It Didn't Take Long: Mitch Marner Moved Off the Top Line in Vegas

The Vegas Golden Knights loaded up this summer when they added Mitch Marner to their already stacked lineup, and with Jack Eichel re-upping for the next several years; they look poised to compete.

Both men were expected to be part of a relentless and powerful Vegas offense and there was a legitimate chance that Marner not only eclipsed the 100-point mark again, but does so with ease.

However the latest development out of Sin City shows there already might be some severe growing pains.

For last night's game against the Calgary Flames, the Golden Knights decided to move Marner down the lineup to the second line, and instead use Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone on the top line with Eichel.

It's a stunning turn of events given that Marner's notorious history at not being a prime focus of things could lead to another media backlash even if things are a "breath of fresh air."

He's assisted on one of Eichel's goals, with Barbashev, Kaeden Korczak and Tomas Hertl the other goal scorers. It certainly shows that Marner can still be an elite playmaker, but you'd think that he would have already exploded with Eichel.

Compare it to last season when he had five points including two on the power play already.

Pavel Dorofeyev has four goals; all on the power play and Marner has not been part of one of them, but who has? Stone and Eichel. Clearly going back to what worked previously is better long-term and if Marner starts feeling disrespected; it could affect then entire team.

We saw how his behavior changed the locker room in Toronto, and his camp being notorious for raising a stink if they don't feel like they are getting preferred treatment, it could lead to their chemistry imploding.

It's unsung territory for Marner, who spent years glued to Auston Matthews on the top line, and now with such a deep lineup in Vegas, he's going to need to learn to adapt to how Bruce Cassidy wants to run things.

If not, then no matter what level of media scrutiny Marner finds in Vegas, he'll be as miserable as he seemingly was in Toronto.