Nathan MacKinnon’s availability helped him produce like an all-time great

Nathan MacKinnon’s incredible hockey career can be divided into phases: The rise to number one draft phenom. The first NHL board. And then a step forward towards the star and the champion.

We have now entered Phase 4 of MacKinnon’s career, where he is an unstoppable force of nature and is building a legacy that could make him one of the greatest of all time. The key to unlocking this breathtaking streak of domination?

A reminder that availability is a very valuable capability.

When MacKinnon reached his potential as an MVP candidate and Stanley Cup champion, there was still one final hurdle to overcome. From 2017-23, MacKinnon often produced like an MVP…when he was available.

“You want to be a guy the team can count on,” MacKinnon said. “I was always a little hurt, which sucked. I felt like I wasn’t that guy. Obviously, I feel a little better now.

MacKinnon missed eight games in 2017-18 and finished second in Hart Trophy voting. He missed eight games in the shortened 2020-21 year and finished third.

He only played in 65 regular season games during the year he won the Stanley Cup. When he finally reached over 100 points in 2022-23 with 111, he still missed 11 games.

The all-time great season finally happened last year. MacKinnon won his first MVP and set a franchise record with 140 points. He also played in every game.

“It’s hard work for him off the ice,” Avs forward Mikko Rantanen said. “What he does, how he takes care of his body, all the extra things he does in the gym to make sure he doesn’t have any of the injuries that you can try to prevent. In some cases you just can’t do it, like the puck hits you or something. It’s just bad luck. But I think the biggest key for him is all the hard work.

The calendar just turned to 2025, and no player has been more dominant in 2023 and 2024 during the regular season than MacKinnon. From January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, MacKinnon had 278 points, 11 more than Connor McDavid and the most in the NHL. MacKinnon had 192 points at even strength, 26 more than second-place McDavid.

He was tied for second behind Auston Matthews’ 102 goals with 99. His 796 shots on goal were 32 more than David Pastrnak.

These are all great statistical achievements. The one who makes things happen for MacKinnon? He played 167 matches out of a possible 167.

“I hope you don’t jinx me,” he said. “I thought I had a lot of bad luck earlier in my career. It was just weird games, broken bones. It’s difficult, but it can obviously happen. It’s just the way our sport works. I’ve been lucky and I try to take care of myself as best I can off the ice.

MacKinnon’s style of play will always put him in danger. He’s not a 1990s-style power forward, but among modern superstars, he’s among the most physical and isn’t afraid to try to power through defenders rather than around them.

It’s also the amount of time he spends on the ice. MacKinnon’s work ethic and off-ice preparation routine have become an integral part of his story, almost mythical among his peers. That, coupled with a coach who isn’t afraid to double team him when necessary, allows him to log huge minutes for a forward.

“He’s just dedicated to making sure he feels as good as possible every day,” Avs defenseman Devon Toews said. “I think a lot of guys do too and have emulated what he brought to help a lot of us stay healthy and recover faster. You’ll never be 100% once you start the season, but as close as possible is as close as you can ask for.

“He’s definitely a good role model for our guys, guys who are just coming in and seeing what it takes to be great every day and the dedication it takes to play at this level.”

Two seasons ago, MacKinnon set a career high averaging 22:19 per game. Last season, when he played in the 82, he raised the bar again to 22:49.

The Avs will play Game 41 on Monday, and MacKinnon was averaging 23:03 per game heading into the club’s matchup against Montreal on Saturday.

“I think it’s important that players can stay healthy and still be proud of it,” Rantanen said. “You want to be available for your team and you get paid to be on the ice and play well. I think we’re proud of it and we want to do it every day.

MacKinnon’s availability helped him win the Hart Trophy a year ago, and it put him back in contention. He is also the NHL’s leading scorer and could win the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion for the first time.

But the most impressive number for MacKinnon in Phase 4 is time on ice. He played 3,801 minutes and 59 seconds in 2023 and 2024 combined.

Rantanen finished second with 3,696 minutes and 14 seconds. The next forward on the list was Nick Suzuki of Montreal. And MacKinnon played 389 minutes and 50 seconds more than Suzuki.

MacKinnon was on the ice more than all but eight defensemen, which is remarkable considering that this season alone there are 34 defensemen averaging more than MacKinnon’s 23:03 per game. He played 443 minutes and 44 seconds more than Sidney Crosby, who also played 167 games.

To sum it all up, MacKinnon essentially played 19 more minutes than Suzuki and 22 more than Crosby, considering both players averaged just over 20 minutes per night.

MacKinnon produced as one of the best players of his generation for several years before having worse luck due to injuries. Today, his legendary training and recovery regimes have helped him become one of the best players in the history of the sport.

“I think it’s a heck of an accomplishment,” Avs forward Jonathan Drouin said. “There is also luck, but it goes with your training, your diet. It all matters. I think that really matters to him.

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