If anyone understands what it's like to receive a less-than-enthusiastic welcome back from a former team, it's Jack Eichel.
Now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights but once the captain of the Buffalo Sabres, Eichel and his draft team from western New York had a less-than-amicable divorce, culminating in a stripped captaincy and a 2021 trade that sent the former second-overall pick to Sin City.
When he returned to KeyBank Center for the first time in March of 2022, it was to a chorus of boos, making it clear that the issues Eichel had with the Sabres organization had, inadvertently or not, extended to the fanbase.
As a result, Eichel was able to offer up some insight on Mitch Marner and his return to Scotiabank Arena on Friday night (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) to face the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time.
"It's tough, obviously," Eichel told reporters on Thursday. "You have an emotional connection to a place that you spent a lot of time and put a lot into. Nobody ever loved getting a rude welcome back, but at the end of the day, we're here for him and just want to try to support him as much as we can."
Mitch Marner returns to Toronto on Sportsnet
Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights visit Toronto for the first time since Marner's move to Vegas. You can watch the game Friday on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
Broadcast schedule
Marner got an idea of what to expect when the Maple Leafs played his Golden Knights earlier this month in Vegas, where Leafs faithful travelled to Nevada to serve up a smattering of boos in his own barn. Marner finished that game, which his Golden Knights won in overtime, with two assists.
"If you know Mitch, he's a pretty easygoing guy," Eichel continued. "I thought he handled the first game with ease. This will be a little more difficult, going back to Toronto, and being there, but I think he'll do a great job. As teammates, we're just here for him for whatever he needs."
Marner, who spent nine seasons in Toronto, left his hometown Leafs in the off-season in a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden Knights. Thursday will mark his first trip to Scotiabank Arena as a member of the visiting team.
Despite his ability to empathize uniquely, Eichel maintains that Marner doesn't require his advice.
"He's played enough hockey and been around the NHL long enough... A few of us maybe have been in that situation where you go back and get booed by your former team. But like I said, I have so much respect for the way he's handled everything," Eichel added. "Fans are always going to have their opinions, whether it's good or bad, but for him, it was a decision he felt he needed to make. No one's going to fault him on that."
Head coach Bruce Cassidy backed up that statement, emphasizing that the Golden Knights' room has some experience with this.
"I don't know if they're all comparable, but they are good players that left that have to go back to the city they left for the first time," the bench boss said. "That'll be tomorrow. I won't have any strong message for him, he knows the city better than I do, and hopefully, he plays well.
"Hopefully, the team plays well for him. That's what I believe will happen because we've had guys sort of go through it. They're gonna be pulling for Mitch, and I'm sure they're going to be ready to go tomorrow and going to want to win for him."
You can watch Marner's return to Toronto on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ Friday, starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
