MacKinnon was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and grew up playing in the minor ice hockey system of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.[6][7] As an atom aged player (under 11), MacKinnon recorded 200 points in 50 games.[8] When MacKinnon was 12 and 13, he played Bantam AAA for the Cole Harbour Red Wings, recording seasons of 110 and 145 points, respectively.[8] After these two seasons, MacKinnon enrolled at Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota.[9] MacKinnon chose to leave his hometown and attend the Minnesota boarding school because of the strength of its ice hockey program.[9] In his first season at Shattuck-Saint Mary's playing with the Bantam Tier I program, he scored 101 points in 58 games to finish second in team scoring.[10] For the 2010–11 season, MacKinnon joined the under-16 Midget program at the school. Despite being the team's second-youngest player, MacKinnon was averaging more than two points a game and was second in team scoring at the midway point of the season.[8] During the season, MacKinnon was named to the team that represented Nova Scotia in the ice hockey tournament at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.[11] At the tournament, MacKinnon scored eight goals and eleven points to finish fourth in tournament scoring as Nova Scotia finished in seventh place.[12] MacKinnon finished his second season at Shattuck-Saint Mary's with 93 points in 40 games played, and was second on the team with 45 goals scored.[13]
Heading into the 2011 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft, MacKinnon was widely regarded as the favourite to be selected first overall and was ranked by QMJHL Central Scouting as the best available player.[14] Despite this, MacKinnon spent the day of the draft skating with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), as he was considering playing either college ice hockey in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or major junior ice hockey in the QMJHL.[15] On June 4, 2011, MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the 2011 QMJHL Draft.[16] Because MacKinnon did not speak French, there was speculation that he would follow through with his option to play in the USHL until he was eligible for the NCAA, unless his rights were traded to a different QMJHL team.[17] On July 13, 2011, MacKinnon's rights were traded to the Halifax Mooseheads for Carl Gélinas, Francis Turbide, the Mooseheads' first round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 and the Quebec Remparts' first round draft pick in 2013, previously acquired by Halifax.[18] The Mooseheads had been attempting to acquire MacKinnon since Baie-Comeau was awarded the first overall pick in the 2011 draft.[19] MacKinnon scored his first QMJHL hat-trick on December 3, 2011, scoring five goals in a 6–4 victory over the Quebec Remparts.[20] In a league of 18- and 19-year-olds, MacKinnon was only 16 when he accomplished this. The opposing coach for the Remparts was his future coach with the Colorado Avalanche, NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy. With five goals in one game, he tied the Mooseheads record for the most goals in a single game held by Jason King.[21]
On May 26, 2013, MacKinnon led the Mooseheads to their first Memorial Cup championship. He was also named Most Valuable Player, scoring a tournament-best seven goals and six assists in four games, and earned a spot on the Tournament All-Star team.[22]
Colorado Avalanche (2013–present)
Early years, team and scoring difficulties (2013–2017)
On June 19, 2013, leading up to the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy, who owned the first overall selection, stated publicly that his team would select MacKinnon if the draft were held then, despite widespread speculation that the team was likely to select defenceman Seth Jones, who grew up in Denver, Colorado.[23] "It would be tough for us not to take MacKinnon," Roy told ESPN The Magazine. Roy also refused to rule out trading the pick.[24] On June 26, Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Richard Pracey said during a conference call that the team had MacKinnon in their sights. "As of today, we're leaning on Nathan MacKinnon," Pracey said.[25] On June 30, the Avalanche did indeed use their first overall pick in the draft to select MacKinnon (while Seth Jones was chosen fourth overall by the Nashville Predators.[26] MacKinnon was signed to his first NHL contract, a three-year entry-level deal, with the Avalanche on July 9.[27] MacKinnon made his NHL debut to begin the 2013–14 season on October 2, becoming the youngest hockey player to ever dress in a regular season game for the Colorado Avalanche franchise, registering two assists on two goals by Jamie McGinn in a 6–1 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks.[28] MacKinnon scored his first NHL goal October 12, against Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals during the second period at the Verizon Center.[29] As the season went on, MacKinnon's role increased, as he was placed on the top two offensive lines. He claimed his first NHL record in becoming the youngest player to record back-to-back two-goal games from January 4–6, 2014, beating Dale Hawerchuk's of the original Winnipeg Jets from 1981. MacKinnon later compiled a 13-game point streak from January 25 to March 6, surpassing Wayne Gretzky (who turned 19 during his first season having a January birthday) to have the longest scoring streak by an 18-year-old in NHL history.[30] MacKinnon finished the season appearing in all 82 games and led all rookies with 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points as the Avalanche finished the season as the second seed in the Western Conference to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2010. MacKinnon became just the third player in the NHL to record seven points in his first two playoff games with a goal and six assists in the first two contests against the seventh seeded Minnesota Wild in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs although the Avalanche would eventually fall to the Wild in seven games. On June 24, MacKinnon won the Calder Memorial Trophy for the rookie of the year, becoming the youngest player to ever win this trophy and third in Avalanche history behind Chris Drury and Gabriel Landeskog.[31] He was subsequently selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
MacKinnon with the Avalanche in November 2014.
