MacK finally feels like an all-star

Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon skates the puck down ice in the third period against the Jets on Nov. 29 in Denver at the Pepsi Center. (John Leyba / The Denver Post)DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon stood within shouting distance of a rare gray wolf in Wyoming last week. The Avalanche's star center, the once and future hope for a rebuilding franchise, was never more anonymous in the face of nature.

By the end of the week, MacKinnon was named an NHL all-star for the second time in his still-budding career. The 22-year-old, now nearly a veteran five years into his career, tore through the league in the first half of this season, with the second-most points per game in the league through 41 games.

But…