MacKinnon was scratched from Sunday’s game with a knee injury and is listed as day-to-day. Thankfully for the Avalanche, they’re off until Thursday, so there’s a chance that MacKinnon could be available versus the Flyers.
McKinnon has played the majority of his young career on the wing, but if they use MacKinnon in the middle it allows the Avalanche to give 18-year-old Mikko Rantanen a shot in the NHL and opens the door for Curtis Glencross and Jack Skille a chance to make the team on PTO’s. If MacKinnon indeed ends up on the third line, look for Rantanen and Blake Comeau to play on his wings.
MacKinnon’s broken foot likely ends what has been a disappointing sophomore season for the 19-year-old. After a 63 point rookie season, Mackinnon registered just 38 points (14G / 24A) in in 64 games this season. The Avalanche sit nine points out of the playoffs, so this injury all but derails any hope they had for the postseason. Despite an average season, MacKinnon remands as an excellent keeper option.
Mackinnon did end up returning to the game so he was probably to play Game 5 today anyways.
MacKinnon's current 12-game point streak broke Wayne Gretzky's record for longest point-streak in NHL history for an 18-year-old. Over the 12-game streak he has five goals and 12 assists (17 points) as he continues to pace all rookies with 51 points (22G / 29A) in 63 games, which is 12 more than second place Tyler Johnson (39).
MacKinnon's return to practice this afternoon suggests that he will be in the lineup on Wednesday vs. Los Angeles. To be safe, Monitor his status following Wednesday's morning skate. In weekly leagues, it appears as if he should be safe to deploy.
It sounds like MacKinnon will be available to make his NHL debut in the Avalanche season opener on October 2nd.
MacKinnon, only 17, will report to Avs training camp and is a favourite to make the roster under his former QMJHL coach, Patrick Roy. Keeper leagues should jump all over the talented forward but as we've seen in recent seasons, overdrafting rookies in yearly leagues is unlikely to pay off.
