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Marner's Return: Ex-Leaf Faces Toronto For First Time
15 Jan
Summary
- Mitch Marner will face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time.
- He signed an eight-year, $96 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Marner anticipates a surreal experience facing his childhood team.
Mitch Marner is preparing for a surreal experience as he faces the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time. After spending nine seasons with the team that drafted him in 2015, Marner departed last summer, signing an eight-year, $96 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. He described the upcoming games against his former team as "strange at first, and then it (will) just become normal."
Marner acknowledged the emotions he anticipated, including excitement and nerves, but stressed his focus on playing his game. Teammate Morgan Rielly noted the unusual nature of facing Marner, especially against key players like Auston Matthews or William Nylander. The Golden Knights' schedule, with a game in Los Angeles the night before the initial matchup in Las Vegas, limited opportunities for pre-game reunions.
The upcoming series includes a home-and-home showdown, with Marner returning to Toronto the following week. He expressed excitement for both games. The reception Marner will receive from Leafs fans remains uncertain, given his significant contributions to the franchise, including the sixth-most points and fourth-most assists in team history, contrasted with past playoff disappointments.
