He spent his first three seasons Michael Grabner Authentic Jersey playing primarily on the wing, but the move to center required him to
look for his linemates more, use them to create instead of trying to use
his speed and lower-body strength to play a one-on-one game.
"We found a little bit of chemistry there with Mikko [Rantanen] and
[Sven] Andrighetto later on in the year," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar
said. "We saw them starting to work as a three-man unit."
Bednar had to ignore the numbers because MacKinnon's production was down
in the second half of last season (0.555 points per game in 36 games
after the All-Star break vs. 0.717 points per game in 46 games
pre-break) Mika Zibanejad Authentic Jersey and Colorado was on its way to finishing with 48 points, the fewest
earned in a season since the franchise relocated to Denver from Quebec
in 1995.
"People think he's not [elite] because he hasn't put up elite numbers,"
Bednar said. "Last year, maybe that was rightfully so in the first part
of the year, but I really think in the second part of the year he was
getting there. I think this year he's there."
MacKinnon has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the past six games.
His production is as much a result of being comfortable in his role as
it is him using his linemates, Rantanen and Avalanche captain Gabriel
Landeskog.
"Probably fair to say he Mike Gartner Authentic Jersey didn't have enough help around him [last season]," Bednar said. "With
our situation at times last year, it was easier to check him with one
line or two lines and a pair and make his job more difficult. As we
spend a little more time in the offensive zone we create a little more
o-zone starts for him and you see the numbers are starting to improve."
MacKinnon doesn't want to think about what his numbers might look like
at the end of the season, even though he's on pace to shatter his
previous career high of 63 points, which he had as a rookie in 2013-14,
when he won the Calder Trophy.
"I have a very process-orientated mind, so going into a game and
thinking about getting points, for me, doesn't work," MacKinnon said. "I
need to produce, but points come by playing well and that's what I'm
trying to do."
MacKinnon has more responsibility Mike Richter Authentic Jersey off the ice too. He's a big part of the Avalanche's leadership group
behind Landeskog; bigger now because center Matt Duchene was traded to
the Senators on Nov. 5.
MacKinnon and Duchene rotated as the alternate captain from the forward
group last season. He and defenseman Erik Johnson are the lone
alternates this season.
"I need to improve as a leader and keep taking on more responsibility,
but that comes with my on-ice play," MacKinnon said. "That's how I'm
going to lead. Gabe is a good speaker and EJ [Johnson] talks. I like to
do my leading on the ice. Playing well, I think that'll get the boys
going."
It has gotten the rest of the League talking.
"Nate is going to push you when you're playing against him," Duchene
said. "His weapon is his wheels, and that's something you have to look
at. There are nights when you look across and you've got a good
challenge in front of you. It's the case with every team in this League.
Nate is [a challenge]."