MacKinnon recorded his first career NHL hat trick on February 22, 2015, in a 5–4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to become the youngest player in Avalanche history to record a hat trick.[32] MacKinnon would see his individual production drop having recorded 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 64 games for his sophomore NHL season and the Avalanche would struggle as a team having not qualifying for the playoffs.
During the 2015–16 season, MacKinnon recorded 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points in 72 games. Despite his increased productivity compared to the year prior, the Avalanche continued to struggle as a team as they missed the playoffs once more.
On July 8, 2016, MacKinnon as a restricted free agent re-signed with the Avalanche, agreeing to a seven-year, $44.1 million contract that averages $6.3 million per season.[33] On October 13, two days before the 2016–17 season started, MacKinnon was announced as an alternate captain for the Avalanche.[34] MacKinnon would be named to his first NHL All-Star Game on January 10, 2017, as the lone representative of the Avalanche.[35] MacKinnon ended the season playing in all 82 games with 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points as the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season and finished last place in the standings overall.[36]
Ascent to stardom, Hart Trophy, Stanley Cup championship (2017–present)
Prior to the 2017–18 season, MacKinnon hired a sports psychologist, which drastically helped him improve his play and emerge as one of the league's premier players.[37] On November 16, 2017, MacKinnon recorded his first career five-point game in a 6–2 win over the Washington Capitals having done so with a goal on Capitals' goaltender Philipp Grubauer and four assists on two goals by captain Gabriel Landeskog and goals by Colin Wilson and Mikko Rantanen, respectively.[38] He was again selected the following year for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.[39] MacKinnon was named the NHL's First Star of the Week for February 26–March 4, 2018, after scoring five goals, six assists, with four power play points, a +6 rating, and 31 shots in four games.[38] MacKinnon recorded his second career five-point game in a 7–1 win over the Minnesota Wild (scoring two goals on Wild' goaltender Devan Dubnyk and adding three assists on goals by Tyson Barrie, Matt Nieto and Mikko Rantanen) on March 2, 2018.[38] MacKinnon finished the season playing in 74 games with 39 goals and 58 assists for 97 points to help the Avalanche finish the season as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2014, when MacKinnon was rookie. In the 2018 playoffs, the Avalanche were defeated in the first round in six games by the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators.[40] MacKinnon recorded six points (three goals and three assists) in all six playoff games during the playoffs. On April 26, MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL's most outstanding player for the first time in his career which was eventually won by Edmonton Oilers forward captain Connor McDavid.[41] The following day he was named a Hart Memorial Trophy finalist for the first time in his career as the NHL's most valuable player in the regular season; the award was won by New Jersey Devils' forward Taylor Hall.
After finishing the 2018–19 season with 99 points (41 goals, 58 assists) in all 82 games played, one-point short of his first career 100-point season. After the Avalanche as a team clinched the eighth and final playoff spot in the West for the second straight season, MacKinnon and the Avalanche defeated the top seeded Calgary Flames in five games, marking the first time the Avalanche won a playoff series during MacKinnons tenure with the team.[42] After defeating the Flames in the opening round, MacKinnon and the Avalanche would eventually be defeated in the second round in seven games by the San Jose Sharks.[43] MacKinnon finished the 2019 playoffs with six goals and seven assists for 13 points in all 12 games played.
