"Best players in the league": Ex-Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo heaps praises on $65,418,000 'superstar' winger

Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo praised Mitch Marner during "The First Up Podcast" on Thursday. Marner is in the fifth season of his six-year $65,408,000 contract signed in September 2019. He will be a free agent in 2025 if he does not get an extension from the Leafs.

In the podcast, Colaiacovo called Marner a great player and talked about his ability to impact games.

"I have always said that about Mitch Marner," Colaiacovo said. "And everyone always came after me. I am speaking in reality terms. He's a great player."

Aaron Korolnek responded to him and shared that he expects Marner to be part of the 4 Nation Face-Off roster.

"A superstar, superstar, and it's not a coincidence," Korolnek said. "He's going to be lined up next to Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby in 4 Nations (Face-Off)."

While acknowledging Marner’s disappointing playoff performance last year, Colaiacovo said his talent is undeniable.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending this playoff performance last year, I'm not," Colaiacovo said. "And I can understand why people felt the way that they did."

Colaiacovo added that fans expect this version of Marner to show up when it matters most in the playoffs.

" ... Because this is the type of Mitch Marner people want to see play and step up into the playoffs, because that's when it matters with us," Colaiacovo said.

On Wednesday, Marner recorded three assists in the Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators in 22:34 minutes. This extended his point streak to eight games.

"Mitch Marner was nowhere near his best self in last year's playoffs, but you still couldn't forget the Marner that he is and how he can impact a team and a game, the way that he is," Colaiacovo said. "He's one of the best players in the league."

Marner has tallied eight goals and 29 points in 16 of his last 17 games. Seven of those games were multi-point efforts.

The Leafs won against Nashville with Mitch Marner chipping on every goal

Toronto won against Nashville, overcoming a first-period deficit. Nashville took a 1-0 lead via Jonathan Marchessault’s goal.

The Leafs tied it early in the third when Auston Matthews redirected a pass from Mitch Marner. Matthews then gave Toronto the lead at 2:29 before William Nylander scored a power-play goal at 5:06 to make it 3-1. Nashville pulled one back at 16:38 with Mark Jankowski’s rebound goal but Toronto held on to win. Joseph Woll made 22 saves in net.

Mitch Marner's recent form reinforces his importance to the team and justifies Colaiacovo’s praise.