Avalanche All-Star pick is a no-brainer
The Colorado Avalanche are filled with stars, but one has shone brighter than the rest this season.
The Colorado Avalanche are making the most of the hand they have been dealt this season. Without their captain Gabriel Landeskog for the entire season they have been banding together to win hockey games.
The Avalanche are tied for the most points in the Western Conference with 51. They have a 24-11-3 record. They are also on a three game winning streak, and have won seven of their last 10 games.
Leading the charge for the team is none other than Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon was recently named the first star for the month of December. He set a new record for points in a calendar month for his team - with 29 points in 15 games.
He is second in the league in scoring, with 61 points in 38 games. He is fast, dynamic and has a wicked shot. The only player who has more points than him in the whole NHL is Nikita Kucherov - who has 63 points.
MacKinnon is producing at a 1.61 points per game rate this year. Last year he was creating 1.56 points per game.
Probably the most ridiculous part of his production is the fact that his shooting percentage is virtually the same as it was last year. It is 11.8% this year and was 11.5% last season.
The Avalanche are a great team, there is no question. But, when it comes to individual performances this season, it's tough to find one better in the league.