Nathan MacKinnon

At 29 years old, Nathan MacKinnon has this physical status:

Nathan Raymond MacKinnon (born September 1, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

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Playing career

MacKinnon was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and grew up playing in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia,'s minor ice hockey system. MacKinnon earned 200 points in 50 games as an atom age player (under the age of 11). When MacKinnon was 12 and 13, he was playing Bantam AAA for the Cole Harbour Red Wings, scoring seasons of 110 and 145 points respectively. MacKinnon spent two seasons with Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. Because of the strength of Minnesota's ice hockey program, MacKinnon left his hometown and attended the Minnesota boarding school. He scored 101 points in 58 games, placing second in team scoring in his first season with Shattuck-Saint Mary's Bantam Tier I program. MacKinnon was enrolled in the school's under-16 Midget program for the 2010–11 season. Despite being the team's second-youngest player, MacKinnon was averaging more than two points per game and was second in team scoring at the midway point of the season. MacKinnon was named to the Nova Scotia squad that represented Nova Scotia in the 2011 Canada Winter Games during the ice hockey tournament. MacKinnon finished fifth in tournament scoring at the tournament, despite finishing in seventh place. MacKinnon finished second in his second season with 93 points in 40 games played, and second on the team with 45 goals.

MacKinnon was widely considered the favorite to be selected first overall in the 2011 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft and was rated as the best available player by QMJHL Central Scouting. Despite this, MacKinnon spent the day of the draft hockey with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) as he considered playing either college ice hockey (NCAA) or major junior ice hockey in the QMJHL. In the 2011 QMJHL Draft, MacKinnon came first overall by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Since MacKinnon did not speak French, there was rumors that he would continue to play in the USHL until he was eligible for the NCAA, unless his rights were transferred to a different QMJHL team. MacKinnon's rights were transferred to the Halifax Mooseheads for Carl Gélinas, Francis Turbide, the Mooseheads' first round draft pick in 2012 and 2013 and the Quebec Remparts' first round draft pick in 2013, which had previously been purchased by Halifax. Since Baie-Comeau was given the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, the Mooseheads had been trying to buy MacKinnon. MacKinnon scored five goals in a 6–4 victory over the Quebec Remparts on December 3, 2011, his first QMJHL hat-trick. MacKinnon was only 16 years old when he started this league, and he was only 19 years old. Patrick Roy, the Remparts' future coach, was his future coach with the Colorado Avalanche, NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy. With five goals in a single game played by Jason King, he tied for the most goals in a single game played by the Mooseheads.

The Mooseheads captured their first Memorial Cup title on May 26, 2013. He also earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star team, scoring a tournament-best seven goals and six assists in four games.

Despite widespread rumors that the team was likely to select defenceman Seth Jones, who grew up in Denver, Colorado, on June 24, 2013, coach Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted the first overall pick, said openly that if the draft were held then. According to ESPN The Magazine, Roy said, "it will be impossible for us not to take MacKinnon." Roy has also refused to rule out selling the pick. During a conference call on June 26, 2013, Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Richard Pracey revealed that the team had MacKinnons on their radar. "We're leaning on Nathan MacKinnon as of today," Pracey said. The Avalanche used their first overall pick in the draft to select MacKinnon on June 30, 2013.

On July 9, 2013, MacKinnon signed with the Avalanche for his first NHL deal, a three-year entry level contract. MacKinnon played in his NHL debut on October 2, 2013, becoming the youngest hockey player to play in a regular season game for the Colorado Avalanche franchise after winning 6–1 over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. During the second period at the Verizon Center, MacKinnon scored his first NHL goal against Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals on October 12, 2013.

MacKinnon's role as a top-two offensive line increased throughout the season. He set his first NHL record in defeating the original Winnipeg Jets of 1981, beating Dale Hawerchuk's of the Winnipeg Jets from 1981. MacKinnon won a 13-game point streak from January 25 to March 6, defeating Wayne Gretzky (who turned 19 during his first season) to have the longest scoring streak in NHL history. MacKinnon played in all 82 games during the regular season and led all rookies with 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points. In the first two games against the Minnesota Wild in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, MacKinnon became the third player in the NHL to record seven points in his first two playoff games, with a goal and six assists. MacKinnon won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the rookie of the year on June 24, 2014, becoming the youngest player to win this award and third in Avalanche history behind Chris Drury and Gabriel Landeskog. He was later selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

In a 5–4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 22, 2015, MacKinnon recorded his first NHL hat trick in his career. He is the first player in Avalanche history to win a hat trick.

MacKinnon, a restricted free agent, resigned with the Avalanche on July 8, 2016, a seven-year, $44.1 million deal that averages $6.3 million per season. MacKinnon was named as an alternate captain for the Avalanche later this season.

MacKinnon will play in his first NHL All-Star Game on January 10, 2017, as the Colorado Aval's lone representative. He was also selected for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game the following year.

MacKinnon employed a sports psychologist, which helped him improve his game and make him one of the league's best players before the 2017-18 season. After scoring five goals, six assists, and 31 shots in four games, MacKinnon was voted the NHL's First Star of the Week from February 26 to March 4, with four power play points, a +6 rating, and 31 shots in four games. MacKinnon scored two goals and four assists against the Minnesota Wild on March 2, his second consecutive five-point night (the previous being a goal and four assists against the Capitals earlier in the season). MacKinnon was nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award on April 26, 2018 as the NHL's Most Valuable Player. He was named as the NHL's Most Valuable Player on the following day by Hart Memorial Trophy finalists; the New Jersey Devils' forward Taylor Hall was named as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.

MacKinnon won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on September 11, 2020, which is given to the "player" who has demonstrated the highest level of play ability and demonstrated the best combination of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.

MacKinnon won his first Stanley Cup championship with the Avalanche on June 26, 2022. In the 2022 playoffs, MacKinnon led all skaters with 13 goals (tied with Evander Kane).

MacKinnon completed an eight-year, $100.8 million contract extension with the Avalanche on September 20, 2022. The deal has an annual value of $12.6 million, the highest in league history.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

Acting career

MacKinnon has appeared on several television shows (along with former Halifax Mooseheads teammate Cameron Critchlow) in a recurring role. He appeared in season 2 episode 4, when he and a teammate had to leave an exam early to participate in a school hockey tournament. When the teammates inform Mr. D (played by Gerry Dee) that they did not finish the exam, he tells them to return it and return it complete the next day. In season 3 episode 7, he is in jail for missing too much school to play hockey. Mr. D is ignorant of his potential and reprimands him ("Hockey's not a job"), but it is implied that this takes place prior to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, where MacKinnon was drafted first overall and airing in 2014. MacKinnon is back to give tickets to an Avalanche game to the school principal in season 4 episode 11. As Mr. D. enters the room a moment later, he calls MacKinnon "Mr. Calder" and tells him that he has always believed in him. MacKinnon informs Mr. D. that all the games, including those in exhibition and the following season, are sold out.

MacKinnon has also appeared in Trailer Park Boys, season 11 episode 7 at Ricky's ball hockey camp. He appeared in a voice acting role in Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series season 1 episode 3 depicting himself.

He, along with fellow Nova Scotian and NHL player Sidney Crosby, have appeared in a string of Tim Hortons commercials made for YouTube. MacKinnon has leaned on Crosby for inspiration, including the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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