Marner Faces Leafs for First Time as a Golden Knight: Emotions, Adjustments, and a Key Bounce-Back Opportunity
As the Maple Leafs prepare to take on the Vegas Golden Knights in Las Vegas, there’s a little extra electricity in the air - and not just because of the bright lights on the Strip. Thursday night marks the first time Mitch Marner will face his former team since being traded to Vegas, and while both sides are trying to treat it like any other game, the emotional undercurrent is hard to ignore.
Berube: “There’s Always Juice Both Ways”
Leafs head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the added intensity that comes with Marner lining up on the other side - even if the team has moved on emotionally.
“For sure, I think it does,” Berube said when asked if Marner’s presence adds energy to the matchup. “But I think we’re kind of past all of that with Mitch.
It’s the same as having Nic Roy on our side, with him coming back and playing against his old team. There’s always juice both ways.”
That competitive fire is something both teams will be tapping into, especially after Toronto’s disappointing showing in Utah. The Leafs are looking to reset and return to the structured, fast-paced game that’s defined their best stretches this season.
Getting Back to Their Identity
Berube didn’t mince words when reflecting on the team’s recent performance.
“Our puck play wasn’t very good. Our routes weren’t very good.
Mentally, you could tell we weren’t sharp,” he said. “I get the physical side of things - we traveled, and it was a hard game in Colorado.
But mentally, we weren’t sharp, and it caused us a lot of issues.”
The message is clear: regardless of schedule fatigue or travel, the Leafs need to sharpen up - especially against a Vegas team that can punish mental lapses.
Life After Marner: A Work in Progress
Adjusting to life without a player like Marner - who impacted every facet of the game - hasn’t been seamless.
“He was a guy who touched all parts of the game,” Berube said. “Matty [Matthews] and he played together for a long time. There’s always an adjustment.”
Berube also revealed that there were internal conversations about trying Marner at center, something Vegas has now implemented. With Auston Matthews missing time in the past, the Leafs had considered the switch and even had Marner practicing faceoffs regularly, just in case.
Adversity Bringing the Group Closer
Toronto’s dealt with its fair share of injuries this season, and while no team welcomes adversity, Berube sees value in how the group has responded.
“You don’t want to go through it - I’m not saying that - but when you do, it’s good for a team,” he said. “You’re going to hit some walls with the schedule and all of the games. It’s good to know we can come out of that and play through it.”
One positive step: goaltender Anthony Stolarz is back with the team on the road trip, a welcome sight for a group that’s been stretched thin at times.
“It’s great,” Berube said. “It was a real positive move that he was coming on the trip.
He hasn’t been around the team in a long time - in the locker room, on the ice, and that kind of thing. It’s very positive that he’s here and practicing with us.”
Tavares Reflects on Friendship, Focus
John Tavares, who shared the ice with Marner for years in Toronto, hasn’t had much contact with his former teammate recently - but the bond remains.
“He reached out when I scored my 500th. I reached out when the Olympic team was announced,” Tavares said. “Other than that, not really, over the last number of weeks, as the season sets in with your teammates every day.”
Tavares emphasized that while the friendship remains strong, once the puck drops, it’s all business.
“He’s always been a great player to play with and a very close friend. That won’t change,” Tavares said.
“But obviously, tonight, we’re competing against each other. Once you get back in the rhythm of a game day, you have to get ready to play and understand what you have to go out there and do as a team.”
Marner: “Just Another Hockey Game” - Sort Of
For his part, Marner is trying to keep things simple. Asked about facing his old team, the Vegas winger kept it even-keeled.
“I don’t think I have to look at it as anything different - just another hockey game,” Marner said. “I’ll just try to go out and do my thing.”
That said, the ties to Toronto are still strong. Marner said he’s kept in touch with several former teammates throughout the year - checking in over the holidays and staying connected on a personal level.
“I got really close to a lot of them there. They’re like brothers,” he said. “There hasn’t been too much talk about hockey, really.”
But make no mistake - he’s done his homework on the Leafs.
“They’re a fast team that plays direct,” Marner said. “They get up on the rush very well. We have to try to use that to our advantage, maybe, and make sure we are making the smart plays and being above them to try to limit their odd-man chances.”
He also noted Toronto’s effectiveness in the cycle game and emphasized the need for communication and quick defensive reads to keep them in check.
Cassidy: “Hopefully He Just Plays His Game”
Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy knows what this night means for Marner - and he’s seen other players go through it before.
“He was there a long time. I get it.
He has lots of friendships over there,” Cassidy said. “At the end of the day, there’s always turnover every year.
I’m sure he has close friendships with a lot of those guys, and that can be hard.”
Cassidy pointed to leaders like Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Alex Pietrangelo - all of whom have returned to their former teams - as resources for Marner to lean on.
“For me, it’s another game where we’ll use him like we usually do,” Cassidy said. “Hopefully, we get him a few extra shifts here and there because I’m sure he is going to be highly motivated.”
The key, Cassidy added, is for Marner not to try to do too much.
“Sometimes, it goes the other way, where you want to do too much,” he said. “Hopefully, he goes out and plays his game.
He’s a great player. And then it’s behind him.
Before you know it, we’re playing our next game.”
Leafs Morning Skate Notes
Toronto held a maintenance morning for Matthew Knies, but he’s expected to suit up against Vegas. The Leafs’ forward lines and defensive pairings remain largely intact heading into the matchup:
Projected Lines:
- McMann - Matthews - Domi
- Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
- Cowan - Roy - Robertson
- Lorentz - Laughton - Järnkrok
Defensive Pairings:
- Rielly - Carlo
- McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
- Benoit - Stecher
- Benning - Myers
Goaltenders:
- Woll
- Hildeby
- Stolarz (practicing with team)
It’s a night with plenty of storylines: a reunion, a redemption opportunity, and a chance for the Leafs to reestablish their identity against one of the league’s top teams. Drop the puck - this one has all the makings of a must-watch.