Nathan MacKinnon’s elevated physicality brings added dimension to Avalanche star

Jason Franson, The Canadian Press via AP0

Nathan MacKinnon’s dazzling speed and offensive skills have always led the conversation about what makes the Avalanche forward one of the NHL’s best. Watching MacKinnon closely this postseason, though, reveals an elevated layer of his game.

It seems like MacKinnon is playing … angry.

“You take a look at the game and watch his shifts — I don’t know how best to describe it — but it’s the importance that he’s putting on the defensive aspect of the game,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He understands that he is able to play great defense. It’s hard work. It’s a commitment. It’s physicality. It’s doing all the right things on the defensive side of it…