How the NHL Schedule Shielded the Former Leaf

The Toronto Maple Leafs escaped Colorado last night with a much-needed two points, defeating the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. But there is little time to celebrate. The Leafs face off tonight against the Utah Mammoth before heading to Las Vegas to face Mitch Marner ahead of Marner's return to Toronto next week. 

This road trip is merely the prelude to the main event: The Golden Knights' trip to Toronto next week.

For the Leafs, Thursday night’s game in Vegas comes at a perfect time, with the team having secured points in 10 straight games as of Tuesday. Naturally, the reunion brings a media circus, but it appears the NHL schedule makers may have inadvertently done Marner a massive favor. Thanks to the logistics of the schedule, the former Leaf will likely avoid a significant chunk of the media glare.

The "No Morning Skate" Loophole

The Leafs are expected to depart Utah for Las Vegas immediately after tonight’s game, meaning they will be in town early for a practice and morning skate on gameday. With a morning skate comes the mandatory morning media availability required by the NHL.

However, the Golden Knights have a different itinerary. While the Leafs wait in Vegas, the Knights play a Wednesday night matchup in Los Angeles. That game is expected to begin at 7:30 PM local time, finishing after 10:00 PM. The Knights won't depart until around midnight, arriving home (with the time difference) after 2:00 AM.

That late arrival makes it highly likely the Knights will opt to cancel their morning skate or make it optional. Under NHL rules, this allows Marner to dodge the morning scrum. When the Knights visit Toronto next week, they face a nearly identical scenario, playing a game in Boston the night before arriving at Scotiabank Arena.

Dodging the Noise

These late arrivals will help Marner avoid the worst of the Toronto media circus, allowing him to focus solely on the game. This is significant, given that after his departure, Marner made sure to take pointed shots at the Toronto media regarding how he felt he was portrayed and treated.

The current schedule likely means the only time Marner will be available to the media is post-game, significantly limiting his exposure to the questions he clearly wants to avoid.

A Tale of Two Returns: Lowry vs. Marner

Marner’s return to Toronto is shaping up to be the most intriguing homecoming since John Tavares first returned to Long Island. Unfortunately, the "Marner Saga" turned contentious last season when the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs. Things turned downright ugly when news leaked of Marner's free agency plot, dating back to the Four Nations Championship, where he reportedly spent time actively speaking to other players about the Vegas atmosphere.

Contrast that with what happened last night in the NBA. Toronto Raptors fans witnessed an incredible moment when they chanted for Kyle Lowry, now with the Philadelphia 76ers. Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the crowd, putting Lowry into the game for what could be his NBA curtain call in Toronto.

If that is the moment Marner is expecting, he is going to be sadly mistaken.

A Whimper, Not a Scream

When Marner hits the ice for warm-ups, I expect the faithful to serenade him with boos. Early in the first period, the organization will likely run a video tribute, which will receive mainly applause. However, you can bet the media and opposing fanbases will focus entirely on the vocal minority who choose to boo during that moment.

From that point on, however, the page turns. After nine seasons with the organization, Marner will become just another player who passed through Toronto. He won't be remembered as the Hometown Hero who brought a Cup to his childhood team. But he won't be Public Enemy Number One forever, either.

With Auston Matthews and William Nylander rewriting the Leafs' history books, Mitch Marner’s legacy will fade. After the January 30th game, the rivalry cools. He'll receive boos when he scores or registers an assist, but much like his time in Toronto, his exit will be measured by a whimper, not a scream.