Nathan MacKinnon’s Relentless Drive Is No Outlier Among Canada’s Hockey Elite
When you’re a Stanley Cup champion and one of the most dominant forces in the NHL, being called “too intense” feels like a strange critique. And yet, Nathan MacKinnon’s all-in, no-compromise approach to the game continues to draw attention - even when he’s sharing the ice with two of the most laser-focused players Canada has ever produced: Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
But here’s the thing - MacKinnon’s intensity isn’t just a quirk. It’s a defining trait. A relentless pursuit of perfection that’s helped elevate not just his own game, but the standard of everyone around him.
Former Avalanche teammate Nikita Zadorov once peeled back the curtain on what it’s like to play with MacKinnon. According to Zadorov, MacKinnon was the guy who would stop practice to call out an off-target pass.
He wasn’t being dramatic - he was demanding. Demanding that every rep mattered, every detail was sharp, every player brought their best.
And it didn’t stop at the rink. Zadorov shared that MacKinnon took control of the team’s nutrition, revamped meal plans, and even brought in his own medical and nutrition staff. That level of commitment might sound extreme, but Zadorov credits it as one of the key reasons Colorado took a leap in performance in recent years.
“He made pros out of the entire Colorado team,” Zadorov said back in 2021. That summer, fittingly, came just before MacKinnon and the Avalanche finally broke through and hoisted the Cup.
But if you think MacKinnon is an outlier in this regard, think again. He’s just part of a very intense club - one that includes Crosby and McDavid, two players who’ve built their legacies on a similar foundation of obsession and drive.
Curtis Lazar, who’s logged time with several NHL teams, got a front-row seat to McDavid’s intensity when he joined the Oilers for preseason skates. And it wasn’t even training camp yet - just informal captain’s skates. Still, McDavid was already setting the tone.
“His intensity and level of expectation - wow,” Lazar said. “He’s just setting the standard right off the hop.”
And Crosby? He might be one of the most respected leaders in the league, but he’s not shy about holding teammates accountable.
Former Penguins teammate Marcus Pettersson recalled moments when Crosby would light up Kris Letang on the bench after a bad play. Not out of spite, but out of a desire to push - to raise the bar.
And just minutes later, those same players would be laughing together in the locker room.
“Those top guys have a competitive edge that kind of sets them apart,” Pettersson said. “That’s how they get better, they push each other.”
Crosby himself embraces it.
“I think I know how much these events or these moments mean to him,” he said, speaking about MacKinnon. “I know how hard he works and he’s going to step up.”
“Whatever guys need to do to get ready - every guy’s different. Yeah, he brings a lot of passion, a lot of emotion and intensity. But he wants it, and that’s all you can ask for.”
And that’s really what ties these three Canadian stars together. It’s not just talent - it’s the fire underneath.
The willingness to do whatever it takes, even if it means ruffling feathers or demanding more from teammates. That edge, that intensity, is what separates the great from the legendary.
So, is MacKinnon “too intense”? Hardly. He’s just wired the same way as the best in the business - and that’s exactly why he’s one of them.