Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon on Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner: 'Looks Awesome'

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon recently shared high praise for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner after training with him and fellow superstar Sidney Crosby this summer in Vail, Colorado.

MacKinnon, who regularly trains with Crosby during the offseason, invited Marner to join them, and the Toronto winger impressed both MacKinnon and Crosby with his skills and work ethic, as reported by Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff on September 10 .

“Yeah, he looks awesome,” MacKinnon said. “He’s always so impressive out there. Even just playing with him (at the 2017 Worlds), he just came off his rookie year. Unreal, just so good, so talented.”

The friendship between MacKinnon and Marner dates back to their time playing for Team Canada at the 2017 World Championship, where the two clicked both on and off the ice.

Crosby, also friends with Marner, helped bring the Leafs star into their elite training group this summer.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman already reported Marner's extraordinary summer workouts on September 6 , saying the Maple Leafs forward was looking "dynamite" next to Crosby and MacKinnon, according to people watching the player training.

“I’ve heard he’s looked dynamite with Crosby and MacKinnon at this Vail camp,” Friedman said. “I understand that at times, he’s been on a line with them, and he’s taken this summer very seriously.”

MacKinnon, who has long admired the Leafs’ players resilience under pressure, acknowledged the challenges Marner faces playing in the Toronto market amid a never-ending string of rumors that have linked the forward to an exit from Canada at some point next season.

“It’s a hard league to win in and obviously I think Marner gets a lot of flak in Toronto, but he’s honestly one of the best players in the league,” MacKinnon said.

Marner’s performance this summer, however, has left no doubt about his status as one of the NHL’s top talents among his peers, including reigning MVP MacKinnon.

“I play with some of the best players in the league, and then I skate with Marner and he’s right up there with anyone,” MacKinnon said.

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