TORONTO - Mitch Marner got a chilly — and loud reception — in his old stomping ground.
The Vegas Golden Knights winger was booed loudly before even touching the puck Friday at Scotiabank Arena in his first game in Toronto since a long, drawn-out divorce from the Maple Leafs was finalized last summer.
The jeers grew more intense when Marner entered the action on the game's first shift, followed by cheers after he exited the ice.
The Maple Leafs honoured the product of nearby Thornhill, Ont., who spent nine seasons in Toronto playing for the team he cheered for as a kid, during the first television timeout. There was a mixed cacophony of boos and cheers throughout the 40-second video tribute as many fans rose to their feet. Marner raised his right arm and tapped his chest in acknowledgment with Vegas already up 2-0.
Selected No. 4 overall at the 2015 NHL draft, Marner enjoyed plenty of regular-season success with the Maple Leafs, but was a lightning rod of criticism in hockey's biggest media market for Toronto's inability to break through in the playoffs.
A slow march out the door from his de facto hometown last season as unrestricted free agency loomed finally ended when the Maple Leafs shipped him to Sin City in a sign-and-trade deal that netted Marner an eight-year, US$96-million extension.
"I don't want to look back," Marner said during a morning media availability at the team's downtown hotel. "If you look back, you'll not focus on what's in front of you."
The 28-year-old was also asked about the video tribute.
"I'm sure it'll really hit once it starts going," said Marner, who had two assists against Toronto in a 6-5 overtime victory in Las Vegas last week. "I know it's gonna be maybe a weird, cool, special moment."
Sporting his number from junior — a golden No. 93 in honour of Maple Leafs legend Doug Gilmour, which is retired in Toronto — a helmetless Marner went through his usual twirls around the ice during warm-ups. Some fans booed when he emerged from the tunnel, while others along the glass mostly held up signs of support.
Marner appeared to have a friendly word with Maple Leafs defenceman and former teammate Jake McCabe at the red line.
"If you told my younger self, I wouldn't believe it," Marner, who registered a career-high 102 points in 2024-25 and had 94 or more on three other occasions, said of playing in Toronto. "It was a special thing to wear that Maple Leaf jersey — I always wanted to. And to be able to do it for nine years and be a part of that team, and to play in that arena that I grew up trying to go to watch Mats Sundin, all the legends … it was pretty cool.
"Something that I'll be able to look back on and share with my kids, and just how fortunate I was."
Marner finished with 741 points (221 goals, 520 assists) in 657 regular-season games, but received that stinging criticism for repeated post-season flops as part of an offensively talented roster that included Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
The six-foot, 180-pound forward produced 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists) in 70 playoff contests, but Toronto made the second round only twice in his nine seasons. In Games 5, 6 and 7 from 2017 through 2025, he scored just once and added 10 assists in 26 outings.
Apart from the string of spring disappointments, Marner was also heavily criticized for the negotiation of his previous contract back in 2019.
The pact included a no-movement clause over the final two seasons that would come back to bite the Maple Leafs ahead of last March's trade deadline when it became clear he wouldn't be re-signing.
Marner, who said there would be family in attendance for his return, had 12 goals and 40 assists for 52 points in 49 games coming into Friday.
His new club sits comfortably in a playoff position atop the Pacific Division standings, while Toronto entered play three points out in the Eastern Conference post-season race.
"It's not as chilly," Marner said of life in Las Vegas. "But playing-wise, both passionate fan bases, both have a lot of love for their team. The media aspect of things is a little smaller, but the fan bases are both fantastic."
Set to play for Canada at next month's Winter Olympics, he was with the Maple Leafs when John Tavares returned to face the New York Islanders in 2019 after leaving for Toronto in free agency — a game also packed with energy and angst.
"He was cool and collected about it," Marner recalled. "It didn't bother him as much as maybe people thought it could have. That was pretty interesting.
"I'm going to try to go and do it."
This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Jan. 23, 2026.
