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

Nathan MacKinnon’s incredible hockey career can be divided into phases: The rise to No. 1 pick phenom. The early NHL plateau. And then a step forward to star and champion.

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

A reminder that availability is very much a valuable ability.

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

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

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

He played in just 65 regular-season games during the Stanley Cup-winning year. When he finally reached 100-plus 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 off the ice for him,” Avs forward Mikko Rantanen said. “What he does, how he takes care of his body, all the extra stuff that he does in the gym to make sure he doesn’t have any of the injuries you can try to prevent. Some you just can’t, like the puck hits you or something. That’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 was more dominant in 2023 and ’24 during the regular season than MacKinnon. From Jan. 1, 2023, until Dec. 31, 2024, MacKinnon had 278 points — 11 more than Connor McDavid and most in the NHL. MacKinnon had 192 even-strength points, which was 26 more than McDavid in second place.

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

Those are all fine statistical achievements. The one that moves the needle for MacKinnon? He played in 167 out of a possible 167 games.

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

MacKinnon’s style of play is always going to put him at risk. He’s not a 1990s-style power forward, but as modern superstars go, he’s among the most physical and isn’t afraid to try and go through defenders instead of around them.

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

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

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

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

The Avs will play Game No. 41 on Monday, and MacKinnon was averaging 23:03 per contest heading into the club’s matchup with Montreal on Saturday.

“I think it’s important if players can stay healthy and always take pride in that,” Rantanen said. “You want to be available to your team, and you get paid to be on the ice and to play well. I think we take pride in that and we want to do it every day.”

MacKinnon’s availability helped him win the Hart Trophy a year ago, and it’s got him firmly in the running again. He’s also pacing the NHL in points and could collect the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion for the first time.

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

Rantanen was second, with 3,696 minutes and 14 seconds. The next forward on the list was Montreal’s Nick Suzuki. 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 this season alone there are 34 defensemen who are averaging more than MacKinnon’s 23:03 per game. He played 443 minutes and 44 seconds more than Sidney Crosby, who also played in 167 games.