Nathan MacKinnon
Center, 6-foot, 195 pounds
Let’s get right to it: With the total package, including great speed, much more is expected from the No. 1 pick from the 2013 draft. Aside from an excusable fleeting confidence given his age (20), there’s no reason MacKinnon can’t reach 30 goals and 80 points regularly. But MacKinnon, like the Avs, has regressed since the 2013-14 season, when the the 18-year-old won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year after Colorado enjoyed a 112-point season. MacKinnon scored 24 goals in a full 82-game season as a rookie, but was limited to 14 goals in 64 games last season and 21 goals in 72 games this season. He has finished on the injured list his past two years, missing the final 10 games this year with a knee injury. Bottom line: MacKinnon has lost his touch and his confidence. It’s up to his mental toughness and his coaches to help him break out of it and reach his Patrick Kane-like potential.
Season highlight: MacKinnon had two goals and an assist Nov. 14 in a 6-1 victory at Montreal — helping hand the Canadiens (13-3-2) their first regulation loss at home.
Season lowlight: He was minus-3 in San Jose’s 4-3 comeback victory over the Avs on Nov. 1 in Denver.
The future: MacKinnon’s three-year, entry-level contract has expired and he is a restricted free agent (RFA). He will sign a short-term “bridge” deal with another RFA tag at the end of it or a long-term contract with big money that takes him into unrestricted free agency. Given that he’s a work in progress, a bridge deal is more likely. He’s not going anywhere.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
