Mitch Marner’s tenure as a Toronto Maple Leaf didn’t end as he hoped. A hometown kid living out a childhood dream, but after nine seasons there was essentially nothing to celebrate in the end. While the disappointment and frustration may have mounted throughout the final days, Marner has every opportunity in the world to reset himself with the Vegas Golden Knights.

The 28-year-old winger is in the prime of his career. He’s one of the best two-way hockey players in the entire league, and on the Golden Knights, he’s going to receive a ton of ice-time, with some of the game’s elite. Marner doesn’t have to be ‘the guy’ in Vegas, they know what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, and there aren’t ‘the guys’, it’s more so, do what you need to do to help the team win. Marner’s ready for the challenge, he’s done his research on playing in Vegas, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win a Stanley Cup.

“Obviously, the winning regimen they’ve put up through the last five years, really since they’ve been in the league,” Marner said during his introductory news conference Tuesday. “The living arrangements from talking to (Max) Pacioretty and Reavo (Ryan Reaves) just through the last couple weeks, it seemed like everything was a pretty good fit for my wife and I and our new son. And you know, the great players they have here. It’s where we wanted to be.”

It’s going to be fun to watch Marner playing alongside Jack Eichel on Vegas’ top line. Eichel is one of the most powerful skaters in the league, he has a shot release that rivals Auston Matthews, and the two play a similar style, which should make Marner’s transition onto his wing a smooth as can be. Eichel hasn’t played with a winger on Marner’s level, so he’s going to find himself in spots on the ice, with the puck on his tape, that he’s not used to. Frankly, it’s going to be very fun to watch. The Golden Knights can add Ivan Barbashev to the left wing, and give Eichel and Marner a wrecking ball, who loves to throw his weight around on the forecheck, and has the ability to put the puck in the back of the net. 104 hits last season for Barbashev, along with 23 goals in 70 games, this trio could become the best line in hockey in a hurry.

Another aspect of Marner’s game that he can propel to new heights on the Vegas strip is on the defensive side of the puck. Captain Mark Stone is one of the best defensive forwards in hockey. Like Marner, Stone has been all over the takeaways leaderboard throughout his career, and it will be fun to watch how many of the little things Marner can pick up from Stone to continue to round out his game. Marner’s expected to do it all for the Golden Knights, including killing penalties, likely on the first penalty-kill unit. Having Stone in town to learn from every day at practice is going to do wonders for the defensive side of his game, and look for Marner’s name in the mix when it comes to Selke voting next season.

While the bright lights and media circus of Toronto was something Marner’s going to enjoy being away from, there’s still a ton of pressure to perform as a Golden Knight. Sure, there isn’t 100 reporters on the beat in the dressing room after every game, and Leafs Nation may be a little more harsh on players who don’t perform than the Golden Knights’ faithful, however, general manager Kelly McCrimmon has shown throughout his tenure – if you don’t perform, you’re going to be moved. Marner knows what pressure is all about, he felt the very most of it for nine seasons as a Maple Leaf. Going through it, coming out the other end, landing a long-term lucrative contract with one of the best teams in hockey, Marner’s as prepared as he’ll ever be, which could mean some very big things ahead.

Mitch Marner is a Vegas Golden Knight. It sounds funny, it looks different, but it was much needed. While leaving Toronto in the prime of his career may have cost Marner a spot on Legends Row outside of Scotiabank Arena, he’s looking to do legendary things on the ice in Vegas, and is going to be given every opportunity to hit the reset button on his career.