Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon has etched his name into the list of the greatest players of his generation. Gradually, he’s built an ironclad Hall of Fame career. But beyond the evident accolades and place in history, MacKinnon has been part of an era-defining moment in NHL history.
A piece by The Athletic’s Sean McIndoe took a look at five seasons that defined era changes in NHL history. One stretch in particular, 2016-2017, was one McIndoe dubbed the “Dawn of the Three M’s.”
The three M’s in question are: Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon.
Each player has been an unquestionable superstar in his own right. McDavid has won numerous awards and accolades. Matthews has been a two-time 60-goal scorer and has all the requisite hardware for a Hall of Fame career.
The same can be said about MacKinnon. But there’s one thing that MacKinnon has that McDavid and Matthews don’t: A Stanley Cup.
Now, a disclaimer here. The lack of a Cup for McDavid and Matthews is not an indictment on their inability to win one. Hockey is a team sport, after all, and so, failing to win a Stanley Cup is a failure of the broader team and organization than the player himself.
That’s why MacKinnon’s Cup ring isn’t solely his doing. MacKinnon was part of a team that had a fantastic supporting cast and one of the best captains in NHL history.
Disclaimers aside, MacKinnon has helped define an era of NHL greatness. McDavid, Matthews, and MacKinnon helped transform hockey into today’s current era by delivering great, marketable stars. That’s something all major sports need. And the NHL is lucky to have three all-world talents leading the way.
MacKinnon and Avalanche teammates will be on display on world’s biggest stage
Some sports have premiere events that showcase their best talent. For instance, soccer has the FIFA World Cup. Baseball has been successful with the World Baseball Classic.
But other sports like basketball and hockey rely on another major platform: The Olympics. The idea of sending all-pro teams to the Olympics started in 1992 with the Dream Team. Since the NBA was in its offseason, it was easy to send a cadre of the best players in the league to Barcelona, Spain, to form a literal dream team.
The NHL followed suit a few years later at Nagano, Japan, in 1998. Since then, the NHL has used the Olympics as a major platform to showcase its best talent. Like the NBA, the NHL has had enormous success with the Olympics. The 2010 Vancouver Games were a testament to that.
In 2026, the Avalanche will have a chance to showcase their all-world talents. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews will be there for Team Canada. Scott Wedgewood or MacKenzie Blackwood could get an invite for the Canadian squad.
Brock Nelson could also reprise his role on Team USA. Gabriel Landeskog will suit up for Sweden, with Artturi Lehkonen representing Finland. Then, there’s Martin Necas. Czechia will no doubt salivate at the thought of pairing Necas with David Pastrnak.
Ultimately, the Colorado Avalanche have an opportunity to cement their legacy by sending the most number of players of any single NHL team. The only question left to answer will be which Avalanche players come home with a medal around their necks.