Why playing with Nathan MacKinnon is both a pleasure and a burden

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates the game winner with defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) and center Alexander Kerfoot (13) in overtime off the backside of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey on Nov. 29, 2017 in Denver at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche will follow through with its plan to find secondary scoring by splitting up what is considered the NHL’s most dangerous line in Saturday’s “Hockey Night in Canada” game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center.

For second-year forward Alex Kerfoot, being promoted to the Nathan MacKinnon-centered line is both exciting and worrisome. “Pleasure to play with him but also a lot of…