Friday, January 23rd’s Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Vegas Golden Knights promises to be one of the most, if not the most viewed Leafs game of 2025-26. Of course, this is because it marks the return of longtime Leaf Mitch Marner, who left the Maple Leafs for Vegas over the summer. The Leafs already played against Marner a week earlier, and Marner caught some boos in his own barn thanks to a pack of travelling Leafs fans.

Considering the emotions around Marner and the lack of playoff success while he was a Leaf, the reception for Marner in his return to Scotiabank Arena is expected to be a visceral one. Think back to the reception John Tavares got when he returned to Long Island for the first time since leaving the Islanders. Marner held a media availability at the Ritz hotel in Toronto and admitted that he’s expecting a loud building in his return, for better or for worse.

“Maybe in a way, but not really,” Marner said when asked if there’s been any anticipation for boos from the now-opposing crowd. “They’re probably gonna try to do their thing and get me off my game, try to win their own game. So, yeah, I’m just gonna go out there, like I said, focus on my thing. I’ve got a lot of great players around me to help me out, and, you know, I’ve been through a couple of things like this before.”

Despite the anticipation for boos raining down, Marner maintained that he’s always appreciated the passion of the Maple Leafs’ fanbase.

“I’ve always appreciated them, I love what they’ve always brought,” Marner said. “You know, like I said, they’re always passionate and they’ll let you know, and that’s something I really appreciate.”

Marner was also asked about what he remembers from Tavares’ return to Long Island in 2019, and he said he’s going to draw from experience on the way Tavares handled the boos and try to apply it to himself on Friday night.

“I remember just how calm and collected he was throughout it all,” Marner said. “I wish we played a better game for him in that first game back, but yeah, he was cool and collected about it. It didn’t bother him as much as maybe people thought it could have or tried to do, that’s pretty interesting, and for me to watch that and think of it now, you know, it’s the same way I’m gonna try to go about it.”

Marner ended the media availability by admitting that, as excited as he is for the game, he’s also looking forward to moving past it.

“I’m in a way, you know, excited to go out there and play hockey and do my thing. I’m sure once the game is over I’ll be excited to just have it over with, and kind of be done with it.”

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