LAS VEGAS – Mitch Marner says he hasn’t given a lot thought to the reunion.
The Vegas Golden Knights winger was centered on placing one foot in entrance of the opposite as he navigated a brand new staff, metropolis and nation.
The calendar has additionally lastly flipped to a day many others circled again in June.
Vegas hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in Marner’s first sport towards the staff he cheered for as a child, starred with for nearly a decade, after which bolted for Sin Metropolis.
“I don’t assume I’ve acquired to take a look at it any completely different,” the 28-year-old advised reporters final night time following a 3-2 highway victory in time beyond regulation towards the Los Angeles Kings when requested about dealing with his former membership. “Simply have a look at it as one other hockey sport and simply try to go on the market and do my factor.”
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Chosen with the No. 4 general choose on the 2015 NHL draft, Marner registered 102 factors in 2024-25 with Toronto and hit 90 on three different events.
He completed with 741 factors (221 objectives, 520 assists) in 657 regular-season video games, however was a lightning rod of criticism for playoff failures on a roster with offensive expertise that additionally included Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
“He was there a very long time,” Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy advised reporters in L.A. “There’s at all times turnover yearly, however I’m certain he has actual shut friendships with plenty of these guys. That may be onerous.”
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Marner’s gradual march out the door — he had a full no-movement clause in his earlier contract — as unrestricted free company loomed lastly ended when the Maple Leafs shipped him to the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal that netted him an eight-year, US$96-million extension.
Depth ahead Nicolas Roy got here the opposite manner in a swap that allowed Marner to get an eighth marketing campaign on his new pact as a substitute of the seven-season max as a UFA.
Poised to additionally go well with up for his first sport in Toronto towards the Maple Leafs on Jan. 23, Marner had 11 objectives and 36 assists for 47 factors in 45 video games coming into Thursday.
“We’ll use him like we normally do and hopefully get him a couple of additional shifts right here and there,” Cassidy added of a participant set to symbolize Canada on the 2026 Winter Olympics subsequent month. “I’m certain he’s going to be extremely motivated. However generally it goes the opposite manner … you wish to do an excessive amount of. Hopefully he simply goes out and performs his sport.”
Vegas (22-11-12) enters on a five-game profitable streak following 5 straight losses. Toronto (23-16-7) noticed its 8-0-2 run snapped Tuesday in a 6-1 highway loss to the Utah Mammoth.
“Mitchy’s clearly very artful,” Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe advised reporters in Salt Lake Metropolis after that defeat. “I’ve switched groups and also you play buddies. It’s at all times just a little bit completely different the primary night time, however trying ahead to it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 15, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
