If there was one word to describe Nathan MacKinnon, it would be intense. From the way he acts, to the way he skates, to way the shoots, and just the way he plays hockey in general, everything is done 110%.
As an avs fan I'm so greatful with the talent we have. To have a number 1 overall pick turn out to be this dominant is very fortunate! Not to mention Makar at 4 and Rantannen at 10. The way these guys play is so special and we're lucky to have them. 3 of the top 10 players in the league in my book. Go Avs!
bro i was at the game today in philly - 4-POINT NIGHT THAT MAN IS INSANE. literally worried every time the guy just simply stick handles or enters the zone really fast
I love that whereas players like McDavid and Makar make things look easy, Nate does the opposite. He attacks the ice, attacks the puck, brutalizes other players physically, and capitalizes on whatever the best chance is to get the puck in the back of the net. It just looks ferocious and pissed off at all times. Dangerous to have a guy who grinds like a 3rd liner but gets more points than anyone else in the league
Omg I was there too and it just went nuts! It would have been perfect had they won the game on that goal for the game winner to send us to the WCF but freaking St Louis had to tie it
Partly because he’s surrounded by a ton of other top end talent and partly because he’s just gotten better and better each year and is having his best season by a country mile. As a fan that’s watched close to every game he’s ever played in burgundy, it’s been a pleasure getting to watch the progression. He played too “quick” early in his career and once the NHL game slowed down for him, he lost the “quick” and turned it into controlled freight train speed. His passing got monumentally better and that balance along with his ability to score goals let the beast out.
As a flyers fan, he's the kind of player I want on my team. Him and anze Kopitar are my two favorite players who aren't flyers. Just an incredible talent, and I love how he can go around you, or through you.
A huge piece of the story was left out. After that abismal season, the Avs took all off-season looking for a trade. Finally, come November of the 17-18 season, they made the blockbuster Matt Duchene trade. He was their star center that hadn't impressed enough. This allowed MacKinnon to be the star and get first line Center minutes (before they tried him on the wing). This was the season that he broke out into the player he is today and when the Avs started making the playoffs
You can't discount the impact Rantanen had on the success of the team and MacKinnon alike. They had a great synergy and pushed each other to blow up starting in Rantanen's second season.
Selfless teammate. After five points and two goals , he’s skating for an empty net and hat trick. Instead of dumping it in, he passes behind him to his teammate and allowed him to get his first career hat trick. He’s the kind of guy you dream about leading your team. If the Avs can get a goalie at the deadline, people better watch out for the Avs
Went to the Avs-Stars game here in Dallas recently. Since I’m a diehard Avs fan I go every time they come here. I’ve never seen MacK go off in person like he did that night. He was 10x faster than everyone else on the ice and that set up for the perfect finish in OT. I know he’s been absolutely amazing the last few years, but it seems like he’s on ANOTHER gear this year.
His anger is why he will be better than McDavid when it matters the playoffs. Same reason why Patrick Roy will always be the goalie of choice if you were building an all-time playoff roster. Roy was angry and while brodeur put up bigger numbers in the regular season, Roy's will to win was unmatched. Great Video
@@tobinkern5389 if i have to give you evidence to say mcdavid is better than mackinnon thats pretty sad… u shouldn’t even watching hockey at this point
As an Avs fan, I can't even imagine the things he'll accomplish in his career. McDavid has speed. Mackinnon has speed, intensity, and physicality. Absolutely incredible player and a privilege to watch every other night.
@@majonix9433 look at what stats? Mackinnon is a perennial conference champ and a Stanley Cup winner. McDavid is a perennial wild card contender that falls apart against whenever the Avs come to town.
I mean, McDavid is those things too. But for all the chosen one talk about McDavid, for all the way he can win games here and there on his own... People still aren't giving MacKinnon his due. Mackinnon is a more ferocious player. But more importantly, MacKinnon seems better at dragging his team along with him, at dragging his teammates to play that bit harder. McDavid is Edmonton's captain. But there is a reason MacKinnon isn't Colorado's captain. He's not quite the leadership type. He's got too much fury in him. He's a good team mate, but he's moody, and temperamental. A good guy... But he'll bite if he's on one, ya know? He's the burning heart of the Colorado Avalanche in a way that McDavid isn't for Edmonton.
@@placentalsauteavalanche won the stanley cup, not just mackinnon. Cale makar played great in the stanley cup run. Makar played so good that he got the finals MVP over mackinnon.
Given the choice as a GM between the two, I’d take Mac over Mc everytime. McDavid generally nets more points, but MacKinnons points always seem to come when you need them most. Should call him MacKlutch.
Bruins fan here. I love to see players succeed. The more skill in the game, the better. Which is why I was so bummed out when he and his team had their down years. because for a player of such massive promise that he seemed to initially deliver on, he was starting to look like a bust. I can't tell you how amazing and happy I am to see him shredding the whole league (being in the West i don't mind as much). Hope this guy gets more Cups and accolades.
