Leafs and Knights speak on Mitch Marner's return, and the message is clear

Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs spoke on the looming return of former Leaf Mitch Marner, with the winger playing his first game since being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights this past offseason.

Marner was dealt to the Golden Knights following a heavily publicized exit from Toronto following extension talks that struggled to find a footing from both sides, with reports suggesting that Marner had lacked interest in a return to Toronto, and Marner's own admission that he had been eyeing a potential move to Vegas in the months leading up to his departure.

In his first trip to Toronto this Friday since the trade, Marner will be on the opposing side for the first time in his NHL career, and in what is likely to be a rambunctious reception, Marner's former teammates are praising the 28-year-old.

Scott Laughton, who played just half a season with Marner as he was traded to the Leafs at last season's trade deadline, had kind words for Marner, while anticipating the Leafs crowd to be loud and vocal.

Leafs netminder Joseph Woll also spoke on Marner's return, saying that he hopes Marner would receive a positive response from Leafs fans, saying that he hopes for Leafs fans to have respect for their former player.

On the Vegas side, the Golden Knights backed up their forward, with Jack Eichel speaking on Marner heading back to Toronto, although less hopeful for a calm response.

Eichel, who is no stranger to hearing it from a former fanbase, has dealt with boos from his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Eichel said the team would try to play better for him.

Head Coach Bruce Cassidy also spoke on Marner's return, a bit less optimistic in saying that he wants Marner to be able to handle whatever the reaction is.

Despite Toronto Maple Leafs players coming out and saying that they'd hope Marner won't face a wrath from Leafs fans upon his return, anything less than booing is unlikely.

Negative emotions still run deep towards Marner since he departed Toronto, and his first game back is almost surely to be one in which he is flooded with boos throughout the game, nothing unsimilar to the negative reception John Tavares got upon his return to the New York Islanders, and Tavares is still booed to this day.

Marner already heard some booing back in Vegas in the game against the Leafs last Thursday, in which some fans, presumed to be of the Leafs, were heard booing Marner as he touched the puck.

Controversy over how Marner handled himself in the time following the end of the season until now has been viewed as disloyalty, with Marner having already been accused during the playoffs of coming across as lacking a more intense effort.

The best case scenario for Marner is that in time things are forgiven, as was noted, Marner has done much for his hometown of Toronto and has continued to speak positively about his time as a Leaf. Marner's only chance of not hearing boos on Friday night is if the projected -20° weather Friday keeps people out.

Even as Leafs players come to the defense of Marner and hope for calm and respect for their once teammate, their hopes will likely not be met, at least on Friday, and it may take years for things to change in the perception of Mitch Marner from Leafs Nation.

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