Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon endured a brutal finish to last season — both physically and emotionally.
The star forward battled through injuries during Colorado’s Western Conference Final matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, taking a puck off his knee before later being struck in the face. Although MacKinnon suited up for all four games, he admitted he was far from playing at full strength as the Avalanche were eliminated in a disappointing sweep.
Another Stanley Cup opportunity slipped away for Colorado, with the team’s postseason run ending far earlier than expected.
The Avalanche held their annual media day on Wednesday, giving MacKinnon his first chance to address the crushing playoff exit. The veteran center appeared upbeat and candid while speaking with reporters, offering insight into his injuries, the team’s mindset, and the challenges ahead.
MacKinnon joked about the injuries he suffered against Vegas, revealing that the knee issue was far more painful than the hit to his face.
“Yeah, it just kind of hit my nerve and then my leg just kind of shut down. I got hit with a puck in my nose again, I feel like my nose breaks every year if you can’t tell,” MacKinnon said with a laugh. “Honestly, the knee thing hurt 10 times more than my face did.”
Despite being limited physically, MacKinnon emphasized that the entire Avalanche team struggled during the series. The veteran forward admitted the result was difficult to accept, especially after Colorado dropped the first two games on home ice at Ball Arena.
The loss also added to a growing sense of urgency around an Avalanche core that has not captured the Stanley Cup since its championship run in 2022. Several disappointing playoff finishes have followed, creating pressure for the group to find another deep postseason push.
MacKinnon pointed to the Carolina Hurricanes’ persistence after years of playoff disappointment as an example Colorado can learn from.
“We have won, but it feels like a long time. And then watching the Hurricanes win it, they’ve had a lot of playoff failures over the years and just stick with it. They haven’t changed their system, they haven’t changed any coaches, they haven’t changed much at all,” MacKinnon said. “I think that’s a little bit of inspiration maybe of what our mentality has to be.”
Head coach Jared Bednar is entering the final year of his contract, but MacKinnon made it clear that he continues to support his coach. While acknowledging how painful the Vegas sweep was, he explained that the disappointment felt different compared with Colorado’s previous first-round defeat against Dallas.
“Obviously, getting swept is awful. It sucks, but it doesn’t feel like it’s the same type of motivation as the Dallas series was maybe for all of last season,” MacKinnon said. “I think it’s just sticking with it, we have such an amazing group of guys. It’s so fun to come to the rink with each other. I hope we win, I think we can. I think we have a good chance.”
MacKinnon understands that the regular season is only part of the challenge. For a team with championship expectations, the true evaluation will come once the playoffs arrive.
The Avalanche now face another long journey toward another Stanley Cup opportunity. MacKinnon acknowledged the frustration of watching an entire season disappear quickly, noting how fast things unraveled once Colorado fell behind against Vegas.
“We’re blessed to even be a contender still,” MacKinnon said.
The 30-year-old superstar also recognizes that the team’s championship window will not remain open forever. However, he believes Colorado still has the talent and chemistry needed to compete at the highest level.
“We’re not the youngest team in the world but we need to have a great season and I think we will,” MacKinnon said.
After a painful ending to last season, MacKinnon’s positive outlook has given Avalanche fans renewed hope. Colorado will now look to begin another championship pursuit, hoping this time the journey ends with another trip to the hockey mountaintop.