Sportsnet Alters Plans for Rare National Maple Leafs Broadcast
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
The Mitch Marner return to Toronto will be a wild event, and it got a bit crazier now that the game is going to be a national broadcast per Elliotte Friedman.
The whole Mitch Marner saga finally ended this season after being dealt away to the Vegas golden Knights after a less than stellar finish to his Toronto Maple Leafs career.
Apparently there were some serious security issues regarding Marner and while there are questions about the validity of that situation, it doesn't change the fact that Marner wanted out as soon as possible.
His return is going to be hotly anticipated one and when he returns to Toronto you can guarantee that the crowd is going to let him feel the heat. It seems like the rest of the hockey world understands this, but none other than the Canadian market.
What Elliotte Friedman Revealed About the Maple Leafs Broadcast Change
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, the broadcasting giants are going to make Marner's return game a national broadcast, stressing the importance for fans to see his return to Toronto:
I know that game this year, which by the way, we have now made a national game. I mean, that's going to be a crazy night.
Knowing how crazy fans are going to go for seeing Marner's return, and already a guaranteed sellout crowd, giving the game national attention is the best way to broadcast arguably one of the most anticipated games of the entire season.
Why This National Broadcast Will Be a Unique Night for Leafs Fans
Typically, a game is broadcasted on TSN or Sportsnet but for January 23rd, there are going to be no restrictions and the game will be shown for everyone to see.
Ironically, this is probably the last thing that Marner or the Maple Leafs wanted, as it would be best if both parties separated themselves from each other and moved on, with his national broadcast thrusting him back in the spotlight and under the microscope even as an opponent.
If Marner was worried about his safety before, he won't get any respite or relief from essentially being public enemy #1 in Toronto and while it's very, very unlikely anything will happen, don't expect him to get any type of heroes welcome upon his arrival.
The crowd reaction is also going to be heavily dependent on how both the teams are doing. If Toronto is faltering and Marner torches them, it's going to be boos all around.
But if the Maple Leafs can dominate Vegas, or at least keep Marner off the scoresheet then you can expect a 'Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye' from the Toronto faithful.
For one night only, the entire Canadian hockey world is going to have their eyes glued to the screen as they see how Mitch Marner's first foray back to Toronto is.
If you think it's going to be normal, then you've got another thing coming.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 5 | 1878 ANSWERS Sportsnet Alters Plans for Rare National Maple Leafs Broadcast Will Mitch Marner be booed and jeered upon his return to Toronto this season? | ||
| Yes | 1596 | 85 % |
| No | 282 | 15 % |
| List of polls | ||
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