The Toronto Maple Leafs have experienced a resurgence of sorts through their recent wins. The Maple Leafs had a wobbly start to this season, plagued by injuries to several key players. Things took a particularly bad turn in Toronto, and many suspected that it could adversely affect the tenure of HC Craig Berube, the very coach who had led the team to the top of the Atlantic Division the previous season.
Then there are the Vegas Golden Knights, who are currently leading the Pacific Division with 56 points. As the teams prepare to face each other on Jan. 15, former Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner has clarified his actual state of mind ahead of the big showdown.
Mitch Marner Shares His Honest Feelings About the Upcoming Golden Knights vs. Maple Leafs Game
A lot of discussion on social media by fans and analysts alike followed Marner’s departure from the Leafs. Being one of the former core four, Marner had undoubtedly established himself as one of the Leafs’ cornerstones. It goes without saying that the standout winger left behind a void that the Toronto front office could not easily fill through subsequent transactions.
However, the two parties have moved on. Marner has acclimated to the desert, whereas the Maple Leafs, despite a shaky start, have regained some composure lately. Nonetheless, the next time the two face each other off on Jan. 15, tension ought to hang heavy. However, despite the controversial nature of his exit from the Leafs, Marner has not spared much thought for the upcoming battle.
“Mitch Marner on facing off against his former team tomorrow and what it has been like for him leading up to that matchup: ‘I hadn’t really thought about it till this moment.’ Said it would hit him more on the plane ride home,” Sportsnet reporter Anna Dua shared on a social media platform.
Despite how Maple Leafs fans feel about Marner’s response, the increased scrutiny that once contributed to Marner’s decision to part ways with the Maple Leafs is something that the winger is free from in Vegas. He can move from one day to another without facing unrelenting criticism.
“Unlike in Toronto, Marner can be anonymous here in the land of Criss Angel, Wayne Newton, and any number of star-studded residences such as Jennifer Lopez or the Backstreet Boys. He can be free of the criticism that came with life as a star for his hometown Maple Leafs — but also the adoration he once described as God-like,” Jonas Siegel wrote in his recent contribution to The Athletic about Marner’s post-Leafs life.
Despite all the bitterness that once existed, Marner has also noted missing the Toronto snow, as well as his friends and family. Despite the publicized and highly debated nature of his departure from the Leafs, Marner had emphasized his desire to win a Cup with the team in his farewell note, which is a significant testament to the love and regard he once had for the Maple Leafs.
