Mitch Marner’s emotional return to Toronto after leaving the Maple Leafs
Mitch Marner will confront his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, for the first time since joining the Vegas Golden Knights. The matchup occurs at T-Mobile Arena on January 20, 2026, before his highly anticipated return to Scotiabank Arena three days later. Fans will finally witness how Toronto receives the homegrown star after his departure last summer.
Marner spent his first nine NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs, the team he supported as a child. His exit was voluntary, making his return a focal point for supporters. When he steps onto the ice in Toronto on January 23, 2026, the reception will be telling—unlike his last visit in 2023, when fans gave him a standing ovation.
The situation draws parallels to Sergei Fedorov, who left the Detroit Red Wings under contentious circumstances. Upon his return, Red Wings fans booed him loudly, though the team later retired his number. Columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika explored these parallels on the our website @TheRink podcast, discussing how legacies shift over time. Marner’s first meeting with Toronto comes in Las Vegas, but the emotional weight rests on his return to Scotiabank Arena. The crowd’s reaction will reflect how they now view a player who once symbolised the franchise’s future.
Marner’s two-game stretch against Toronto marks a defining moment in his career. The January 23 match in particular will reveal whether fans still embrace him or treat him as an opponent. For the Golden Knights, it’s a chance to see their new signing face his old club in front of a passionate crowd.
