As likely, that, as the Strip suddenly going dark or the Venomous Pinks, all-girl punk band, booked for a residency gig at the Bellagio.
asserted
Pinks → go → Bellagio
But for now, more than a season removed from his nine-year tenure in Toronto, Marner is still the river that runs through it.
asserted
that → remove → it
Marner, who got to a Stanley Cup last dance last spring while the Leafs didn’t even make the playoffs.
asserted
Leafs → get → playoffs
Marner, who racked up the most points of any player in the 2026 post-season — 10 goals and 19 assists, including three goals in Game 3 against Carolina, fastest natural hat trick in NHL final history — until he rolled snake eyes in the next three and the Hurricanes celebrated a championship on Vegas ice.
asserted
Hurricanes → rack → ice
A microcosm of M.M. right there, from breathtaking to gut-punching, inducing from Golden Knights fans on social media pretty much the same vitriol and blame that he received in T.O. back in the days of notorious playoff collapses and mewling Mitch.
asserted
he → induce → collapses
Guess the slings and arrows don’t wound as deeply in the desert.
asserted
slings → guess → desert
Facing his old teammates again for the first time since home-and-away Vegas wins last January amidst roiling emotions was the first question Marner faced at Thursday’s morning skate, rigamarole redux.
asserted
Marner → face → skate
Obviously I still know a bit of guys over there.”
asserted
I → know → guys
A “bit” being the operative term, given the roster overhaul orchestrated by general manager John Chayka.
asserted
bit → give → Chayka
Yet still the outfit Marner poured his heart into alongside Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly.
asserted
Marner → pour → Matthews
Toronto and Leafs Nation almost sucked the juju juice out of Marner, though he insists confronting that old gang of his doesn’t stir the blood.
asserted
confronting → suck → blood
Last year didn’t feel like it, either.”
asserted
year → feel → it
Perhaps the most telling comment Marner offered was when the subject switched to his current captain, Mark Stone, who executed a Gordie Howe hat trick in Tuesday’s 6-2 defeat of the Kraken: goal, assist, fight (coming to the defence of teammate Victor Olofsson).
asserted
who → offer → Olofsson
“The maniac of him sometimes,” enthused Marner.
asserted
Marner → enthuse → him
“That’s one of my favourite things.
asserted
That → ’ → things
When he gets mad, he gets going.
asserted
he → get → ?
He’s throwing his body around.
asserted
He → throw → body
He’s a guy that’s not afraid to fight anyone.
asserted
that → ’ → anyone
That’s something you love about your captain.
asserted
you → ’ → captain
Maybe that’s not in the Matthews oeuvre?
asserted
that → ’ → oeuvre
In the visitors’ locker room, it was all bromancing Marner.
asserted
it → bromance → Marner
“Personally, as a friend, I was happy for him,” said Matthews, when asked about Marner rollicking to the Cup final.
asserted
Marner → say → final
“He’s a great, great person.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
We stay in touch all the time.”
asserted
We → stay → touch
Yet they hadn’t hooked up here on Wednesday for a catch-up.
asserted
they → hook → up
Tavares, Leafs captain during most of Marner’s years (remember those mini-stick games Marner and Matthews played with Tavares’ kids?), explained there was a team dinner upon arrival in Vegas at the end of a long day.
asserted
Marner → remember → day
“I saw him a good amount over the summer, even though it was an extremely short summer for him,” said Tavares.
asserted
Tavares → see → him
“Obviously a good friend, amazing memories playing together, but we have to go out and battle against him tonight.”
asserted
we → play → him
Marner’s playoff sparkle didn’t surprise him a whit: “I think he was just due.
asserted
he → surprise → him
He’s just too good of a hockey player, impacts the game in so many different ways.
asserted
He → ’ → ways
He’s a very unique, really special player.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
The way he thinks the game with and without the puck is as good as any player in the game.
asserted
he → think → game
And who might that put one in mind of: the hockey IQ, the ice vision, the playmaking skill?
uncertain
that → put → IQ
Sounds rather like a bumph blurb for another rookie who arrives with an even higher ceiling, and higher expectations, than Marner faced as a Leaf fledgling in October 2016.
asserted
Marner → sound → October
Except Gavin McKenna is already showing that he has more pith in his emotional pencil just four games into his NHL career, “surviving” the anxiety of not scoring through the first three.
asserted
he → show → three
McKenna probably saw more of Marner over the summer than his new teammates.
asserted
McKenna → see → teammates
The No. 1 draft pick was part of a cadre, and the only Leaf, who worked out with Marner in Muskoka.
asserted
who → work → Muskoka
“He’s a special talent, super smart player and just fun to watch, then getting to talk to him off the ice a little bit.
asserted
He → ’ → ice
He’s a really cool dude.”
asserted
He → ’ → ?
Having come through the fire in Toronto, did Marner have any advice for the 18-year-old kid, how to handle the glare?
asserted
Marner → come → glare
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
