In Scotiabank Arena return, can Mitch Marner silence the doubters one more time?

"The last time Mitch Marner skated on the Scotiabank Arena ice, him and his Maple Leaf compatriots were booed off the ice after a second-consecutive 6-1 hammering at home by the Florida Panthers, a loss which came in Game 7 of their second round encounter with the defending Stanley Cup champions. Since then, Mitch Marner accepted a sign-and-trade that sent him to the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Leafs did a little overhauling of their own."

"If one is to go ahead and try to determine that answer from simply rewatching Thursday's game in Vegas, they'd likely come across a couple of conflicting arguments. For one, save for much of the third period, the Maple Leafs did a good job controlling the game and keeping Vegas at arms length; Toronto held a 2-0, 3-1, 4-2, and 5-3 lead at different points throughout the contest. That said, Mitch Marner did provide two assists and three shots on goal; however, this argument is rendered relatively moot as he didn't score a goal. In my opinion, that would've been more that enough to say "thanks for trading me." Even then, Mitch Marner did contribute to two big goals to help keep Vegas in the game, and the Knights would ultimately go on to win in overtime."

"Even though the Leafs failed to secure the two points against Vegas, they'll have the chance to get the last laugh when they welcome the Golden Knights to Scotiabank Arena on Friday night. The same can be said for Mitch Marner. If Marner can score a goal in Toronto and his Golden Knights can secure the win, the narrative should shift away from him simply packing up and leaving town. Rather, it'll focus on him capitalizing"

Toronto fans booed Mitch Marner and teammates after a 6-1 Game 7 loss to Florida. Marner accepted a sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights while Toronto retooled its roster. Toronto now plays like a team that may not require Marner to achieve high offensive production. A recent game in Vegas showed the Leafs controlling play and holding multiple leads, while Marner tallied two assists and three shots but failed to score. Marner helped on key goals and Vegas won in overtime. A rematch in Toronto offers both the Leafs and Marner a chance to alter the narrative.

Read at Puck Prose