DENVER — Whether you’re a casual observer or a devoted hockey aficionado, keeping pace with Nathan MacKinnon’s ever-expanding list of milestones can feel like a daunting task. But take heart — even Coach Jared Bednar admits he finds it difficult to track them all. 

The Avalanche scored a 6-2 victory over the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. MacKinnon pushed the Avalanche ahead 4–1 at 7:18 of the second period, ripping a wrist shot through a quartet of bodies for his 25th goal of the season. The tally — the 392nd of his career — lifted him past Joe Sakic for the most goals in franchise history since the team’s move to Colorado in 1995–96. 

Bednar Unaware of Milestone

The Hockey News asked Bednar for his thoughts on MacKinnon’s historic night — assuming he was aware of the record — and invited him to reflect on what it has meant to watch MacKinnon evolve into one of the NHL’s premier players. 

His reaction said it all. 

“It’s awesome. I mean whenever you have a guy with that type of determination and leadership style, you want him to have success, and you want him to be firing on all cylinders,” Bednar said of MacKinnon. “And he was a horse on the puck tonight. 

“I can’t keep track of his milestones because it seems like he’s getting one every game, so I don’t even know which one you’re talking about, but he was really good tonight, highly competitive at the point of the puck and patient with the puck and still making plays, making dangerous plays and difficult plays all night.” 

Milestone City 

Bednar isn’t wrong. Since early November, MacKinnon has been amassing milestones at a remarkable pace. On November 10, he surpassed franchise icon Peter Stastny with his 381st career goal, moving into sole possession of third place on the Avalanche’s all-time list. 

Just 10 days later, a goal against the New York Rangers propelled him past Stastny once more — this time for second place in franchise history in points. And on Thursday, MacKinnon reached yet another pinnacle: first place on the Avalanche’s all-time goals list since the franchise relocated to Colorado. 

Of course, this should not be conflated with combined Nordiques–Avalanche history. Joe Sakic still maintains a commanding lead in that broader category, having scored 625 goals over his illustrious career. Yet, considering the Avalanche have existed in Colorado for just over 25 years and MacKinnon has been in the league for only 12, the fact that he now stands alone atop any franchise leaderboard is a testament to his extraordinary talent and sustained excellence. 

And perhaps, by season’s end, MacKinnon will continue to raise the standard even higher. His 25 goals and 53 points currently lead the NHL, while his 28 assists place him tied for fifth, just behind three players who sit at 29. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid holds the league lead with 32 assists. 

The significance of this cannot be overstated: it has been nearly three decades since a player led the NHL in goals, assists, and points at the conclusion of a season. Mario Lemieux was the last to accomplish the feat, back in 1996. In an era where elite talent is separated by the narrowest of margins, Nathan MacKinnon may well be the player capable of achieving such a rare and extraordinary milestone. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.