Mitch Marner's Return to Toronto Officially Confirmed With NHL Schedule Release

Traded to the Vegas Golden Knights after signing an 8-year extension with the Maple Leafs, the Mitch Marner era in Toronto came to a messy end hours ahead of free agency on July 1st.

Since being eliminated in the second round by the Florida Panthers, it seemed as though the writing was on the wall for Marner to make his exit from Toronto.

The 28-year-old winger saw Leafs Nation turn on him over the past eight months after reports surfaced about him rejecting an extension and turning down multiple trades at the deadline.

Upon his departure, Marner himself noted that he had thought about leaving two years prior during his introductory press conference in Vegas. Given how the entire situation played out, there had been speculation that the NHL would look to capitalize on the Marner fallout and pencil in a Vegas road-trip to Toronto early in the season.

On Monday, as Leafs Nation anxiously waited for the official date of Marner's return to be confirmed, it was revealed that the Leafs would open the season against the Montreal Canadiens.

On Wednesday, the NHL released the schedule for each team for the upcoming season and unfortunately Leafs Nation will have to wait for Marner's return until the new year. The Golden Knights and Marner aren't scheduled to visit Toronto until January 23rd -- a week after the Leafs visit Marner in his new home.

It's unfortunate that fans of the Leafs will have to wait until the midway point of the season to welcome Marner back with a chorus of cheers, boos or both, but it will certainly be one of the most-watched games of the season.

Whether the lengthy separation will calm the animosity from Leafs Nation towards Marner will be something to keep an eye on, but January 23rd has surely been circled on everyone's calendars, and for good reason.