Fast-skating Avs centre MacKinnon speeds toward success
Mention a topic, just about any topic, and sharp-shooting Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon takes his elusiveness to a whole new level. Not appearing on the cover of the NHL’s latest video game? “Don’t care,” he responds. The pressure of becoming one of league’s top stars after a 97-point season? “Feels normal,” the top pick in the 2013 draft quips. Taking another step in his evolution on the ice? “Hopefully a few,” he offers. It’s not like the speedy, 23-yearold shies away from the spotlight he has earned through his electrifying play. Rather, he’s just highly focused on helping Colorado return to the playoffs after a stirring run a year ago behind his hard-to-keep-up speed and hardto-stop shot. “He’s a legitimate, bona fide superstar in our league,” said defenceman Ian Cole, who joined the Avs after spending last season with Pittsburgh and Columbus. “He’s one of the most dangerous players in the league.” MacKinnon finished with 39 goals and 58 assists last season. He finished second to New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who means the most to their team. That didn’t exactly sit well with MacKinnon’s line mate, captain Gabriel Landeskog. In Landeskog’s view, seeing is believing in MacKinnon’s skills. “The hockey world is big in the East and they don’t see Nate as much, or us as much,” Landeskog said. “We all know how good he is. It’s a matter of time. But he doesn’t need the recognition from anybody else - we just need him to keep doing what he’s doing as far as being a really good offensive player.” MacKinnon turned in a breakout season in which he posted stats that hadn’t been seen in Colorado in a while, including: – Most points by an Avalanche player since Joe Sakic had 100 in 2006-07 – Most shots (284) since Sakic during the Stanley Cup championship season in 2000-01 –12 game-winning goals, matching the Avalanche record set by Sakic in ‘00-01 – 13 three-point games, which was the most since Peter Forsberg had 14 in 2002-03.