Scoring talent Nathan MacKinnon notches 500th assist
By Scott Cole
If there is one thing every hockey player dreams of, it’s getting to play on the biggest stage in hockey by being selected by an NHL Team. Even current NHL video games have their “Be a Pro Career” mode where gamers can create their own player and live out the dream from the comfort of their house. Not many get the opportunity to play in the NHL as actual professional athletes and only a handful of those selected in the NHL Entry Draft each year can reach elite level status. Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was one of those kids, and now lok where he is at.
Out of 211 players drafted during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, only 105 of those players have played at least one game at the NHL level. Nathan MacKinnon was the Colorado Avalanche’s 1st overall pick that year after winning the draft lottery. He has since become the first player from this draft class to net 500 assists and has minimal competition at being the best of the draft class. There are several players from that draft class who are playing well: Aleksandar Barkov, Bo Horvat, Sean Monahan, Valeri Nichuskin, Andre Burakovsky, Rasmus Ristolainen, and many others.
MacKinnon moved into 4th in franchise history for total assists, sitting behind some of the biggest names to have ever graced the ice for the franchise. Joe Sakic played 20 years, all of them with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise and dished out 1,016 assists in that span. Peter Stastny played 15 years and logged a total of 789 assists. Sitting only 38 assists ahead of MacKinnon is Peter Forsberg, whose 13 years in the NHL were cut short due to continuous ankle issues. He still managed to put 538 assists on the score sheet to place himself amongst some of the best in franchise history and is well remembered by Avalanche fans as one of the best to wear the burgundy and blue.
Avs fans should consider themselves blessed to have a former player like Joe Sakic in their front office, as his loyalty to the organization has probably convinced several players like MacKinnon and Landeskog that remaining with the team long-term can have a positive impact on their careers and the overall success of the team. That patience was awarded with a Stanley Cup at the end of the 2021-2022 season. While hard to imagine, not having someone like Sakic present in the front office could have resulted in a much different outcome after early contracts expired.
Nathan MacKinnon will undoubtedly go down in franchise history as one of the best. And if he looks to play as long as Mr. Sakic in an Avs sweater, we can try to root MacKinnon on to accomplishing the second 1,000 assist total in franchise history. For now, we can turn our attention to upcoming milestones. Nathan MacKinnon needs 12 points to tie Milan Hejduk for fourth all-time in franchise points. Another milestone to monitor is Cale Makar as he looks to become the franchise leader in goals scored by a defenseman. Tyson Barrie currently holds that honor with 75 goals, but in his fifth year of NHL action, Cale Makar looks to take control of that title needing only three goals to tie and a fourth goal to take sole possession.
The Colorado Avalanche entered their second player phase when they drafted Nathan MacKinnon. The additions over the years and savvy trades have made this team a joy to watch and a powerhouse in the NHL not located on the East or West Coast. With the passion and drive that MacKinnon has for being the best, fans still have many years to come to see what kind of Avalanche legend Nathan truly becomes.