Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Colorado Avalanche Announce Seven-Year Extension For Nathan MacKinnon

07/08/2016 at 5:24pm EDT

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year contract through the 2022-23 season.

MacKinnon, 20, is entering his fourth NHL campaign in 2016-17. He finished third on the Avalanche in scoring this past season with 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) in 72 games. The 6-foot, 195-pound center led the team in shots (245) and shared the club lead in game-winning goals (6).

“Signing Nathan to a long-term contract was a priority this offseason,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President/General Manager Joe Sakic. “He is going to be a key part of our team for many years to come and it was important to secure his rights moving forward.”

The first overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, MacKinnon won the 2013-14 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie that year. At 18 years, 224 days, he was the youngest player to ever win the award and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. MacKinnon recorded 63 points (24g/39a) in 82 games during the 2013-14 regular season and added 10 points (2g/8a) in seven playoff contests, which tied him for first on the squad.

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, MacKinnon has totaled 153 points (59g/94a) in 218 career games. He was the youngest player in franchise history to make his debut (18 years, 31 days), compiled the longest point streak by an 18-year-old in NHL history (13 games), became the youngest player to record two points in a game since 1944 and tied the NHL record for the most points in his first two career playoff games with seven.

Prior to turning pro, MacKinnon led the Halifax Mooseheads to their first-ever Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship and first-ever Memorial Cup title in 2012-13.

At the international level, MacKinnon was selected to represent Team North America (Under 23) at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, which will be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 in Toronto. He has represented Canada at two world championships (2014-15), helping his country to the gold medal in 2015. He also played for his nation at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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