Mitch Marner received a hostile, loud reception in his first game back at Scotiabank Arena since his sign-and-trade departure to the Vegas Golden Knights last summer. The Maple Leafs fans booed him throughout warmups and his first shift, though a video tribute during a timeout elicited a mixed response from the crowd.

The 28-year-old winger, who signed an eight-year, $96 million extension with Vegas, acknowledged the emotional weight of the return but stated he's focused on the present. Marner spent nine seasons in Toronto, becoming a star but also a lightning rod for criticism over the team's playoff failures before his move west.

Entering Friday, Marner had 12 goals and 40 assists for 52 points, helping the Golden Knights hold a top Pacific Division spot. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, were fighting to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race, underscoring the high stakes of his return to a city that raised him as a hockey fan.