When the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights, it won’t just be another regular-season matchup - it’s a reunion with a familiar face. Mitch Marner, a cornerstone of the Leafs for years, will be lining up on the opposite side for the first time since his offseason sign-and-trade to Vegas. And while he’s thriving with his new team - the Golden Knights sitting at 22-11-12 - there’s still plenty of emotion tied to his roots in Toronto.
Marner and Auston Matthews weren’t just teammates - they were the heartbeat of the Leafs for nearly a decade. Drafted a year apart - Marner fourth overall in 2015, Matthews first in 2016 - the two essentially grew up in the NHL together. They were the faces of a franchise trying to climb hockey’s highest mountain, and their bond, forged through seasons of highs and heartbreaks, hasn’t faded with the trade.
That connection was on full display when Marner was asked about Matthews recently becoming the Maple Leafs’ all-time leading goal scorer - a milestone that cements Matthews’ legacy in Toronto’s storied history.
“It was phenomenal. It was really cool,” Marner said.
“I knew it was gonna happen in a matter of time. I think everyone saw me congratulate him online but I talked to him after the game and just said ‘congrats, what a great milestone’.
He’s got his name with all the legends now and above them all, it’s a really cool thing and I think it was really cool for all the legends to recognize it and give him his love too.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly - especially from someone who shared the ice with Matthews for so long. Marner knows firsthand the work Matthews has put in, the consistency he’s shown, and the weight that kind of accomplishment carries in a city like Toronto.
Matthews, for his part, echoed the sentiment. The two may be wearing different sweaters now, but their friendship hasn’t skipped a beat.
“We definitely keep in touch a pretty decent amount… he’s always going to be a really close friend, he’s a great person… it’s gonna be fun playing against him,” Matthews said.
And that’s the subplot that adds a little extra juice to this game. Sure, the Leafs are looking to bounce back from a recent loss and stay in the thick of things in the Atlantic Division. But this one’s also about pride, familiarity, and a little friendly rivalry between two guys who know each other’s moves better than anyone.
Marner’s transition to Vegas has been smooth, and he’s become a key piece in a Golden Knights lineup that’s built to contend. But you can bet when the puck drops, those old connections won’t stop either side from going full tilt.
Matthews will want to put on a show. So will Marner.
And for fans of the game, it’s a chance to watch two elite players - and old friends - go head-to-head with plenty on the line.
This isn’t just another game on the calendar. It’s a reunion, a test, and maybe even a preview of something bigger down the road. Either way, it’s must-watch hockey.