Nathan MacKinnon (born 1.9.1995) is Canadian ice hockey center. He has been playing in the NHL since 2013 and he has played his whole NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche. He is currently an alternate captain of the Avalanche. Many hockey experts though that MacKinnon is currently one of the best players in the NHL.

Early Hockey Career

At Junior level, Nathan MacKinnon played two seasons (2007-09) with Cole Harbour Wings and another two seasons with Shattuck-Saint Mary’s (2009-11). Nathan MacKinnon entered QMJHL draft in 2011 – he was widely regarded as the favorite to be selected first overall. On 4.6.2011, MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Bale-Comeu Drakkar. Because MacKinnon did not speak French, he wanted to play another team and he was traded to the Halifax Mooseheads.

MacKinnon played two seasons with the Mooseheads and 2013, MacKinnon led the Mooseheads to their first Memorial Cup championships – he scored seven goals and six assists in four games and was named Most Valuable Player of Memorial Cup. On 30.6.2013, Nathan MacKinnon was drafted 1st overall at the 2013 NHL draft by Colorado Avalanche. On 9.7.2013, MacKinnon signed three-year entry level contract with the Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnon played his first ever professional game on 2.10.2013 against Anaheim Ducks – he scored two assists in that game and became the youngest hockey player to ever dress in regular season game for the Avalanche. His first season was very good – he played in all 82 games and led rookies with 63 (24+39) points. MacKinnon won the Calder Trophy for the Rookie of the year after the season – he was the youngest player to ever win the Calder Trophy. On 8.7.2016, MacKinnon re-signed MacKinnon to a seven-year contract extension. On 13.10.2016, MacKinnon was named as an alternate captain for the Avalanche. MacKinnon played his first NHL All-Star Game on 10.1.2017 – after that he has been named every year to the All-Star Game.

After season 2017-18, MacKinnon was nominated for Ted Lindsay Award (won by Connor McDavid) and Hart Memorial Trophy (won by Taylor Hall). Nathan McKinnon is currently one of the best players of the NHL and big part of rising success of Colorado Avalanche. He has made over 90 points in past three seasons and he has been top10 at scoring in NHL, every of those three seasons.

International Hockey

Nathan MacKinnon started to play significant role in NHL so young that he has not been played very much international games at junior level. He has been played once in World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (2013) – but Canada was only 5th that year. MacKinnon was selected in the 2015 and 2017 IIHF World Championships. 2015 he won gold medal and 2017 silver medal with Team Canada.