top order of business.

“Jack is a priority,” McCrimmon said before the start of camp. “We have tremendous regard for the player, what he’s meant to the organization. I think he feels the organization has been very good for him, as well. We’ll continue to have dialogue, and when we have news, we’ll let you know.”

Eichel, 28, is one of the many notable names around the NHL entering a contract year. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov are among those who could command top dollar from their teams.

Kaprizov reportedly turned down an eight-year, $128 million extension from Minnesota that would have made him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

McCrimmon said discussions with Eichel will not reflect on any domino effect that might come from McDavid or Kaprizov.

“I think from our standpoint, our situation is independent,” McCrimmon said.

Eyes on Eichel

Eichel has built a résumé with the Knights worthy of a lofty extension with 253 points in 241 games since he was acquired from Buffalo in November 2021. He scored a league-high 26 points during the 2023 playoffs to help the Knights win their first Stanley Cup.

The No. 2 pick from the 2015 NHL draft is coming off a career-high 94 points and was a plus-32, finishing fifth in voting for the Hart Trophy and was a finalist for the Selke Trophy.

This wouldn’t be the first time the Knights dealt with an injury to a center early in camp. Center William Karlsson missed all of preseason and the first eight games last season because of a lower-body injury suffered two practices into camp.

It’s a day-to-day situation at the moment, but the buzz is there when Eichel and Marner are together.

“Just a lot of excitement,” Marner said. “Two really good players that can do a lot of things on the ice.”

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.