DENVER — Remember Nathan MacKinnon? The next great prodigy of the NHL, the kid from the same hometown as Sidney Crosby who would soon make No. 87 and others seem as outdated in the ranks of NHL superstars as that America Online CD-ROM still in the bottom of your desk drawer?
Everything went as scheduled in MacKinnon's rookie year with the Colorado Avalanche after the franchise took him with the top overall pick in the 2013 draft.
He won the Calder Trophy after a stellar 2013-14 season, helped lead the Avs to a Central Division title and posted seven points in his first two playoff games against Minnesota, which had everyone scurrying to look up the all-time playoff single-season scoring title.
The Avs blew the series after taking a 2-0 lead, but what a treat the next year would be with a stud like MacKinnon only bound to get better.
He came into the next training camp about 12 pounds heavier, but it was all muscle. In his first couple of practices, defenders trying to take the puck away bounced off him like pinballs off a juiced-up bumper. He looked quicker, too.
So ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Adrian Dater
Forgotten Phenom Nathan MacKinnon Trying to Regain Golden-Boy Status
November 3rd, 2015 by Adrian Dater Leave a reply »
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