Fantastic video. The more I watch Mackinnon, the more he becomes my favorite player. Guy is always balls to the wall hustling and flying past guys. Every shift, play, shot, you name it, has 1000% intensity behind it. He looks like he’s always playing angry. I love it.
Great edit man. A couple details to show his burst onto the higher level in the 17-18 season. Once Matt Duchene was moved it allowed Mack to have no log jam on the front center position giving him more time with the top skill guys and he really took that energy and ran with it. He also started seeing a sports psychologist to help with his mental focus which he credits for him flipping his script from his down years where he's said he was worried about being a bust. And as someone who has been watching him intently for a decade now, he has been arguably the best player on the planet since the finals. His overall full game at 5 on 5 and commitment to win makes him the cornerstone that I would chose, we're beyond blessed to have him. Go Avs and here's to hoping he's got three individual regular season trophies coming his way.
As an avs fan it's great to see him getting the respect he deserves, but I also gotta point this out, if you watch Mackinnon and forsberg side by side highlight these guys are unbelievably similar, powerful, angry playmaker goal scores with a whole different level of intensity
He is not a deceptive player in the way some are. With Nate, you know exactly what his move is beforehand. You know it is going to be hard and fast. And yet, no one is truly prepared for just how hard and how fast. He expands our ideas about what is actually possible on the ice. I think that all great athletes share this quality. I am so grateful.
I actually won an autographed jersey by Mack at a Victoria Royals game lol like was even advertised and only reason I went was it's a team we don't see very often. But when I saw it on the table for silent auction I was winning that damn thing lol and he's just a different beast this year. God aren't I grateful he's on the Avs lol
I’m not an Avalanche fan but he is my favorite player in the league to watch. It’s the first time I’m older than a professional athlete who I’m in awe of/look up to…weird feeling! Life moves pretty fast….Nathan MacKinnon moves even faster!
I literally had chills this entire video! He's such a selfless player and a great leader. I remember he was asked if Landeskog doesn't come back will he be Captain? He said, "I don't want to be Captain. Landy is our Captain." Anyway, Great video!
I’m from Halifax and used to go his games. Everyone knew he was going far. I’ve had a couple interactions with him and he’s just one of the boys. Happy to see this.
As a hardcore Avalanche (and MacKinnon) fan I enjoyed and appreciated this video, but would pick a small bone or two. It is not true that "there was only one guy to look at" to explain Colorado's dramatic improvement after the abysmal experience of 2016-17. Since the arrival of Mikko Rantanen (the only Av to score 20 goals during the dreadful 48-point season) and the resurgence of team captain Gabriel Landeskog, a chemistry with MacKinnon began to gel that yielded major results. Also, the excellent coaching of Jared Bednar - now the winningest coach in franchise history - must be factored in. In the playoffs that year the Avs put up a very respectable fight against highly favored Nashville and did not go out with a whimper. The ship had been righted, and things continued to build until it culminated in a Cup in 2021-22.
you showed that sick goal vs the blues like 5 times but the fact that after scoring that goal the av's choked away that lead and amazing performance by nate only to lose in overtime was absolutely devastating. i was ready for them to lose in the second round again. thank god for darren helm.( end ej for busting his ass up the ice even though there was only like 5 seconds left)
Congrats on making what is now one of my favorite videos ever made. Reliving the Avs’ full journey to the top of the mountain in just 11 minutes is epic. And telling it through the story of the hottest player in the NHL right now is perfect. I’ll be back many more times to watch
Probably my favorite athlete of all time. Great video mane, Nate has so much potential now he’s in his pocket. I feel like hockey won’t ever see anything like it once he’s finished
Avs have a complete team again this year, without too many key injuries at playoff time. I'd love to see the Oilers make a run again this year and run into them in the Conference finals, I see some signs of that fire they had. But the Oilers, no one will believe in them this year, that isn't a Homer. They are bound to run into a motivated Knights or Avs team, or both. Better teams.
Man I love Nate. Was excited to have him on the radar for the Avs #1 pick and then to see him flourish into the player he is now haws been wild. That interview after losing to Vegas in the 2nd round really revealed how competitive he is. The analogy with Kobe is legit - talent plus relentless work and effort. He will never be satisfied, is always hungry for more and that is a force that every team in existence wants in their players. Let's Go Avs!
Small correction, the Avs pretty much turned over their entire bottom six after the season that shal not be named by calling up prospects and signing college and European free agents. They also picked up a few good players like Nieto and Nemeth on waivers. Otherwise great video!
With all due respect to Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, I think MacKinnon is the best forward to ever lace em up for Colorado. Mac has Super Joe’s shot, speed and leadership. Mac also has Peter’s playmaking and physicality. Nathan MacKinnon is the total package.
