Nathan MacKinnon News

Colorado coach Jared Bednar has confirmed star centre Nathan MacKinnon is day-to-day after leaving practice early Saturday. MacKinnon hopes to be ready and healthy for the Avalanche's opening game Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old signed an eight-year, $100,800,000 contract extension this past September after finishing 2021-22 with 32 goals and 88 points in 65 games. It was his fifth straight season finishing above a point-per-game and his seventh straight with 200 or more shots on goal.

McKinnon had been one of the most underpaid players in the NHL for years but will have the highest AAV when the 2024 season starts at $12.6. McKinnon missed 17 games last season but was on pace for 111 points (40G / 71A) over 82 games. He also led the playoffs in goals (13) and won his first Stanley Cup. Overall, 2022 was a great year for Nathan MacKinnon.

MacKinnon missed Tuesday's game in Calgary with an upper-body injury that he suffered in a fight with Matt Dumba on Sunday. The Avalanche said that concern was "high" on Tuesday but it appears MacKinnon's re-evaluation went well and he should play vs. the Sharks. MacKinnon has picked up 27 points (13G / 14A) in his last 20 games.

MacKinnon's injury is believed to stem from his fight with Matt Dumba over the weekend. Head coach Jared Bednar said that concern is "high" in regards to MacKinnon's injury. Nazem Kadri will replace him on the first line and Artturi Lehkonen will make his Avalanche debut to take his place.

MacKinnon will not be available for a heavyweight tilt in Calgary on Tuesday. It's unclear exactly how the Avalanche lines will shake out but Devon Toews was on PP1 in the morning skate.

MacKinnon missed Wednesday's game in Detroit with a "minor" lower-body injury but will play Friday vs. the Jets. MacKinnon will be back on the top line and top power-play unit and comes in with 24 points (9G / 15A) in 19 games since the beginning of January.

According to head coach Jared Bednar, MacKinnon's lower-body injury is "minor," so he could be back for Friday's game vs. the Jets.

MacKinnon missed four games with a broken nose and a concussion he suffered on January 26th but is set to play on Sunday. MacKinnon, who has nine goals and 34 assists (43 points) in 31 games this season, will be back on the top line with Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.

MacKinnon will miss his fourth consecutive game on Thursday but head coach Jared Bednar says he's on track to play Sunday vs. Dallas. Mikko Rantanen will continue as the No.1 centre while MacKinnon is sidelined.

MacKinnon skated briefly on Tuesday but will miss Thursday's game against the Lightning. According to head coach Jared Bednar, "everything is going to have to go smoothly" for MacKinnon to play Saturday.

It's unclear if MacKinnon will be ready for the All-Star game but he'll miss Colorado's last three games before the break. Mikko Rantanen will move to centre with MacKinnon out.

MacKinnon has missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury but was a full participant in Monday's practice and it appears as if he will be ready for Wednesday's game in Toronto. MacKinnon was unsurprisingly back on the top line and top power-play unit on Monday.

MacKinnon missed the first two games of the season but received two negative COVID-19 tests and flew to Washington to join his team for Tuesday's game. MacKinnon will provide a huge boost to an Avalanche team that will be without Gabriel Landeskog (suspended) and Valeri Nichushkin.

The Avalanche are about to embark on a three-game road trip and MacKinnon will miss at least one more game after testing positive yet again.

MacKinnon tested positive but is asymptomatic, so he will miss Wednesday's season opener. The Avalanche are hopeful that MacKinnon will test out of COVID-19 protocol and will be available for Saturday's game vs. the Blues.

MacKinnon missed Tuesday's practice because of COVID-19 protocol, putting his status for tomorrow's season opener in jeopardy. Monitor his status during Wednesday's morning skate.

MacKinnon was held out of the lineup in four of the final five games of the regular season but was on the ice in the days leading up to Game 1, so all signs point towards him being available on Monday. MacKinnon had another outstanding season, scoring 20 goals with 45 assists (65 points) in 48 games.

MacKinnon returned to the Avalanche lineup on Monday but will be held out of Wednesday's game and most likely tomorrow's as well. This appears to be precautionary with very little to gain in the final two games of the regular season.