MacKinnon feeling like an all-star while playing like the NHL’s MVP
ST. LOUIS» Nathan MacKinnon was traveling Friday to Tampa, Fla., for this weekend’s NHL AllStar Game when word came out that the Avalanche center is indeed a major candidate for the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
In an midseason poll conducted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association — which officially votes for the Hart Trophy and other NHL awards at the end of the season — MacKinnon was runner-up to Tampa Bay winger Nikita Kucherov for the Hart Trophy.
MacKinnon received 49 firstplace votes and appeared on 136of-152 ballots. He was second by a wide margin over New York Islanders center John Tavares, who finished third.
MacKinnon ranks second in NHL scoring with 60 points (24 goals) in 48 games. Kucherov leads the NHL with 63 points (27 goals) in 49 games. MacKinnon is in contention to become Colorado’s third Hart Trophy winner, joining Joe Sakic (2001) and Peter Forsberg (2003).
But one thing at a time. The season is only at its unofficial midpoint, and MacKinnon has an AllStar Game to play in Sunday.
Thursday after a morning skate at the Scottrade Center, MacKinnon talked about what it means to be selected for his second consecutive All-Star Game. A year ago, he represented the Avs but was mired in the worst season of his career, finishing with just 16 goals and 53 points — each of which he has already exceeded.
Each NHL team is represented at the All-Star Game by at least
one player, and even last year MacKinnon was deemed a draw in the NHL’s 3-on-3 all-star tournament.
“I feel like I deserve to be there,” MacKinnon said before the Avs lost to St. Louis 3-1. “Last year, I didn’t feel like I deserved to be there. Every team has to send a guy, and we sent me, but we had a lot of good players I went ahead of that should have went over me.
“This year is a different case. I’ll be comfortable this year. I wasn’t embarrassed last year, but I definitely wasn’t super proud to go. Obviously, it’s cool to represent this organization, but other than that, I didn’t feel like I was having a year where you belong in the All-Star Game. I didn’t really feel like an allstar.”
MacKinnon will be joined in Tampa with his parents and friends from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. He said he’s excited to be an all-star along with close friends Brayden Schenn of the Blues and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, who also is from Cole Harbour.
“My parents and Sid’s parents hang out all the time back home, so it will be fun to be with family and friends from back home and buddies around the league,” MacKinnon said.