Sidney, Nathan, Brad, Al McInnis, Bobby Smith Lowell MacDonald, Alex Killorn, Art Hafey, Clyde Gray, Ann Murray etc - Nova Scotia produces more talent per capita. then anywhere in the world
@@WayneMacKinnon yep! And don't forget that the MooseHeads produce some of the best hockey players (including goalies) both from Canada and abroad. Going to a Mooseheads game is like going to an AHL game, and sometimes it's better! Super proud to be from Nova Scotia!
What changed was that Joe traded Duchene and kept Landeskog. He kept one of the greatest leaders in the NHL and got rid of one of the biggest locker room cancers while simultaneously removing all doubt that the team was MacKinnon's not Duchene's.
People can debate who's better, Mackinnon or McDavid all day. Bottom line is which guy is more exciting and makes you jump out of your seat when he scores. Answer every time is Mackinnon. Most exciting player in hockey today hands down.
He feels like prime Malkin with how he drives offense. He drives into the offensive zone with tremendous speed and power. His ability and transitional play reminds me so much of how Malkin would just go end to end and score dangling and simply being better.
The playoffs "struggles" were not really a conversation until 2021. -2019 they smoked the Flames in 5 games as the 8 seed, then lost in 7 in SJ by 1 goal in a game Mac got injured and included a controversial disallowed game tying goal in the 3rd. - 2020 they win in 5 again in R1 before half the roster got injured vs DAL. They erased a 3-1 series deficit with their 3rd goalie and lose in OT of game 7 -2021 They sweep the Blues in R1 then blow a 2-0 series lead to VGK. -2022 They win the cup. They had one bad series in 3 years, but since they had lost in R2 three straight years it, became a talking point. Mac, Rantanen and Makar were phenomenal in the playoffs each year, so it was never an issue of underperforming.
That call on Landeskog not getting on the bench fast enough negating the tying goal against SJ was infuriating. In the Dallas OT loss, Kadri over skates a puck leading to Kiviranta's goal. Both so painful.
@@alangil40 So painful! To this day, I've never seen a replay showing Landy clearly offside. It was as mindboggling as it was devastating that they overturned that goal.
In my mind Nate is always the true '17-18 Hart winner despite them giving it to Hall. Also, the Avs playoff "failures" are always misrepresented. They choked right away in the 1st round during 2014, but had a lot of young players. Their first time back in 2018 they faced the Presidents trophy winners whose goalie was the Vezina recipient and actually gave them a good fight, no one expected them to steal a game much less 2. In 2019 they faced the top seed in the West and absolutely dominated them, then lost next round in game 7 to the Sharks but had a questionable call negating a goal that would've made it go into OT. In 2020 the special format because of Covid made them not get the no.1 seed despite having 6pts more than Vegas. Colorado ended up losing to Dallas in the 2nd round but it took until OT in game 7 despite being down 3-1. They lost in the 2nd round in 2021 despite being up 2-0 with dominant wins, but this year was also a special format and had them facing a team that was tied with them in points for the Presidents cup, most any other year the top 2 teams wouldn't be able to face each other until the Conference Finals or the Cup Finals.
I hope so, but I feel the Landeskog injury costing 2 seasons if not more has already impacted that goal. With a healthy Landeskog they might have even won the Cup last year (especially if Nuke didn't mysteriously leave the team).
He says he doesnt feel different. But he is. He's changed as a leader and a player. As a winner, He knows when to push and when to shove and that should scare everyone even more
I want an international best on best so I can watch Canada play McKinnon McDavid Crosby. Even if that's not a set line, to see those three on the ice at the same time even for a minute would be awesome.
To say he's the most intense player is not an understatement but there are probably 50-60 nhl players who are as intense but just not as good. Most of these guys put everything on the line every night.
I can’t believe how fortunate Colorado has been with the Avalanche. The kind of talent they’ve had is usually reserved for big market, coastal cities. I love that it’s impossible to pick my favorite Av.
You should check out some of the players the Avs had in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They've had more talent than most big market coastal cities since moving to Denver.
That’s exactly my point! I was watching those teams! It feels good to have that constant culture of best players like the yankees and lakers have. Don’t get me started on the D-Town Pios
Nathan MacKinnon is an incredible player who will FOR SURE end up in the hall of fame. It’s just a shame that his career will always be overshadowed by McDavid.
I'm glad they didn't overreact after the 48 point season. They lost and drafted in the top 5 for a few years and built a monster, didn't skip any steps like the Maple Laughs
4:13 - It took me a while to figure out what the hell happened on that goal. All I saw as a stick go flying and then the puck is instantly in the back of the net. LOL.
Weird to watch just the scorings,not the great passes he is getting, because used to watching their great teamplay..Since Rantanen came in, and they had the perfect line-up, just then Colorado started the rise.
