Date of birth: 09/01/1995
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 182
Position: C
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round, 1st overall in 2013 by Colorado
Corey Pronman Hockey Prospectus – @coreypronman
Year in Review: MacKinnon was a dominant player in the QMJHL, and he elevated his game in the postseason.
The Good: MacKinnon is one of the best skaters to ever emerge from the NHL Entry Draft, an elite and arguably a generational player in that area. He accompanies that with a high level of skill, vision, finishing ability, and grit. He plays with a high level of competitiveness, be it driving the net, or trying to win battles.
The Bad: MacKinnon does not have a glaring weakness, other than just needing to improve his defense a tad. Overall, his needed areas of improvement amount to fine, minute details in his game.
Projection: He could be one of the NHL’s elite centers.
Internationals Scouting Services – @ISSHockey
The 2013 first overall pick brings some strong goal scoring capabilities to a roster that already boasts strong young speed and playmaking. MacKinnon is a terrific skater who can explode into uncovered lanes, with or without the puck and knows how to bury when given the chance. He will have an adjustment period without question but could explode on the PP or with a potential move to the wing here and there.
Dobber Prospects – @dobberprospects
October 2013 – MacKinnon scored his first goal of his NHL career vs. the Washington Capitols on the twelfth, he now has six points in five games and it looks like there is no stopping him. MacKinnon makes sound decisions with and without the puck and seems to find the right areas and make the right corrections every shift. MacKinnon has incredible chemistry right now with his line mates P.A. Parenteau and Jamie McGinn and this is an excellent beginning to a long career in the NHL.
Carl Maloney of The Hockey Writers – @maloney3383
The first overall pick is all but a guarantee to be in the Avalanche lineup on Opening Night. Unlike many last place teams, MacKinnon will have plenty of talent to play beside in Colorado with names like Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Paul Stastny also in the lineup.
With Duchene locked up long term, the combination of he and MacKinnon up the middle for years to come should be music to the ears of Avalanche fans.
MacKinnon’s first NHL goal
MacKinnon drafted first overall in 2013
