Feb 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Avalanche defeat the Stars 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has signed a seven-year contract worth $44,100,000. That’s only news by now.
It’s noteworthy that the contract will eventually make MacKinnon the highest paid player on the team. It carries an average annual value of $6.3 million. In reality, though, it shakes out like this:
2016-17: $5,000,000
2017-18: $5,750,000
2018-19: $6,750,000
2019-20: $6,750,000
2020-21: $6,150,000
2021-22: $6,850,000
2022-23: $6,850,000
So, it’s not until the 2018-19 season that MacKinnon breaks the Matt Duchene salary ceiling.
That’s just fine, waiting until then. There’s no question Nathan MacKinnon has talent and potential. However, that doesn’t necessarily come with a guarantee — ask the Edmonton Oilers. MacKinnon, currently playing like the second or third best player on the team, has a couple years to become the best — and get paid accordingly.
MacKinnon had a typically humble response to signing this big contract. He said during a conference call:
“Obviously, the pressure is there since signing this. They’re making it a point that they want me to help us get back to the Cup. That’s the whole goal behind this.”
What’s more, Nathan states that he knows it’s time for him to step up and take more of a leadership role.
What that can look like can be a lot of different things. I don’t think he’s the kind of leader Gabriel Landeskog or Erik Johnson is. I think he’s more of a Matt Duchene type leader — lead by example until he has enough age and experience to lead off the ice as well. (Nate, that may mean doing your own laundry and paying your own bills — sorry.)
With the idea of Nathan MacKinnon leading by example, let’s look at some of his top moments — in just three years, he’s already had some memorable ones.
Next: Draft
Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Nathan MacKinnon is congratulated by Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy after being introduced as the number one overall pick to the Colorado Avalanche during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
Draft
The Colorado Avalanche selected Nathan MacKinnon first overall in the 2013 NHL draft. That alone makes this a noteworthy moment in his career — only one player a year gets that honor.
However, that also marked the first time the Avalanche had had the first-overall selection. Prior to that they had #2, choosing Gabriel Landeskog, and #3, choosing Matt Duchene.
Another thing that makes that draft noteworthy is who selected him. The heroes of the Colorado Avalanche Golden Age, Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy, had returned to the team as management. Avs Nation saw this as a return to the glory of years past — and MacKinnon was a part of it.
The road has been bumpy. However, MacKinnon did go on to win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year that season, so we all saw how the Colorado Avalanche could be great again.
Jun 24, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche poses with the trophy during the 2014 NHL Awards ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
Feb 5, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (52) fight early in the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
First Fight
Needless to say, Nathan MacKinnon is a skill player, not an enforcer or even “energy player.” However, he has a power forward style to him.
During his rookie year, St. Louis Blues captain David Backes mistook MacK for the prize steer at the rodeo. He dropped his gloves and jumped on our young rookie, taking him down before Nate even knew what was happening.
That doesn’t count as his first fight. Instead, MacKinnon learned from leaders Jarome Iginla and, of course, Cody McLeod how to fight in the NHL. In his second season, he put those new skills to work against the most hated team in Colorado Avalanche history — the Detroit Red Wings. Specifically, he fought a legit “energy player” — Jonathan Ericsson:
No, MacK did not win that fight. And he hasn’t scrapped since. However, Nathan MacKinnon made a statement with that fight — no one was taking advantage of him ever again.
Next: Hat Trick vs Sharks
Hat Trick vs San Jose Sharks
Just after Christmas in 2015, Nathan MacKinnon gifted the Colorado Avalanche. He scored his second career hat trick, against the San Jose Sharks:
By then MacK was an aging veteran — he wasn’t even a teenager anyone and was in the midst of his third NHL season!
The hat trick came during a time when the Avalanche were making a push for playoff contention. They needed their best players showing up, and that’s what Nathan did.
MacK had been slumping prior to that — for 15 games, specifically. However, once they started coming, they didn’t stop. He scored two power play goals and then capped it off with an empty netter.
That’s killer instinct — that’s what we want to see more of in the future.
Next: Hat Trick vs Tampa Bay Lightning
First NHL Hat Trick
Nathan MacKinnon’s first NHL hat trick came during his so-called sophomore slump. As with the second, he achieved it in a time when the Colorado Avalanche were still technically gunning for a playoff spot.
MacKinnon was 19 years and 5 months when he scored the hat trick against the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 22, 2015. That made him the youngest player to score a hat trick in franchise history. It was also the first time a player had gotten one in 4 1/2 years — since Matt Duchene on November 4, 2011. (That was 258 games.)
Also as with the second, his hat trick ended a scoring drought — a 13-gamer this time.
Nathan officially has twice as many hat tricks as Matt Duchene now with two. He also has twice as many as Chicago Blackhawks sniper Patrick Kane, and that should tell you something.
Next: Ankle Breaker
Ankle Breaking Goal
Everyone has a favorite Nathan MacKinnon goal — the kid has 61 to choose from in his three-year NHL career.
How about that time MacKinnon flew past the New York Islander defensemen like they were standing still?
That speed! MacK was really showing the world what he could do with the rockets in his skates.
Of course, you’ve got to love an overtime winner against the (hated) Minnesota Wild:
I especially love the Colorado Avalanche’s elated celebration — and the Wild’s dejection — in this goal video.
However, it’s the skill in his only other NHL playoff goal that makes this my favorite:
You see all of Nathan MacKinnon’s gifts in motion. With his speed he beats three Minnesota Wild players — including Zach Parise! He then stick handles with such artistry that he “breaks the ankles” of a fourth Wild player, Jared Spurgeon, causing him to just fall down. The fifth player, Nate Prosser, looks on stupidly as MacKinnon fires a deadly accurate shot past goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who had no chance.
The fight and compete level combined with pure skill — that’s what Nathan MacKinnon needs to bring to the table with his new status as the soon-to-be highest paid player on the Colorado Avalanche. That’s how he leads, even at his tender young age. That’s what can lead the team back into the playoffs where they belong.
