Nathan MacKinnon, Leadership
Some people are just natural leaders, and Erik Johnson is one of them. I’ve noted for years how easily he leads. I’ve watched him mentoring younger players, especially fellow defensemen, and be a liaison between officials and the team — and this was before he was wearing a letter. Apparently he’s also quite a force in the locker room.
Gabriel Landeskog is another natural leader, but I’m satisfied he’s playing his role to the hilt. What I’d like to see is for fellow alternate captain Nathan MacKinnon to take on more of a leadership role.
I admit, I’ve never seen MacKinnon as a natural leader, certainly not like Johnson. However, he’s the team’s best player, so he leads by example. Our Nate isn’t the most articulate. However, as the best player on the team, he’s got some clout. He needs to pick up his leadership skills for sure — even if that includes some criticism.