Biggest news of the season hits Avalanche's franchise player
Photo credit: AP Photo / David Zalubowski
Nathan MacKinnon is a true icon for the Colorado Avalanche, a name recognized across the hockey world, and rightfully so.
He's among the most accomplished players in the NHL, having come close to collecting nearly every major individual honour the league has to offer.
MacKinnon rocked with big news.
Savvy Rafkin from Hockey Mountain High writes that in addition to capturing the Stanley Cup in 2022, MacKinnon further bolstered his impressive resume in 2024 by winning both the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award. He's also been a consistent presence at the NHL All-Star Games, earning selections every year from 2017 through 2024.
"His success is no accident, and his numbers on the stat sheet speak for themselves. He is a statistical powerhouse, making him a lethal part of the Avalanche core. This season, he was shy of his last season's stat sheet, but not by much." -Rafkin
MacKinnon racked up an impressive 116 points, tallying 32 goals and 84 assists, placing him among the league's top five scorers. It also marked his third straight season surpassing the 100-point mark.
While it is arguable that the departure of longtime line mate Mikko Rantanen was a major change in top-line chemistry, he adapted fast and showed no signs of slowing down. He clicked right away with former Carolina Hurricane, Martin Nečas, who joined the team mid season.
"Come the 2024-2025 postseason run, he stayed true to form. He was an unsurprising powerhouse that displayed the grit the team needed to fend off their Division Rival, the Dallas Stars. In the seven-game bout, he tallied seven goals and four assists, three of the goals coming from the notoriously disjointed power play setup. Despite this, he still showed the leadership expected of someone wearing the 'A' on their jersey." -Rafkin
MacKinnon's season wasn't limited to his success with the Avalanche. He also competed in the Four Nations Faceoff, where he helped lead his team to victory alongside teammates Cale Makar and Devon Toews. Adding the celebration, he shared the win close friend Sidney Crosby.
Following the 2024-25 season, MacKinnon earned another nomination for the Ted Lindsay Award but ultimately came up short, with the honour going to Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"His contract reflects how valuable he is to the franchise and the city. With a cap hit of $12.6 million, he is the second highest paid player in the league, trailing only Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews. His contract secures him until the 2028-2029 season. It is substantial, but worth every single penny." -Rafkin
MacKinnon remains a cornerstone of the Colorado Avalanche, consistently setting the standard with his leadership, relentless drive, and determination to rise to every challenge.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 21 | 25 ANSWERS Biggest news of the season hits Avalanche's franchise player Do you think Nathan MacKinnon will win the Rocket Richard Trophy next season? | ||
| yes | 14 | 56 % |
| no | 11 | 44 % |
| List of polls | ||
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