On January 7, 2020, MacKinnon played in his 500th NHL game in a 5–3 loss to the New York Rangers where he was able to record a goal on Rangers' goaltender Igor Shesterkin.[44] MacKinnon was on pace to record his first career 100-point season during the 2019–20 season until the last three weeks of the regular season got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, having 35 goals and 58 assists for 93 points at the time of the stoppage in March 2020. On September 11, MacKinnon won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. MacKinnon was also named a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award for the second time in his career which was eventually awarded to Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.[45][46]
After the COVID-shortened 2020–21 season, the Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy as the regular season champions and MacKinnon was named a finalist for both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award for the third time in his career with both awards eventually being given to Edmonton Oilers forward and captain Connor McDavid.[47]
On January 26, 2022, MacKinnon suffered a broken nose and a concussion after receiving a stick to his face by Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall, causing him to miss four games and the 2022 NHL All-Star Game.[48] MacKinnon finished the 2021–22 season with 32 goals and 56 assists for 88 points recorded in 65 games played while the Avalanche as a team fiished as the top seed in the Western Conference and the Presidents' Trophy runner-up being only behind the Florida Panthers. On June 26, MacKinnon won his first Stanley Cup championship with the Avalanche, defeating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion and fifth seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. MacKinnon led all skaters with 13 goals in the 2022 playoffs (tied with Evander Kane of the Edmonton Oilers). He also followed up with 11 assists for 24 points recorded in all 20 games played. His performance throughout the playoffs put MacKinnon in the spot as a potential candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP although the award eventually was given to Avalanche defenseman and teammate Cale Makar.[49]
On September 20, 2022, MacKinnon signed an eight-year, $100.8 million contract extension with the Avalanche.[50] The contract carries an average annual value of $12.6 million, the highest in league history. This record would be surpassed in August 2023 when Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews signed a deal with an AAV of $13.25 million.[51]
On December 5, 2023, MacKinnon recorded his 500th career assist on a Logan O'Connor goal in a 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks.[52] On December 21, MacKinnon scored his 300th career goal and seventh career hat-trick in a 6–4 win over the Ottawa Senators.[53] On April 18, 2024, MacKinnon notched two assists on goals by Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin, bringing him to an Avalanche-record 140 points. His 2023–24 season ended with MacKinnon playing in all 82 games with career highs in goals (51), assists (89) and points (140), finishing runner-up to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov for the Art Ross Trophy by four points as the leading point scorer.[54] On June 27, MacKinnon was declared the winner of the Ted Lindsay Award by the NHL Players' Association, beating out fellow finalists Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively.[55] Additionally, he was also the recipient for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the regular season's most valuable player, beating out the other two finalists of Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid, respectively.[56]
MacKinnon's first experience with Hockey Canada came when he was named to the Canada Atlantic team for the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[57] Despite being the second-youngest player at the tournament, MacKinnon scored five goals and eight points in only five games to finish seventh in tournament scoring.[8][58] This included a game in which he scored two goals and two assists to be named player of the game as Canada Atlantic defeated Finland 4–3.[59] His impressive play helped Canada Atlantic to its best finish since the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, defeating Canada West 2–1 in the fifth place game.[60] The following year, MacKinnon was named to the Canada Atlantic team for the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ontario.[61]
At the 2015 World Championships, where Canada won the gold medal for the first time since 2007 with a perfect 10-0 record, MacKinnon finished the tournament with 4 goals and 5 assists.[63]
MacKinnon was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, where he placed first in team points to help Canada win a silver medal.[64]
MacKinnon has appeared in a recurring role (along with former Halifax Mooseheads teammate Cameron Critchlow) on the Canadian television show Mr. D, playing a fictionalized version of himself. He first appeared in season 2 episode 4, when he and a teammate have to leave an exam early to play in a school hockey game. When the teammates tell Mr. D (portrayed by Gerry Dee) that they did not finish the exam, he tells them to take it home and return it completed the next day.[69] In season 3 episode 7, he is in detention for missing too much school to play hockey. Mr. D is oblivious to his talent and reprimands him ("Hockey's not a job"), although it is implied that, in the show's timeline, this takes place before the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, where MacKinnon was drafted first overall, despite airing in 2014. In season 4 episode 11, MacKinnon returns to give tickets to an Avalanche game to the school principal. When Mr. D enters the room a moment later, he calls MacKinnon "Mr. Calder" and tells him that he always believed in him. When Mr. D. asks for tickets to a game, MacKinnon tells him that all the games, including those in the exhibition and the following season, are sold out.[70]
He, along with fellow Nova Scotian and NHL player Sidney Crosby, have appeared in a series of Tim Hortons commercials produced for YouTube.[72] During his career, MacKinnon has turned to Crosby for inspiration, including the 2019 playoffs.[73]
^Willy Palov (August 9, 2012). "Mooseheads called to the show". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
^"Hockey boys return". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
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