MacKinnon Enjoying NHL Awards Experience

LAS VEGAS--On the ice, the competition in the NHL is fierce and often times grueling as some of the best athletes in the world battle nearly every other night for six-plus months. The 82-game schedule doesn't allow players much time to stay connected with friends or old teammates on other clubs, so more relaxing events like the NHL Awards are a highlight for many of them as they wrap up the season.
Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is at his second post-season award show and is doing what there wasn't much time to do during the year: hang out with some of the NHL's top players in a more stress-free setting.
He could end up being named the best among the bunch for 2017-18 as he's up for the Hart Memorial Trophy--given to the league's most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association--and the Ted Lindsay Award--given to the most outstanding player as chosen by his peers.

"It is cool that some of the best players in the league are here. I feel fortunate to be part of those names," MacKinnon said on Tuesday. "I think these guys are deserving of the awards since they are nominated and have done great things on the ice, but also off the ice as well. A lot of good people here and a lot of good players."
MacKinnon was here four years ago when he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie after scoring 24 goals and adding 39 assists in 2013-14.
This time, the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native is coming off a campaign in which he produced a career-best 97 points after tallying 39 goals and 58 assists in 74 games. He finished fifth in league scoring and second in points per game (1.31), trailing only the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (1.32) who is also up for the Ted Lindsay Award.
MacKinnon has learned a lot since being a bright-eyed rookie in the league, and that includes relishing moments like the Awards, All-Star Games and other special events such as the Global Series that he participated in with the Avs in Sweden last November.

"I think I'm more comfortable then when I was at 18," MacKinnon said of being back at the Awards. "Obviously it's a totally cool experience for me and is a lot of fun. It's cool to have my family out here, my sister, my girlfriend is here, so the whole crew is here. It's a fun experience, but whether I win anything or not, it's not that important. Obviously it would be cool, but I'm just happy to be here."
That laid-back attitude is often present in his demeanor off the ice, but it's far from what he projects during games.
MacKinnon appeared to be on a mission this season to lead the Avalanche back to the postseason, and he helped do just that. Colorado recorded a 47-point turnaround from the year before and reached the playoffs for the first time since the center's rookie campaign.
He said his and the team's success wouldn't have been possible without the ups and downs from the past few seasons.
"Experience, I think," MacKinnon said on how he was able to take his game to a new level. "It was my fifth year, and I wanted to reestablish myself as a top player. Obviously a couple tough seasons for myself and the team that we wanted to bounce back from, and I thought I did like the rest of the team."

While this is MacKinnon's second trip to the awards as a participant, he was also at the end-of-season honors last year as a spectator.
He tagged along with good friend and fellow Cole Harbour native Sidney Crosby last June when Crosby was up for the same two trophies that MacKinnon could take home.
The Pittsburgh Penguins forward didn't win either in 2017, but his trophy case already includes two Harts and three Ted Lindsays, among other hardware as well.
So has MacKinnon reached out to his old buddy on what do if he's named player of the year?
"I haven't talked to him, I really should," MacKinnon revealed. "If I have to make a speech, maybe I should ask him what to say because he's done it a few times."
If he does have to give a speech to those in attendance at the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday night, MacKinnon will surely find the right words to say. Just like he found a way to step up his game when Avs needed him to.