Maple Leafs fans will have to wait a few months after the NHL season starts for a chance to see their former hometown hero in different colours at Scotiabank Arena.
The NHL released its full schedule Wednesday, which showed that Mitch Marner and his Vegas Golden Knights will make their first trip to Toronto on Jan. 23. It comes a week after the Knights host the Leafs in Las Vegas on Jan. 15.
After spending nearly 10 years in Toronto, a team that drafted him fourth overall in 2015, the 28-year-old signed an eight-year, $96 million contract to join the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal just before this summer’s free agency. The Leafs received forward Nicolas Roy in that trade.
The Leafs’ home opener will be against archrivals Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 8.
Other dates of note from next season include Jan. 6, when they will host the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Florida will be on a three-peat quest this season, something that hasn’t been done since the New York Islanders in 1982.
Connor McDavid and his Edmonton Oilers will visit Toronto on Dec. 13.
The league’s 32 teams will combine to play 1,312 games between Oct. 7 and April 16 with the playoffs to run from the following weekend through much of June. An 84-game season starts in 2026-27 resulting in 1,344 games — the most in NHL history.
Alex Ovechkin begins his 21st season on Oct. 8 when he and the Washington Capitals host Boston. Ovechkin is at 897 career goals after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record and can add to his total at age 40.
For the first time in more than a decade, the league is pausing in the winter to send players to the Olympics. The Milan break runs from Feb. 6-24, with play resuming Feb. 25.