Nathan MacKinnon is carving out a legendary path with the Colorado Avalanche. He’s already surpassed Joe Sakic for the most points in Avalanche history, excluding Sakic’s Nordiques era.
With a Hart Trophy under his belt, MacKinnon is in prime position to chase another, sitting just seven points away from his fourth straight 100-point season. With 27 games to go, barring any setbacks, he’s on track to smash past that milestone.
MacKinnon’s prowess isn’t just limited to the NHL. He’s on the brink of Olympic glory with Team Canada, having scored the game-winning goal against Finland in a nail-biting 3-2 victory. Those clutch moments are what define champions, and MacKinnon delivered with just 36 seconds left on the clock.
Throughout his career, MacKinnon has notched 74 NHL regular-season game-winning goals. The debate over who reigns supreme in the NHL often pits him against Connor McDavid. But when it comes to Stanley Cups, MacKinnon holds the edge, with McDavid yet to lead the Oilers to a championship.
Following Sidney Crosby’s injury, MacKinnon stepped up as an alternate captain for Team Canada. While he may not typically seek out such roles-he isn’t even an alternate captain for the Avalanche-this speaks volumes about the respect he commands from coach Jon Cooper and his teammates.
Currently, MacKinnon ranks 67th all-time in career points with 1,233, and he’s closing in on the top 100 for regular-season goals with 407. His assist tally stands at 701, and he’s netted 110 power-play goals. Despite the Avalanche’s struggles with their power play this season, MacKinnon’s numbers remain impressive.
As Team Canada potentially faces off against the USA, following a likely Slovakia defeat, MacKinnon’s performance could further cement his status as one of the all-time greats. A strong showing on this stage could add another chapter to his already illustrious career.