Avalanche Star Nathan MacKinnon Draws Warning Before Leafs Game

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has opened the 2026-27 NHL season with strong offensive production and renewed intensity, prompting analyst John-Michael Liles to suggest that the 31-year-old looks even more explosive than last season. The assessment came ahead of Colorado's October 10 matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena in Denver.

According to CBS Sports, MacKinnon recorded three goals and five assists, 15 shots on goal, two hits and a plus-1 rating through four appearances. He responded to a scoreless outing against Winnipeg with a goal and two assists in Thursday's 7-3 victory over Calgary, marking his third multi-point performance of the season.

Colorado's early offensive success has also demonstrated that its top line can dominate without relying exclusively on MacKinnon's goal scoring. Sports Yahoo reported that the Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues 6-1 on October 3, with MacKinnon collecting three assists while Martin Necas contributed two goals and an assist and Artturi Lehkonen added a goal and an assist.

In an appearance on The Leafs Morning Take, Liles, an Avalanche analyst, discussed MacKinnon's competitive demeanor with host Alberga. The conversation focused on the center's determination to win another Stanley Cup and the intensity he brings to games and practices.

Alberga described the forward's on-ice expression as unusually fierce while asking Liles what it was like to cover him regularly.

"This is a compliment, but MacKinnon looks miserable this season, dude. Like, the snarl on that guy; he is so horny to win another Stanley Cup. What is it like to cover MacKinnon every day, man?" Alberga said.

Liles explained that MacKinnon's intense appearance does not reflect his entire personality. He pointed to the forward's celebrations and interactions with teammates during training camp as evidence that he also displays enthusiasm and camaraderie.

"It's awesome. Listen, Nathan is who he is, and what I'll say is, like, Nathan, day one of training camp came in, and he was, you know, when he scored, he's cheering, he's high-fiving guys. So it's not all miserable in terms of, you know, the outward appearance. I think he just, he's intense, and, you know, like that's just kind of how he is," Liles said.

The analyst also highlighted MacKinnon's physical play during the opening game against Los Angeles. He said the center's reaction to postseason defeats reflects how strongly he prioritizes winning, particularly after Colorado's previous playoff campaign ended against Vegas.

"Like you go back to Game 1 against L.A. It was a national game, but, you know, we were there watching, and, I mean, like he was physical. He threw some big hits. I think that, for as devastating as playoff losses are, Nathan probably takes them even harder than anybody else," Liles said.

Liles acknowledged that players respond differently to disappointment and described the loss as especially difficult after Colorado advanced through its first two playoff rounds in nine games before Vegas swept the Avalanche.

"And don't get me wrong, I took it as hard as anybody, and some guys just take it harder. And Nathan wants to win. First and foremost, he wants to win. And so that playoff loss – you breeze through the first two rounds, for lack of a better word," Liles said.

He added that Colorado's earlier postseason progress made the abrupt elimination particularly painful for a player whose ambitions remain centered on winning a championship.

"That Minnesota series was definitely closer than five games, but you get through the first two rounds in nine games, and all of a sudden Vegas sweeps you. Like that's a really tough playoff loss, and I'm sure Nathan took it harder," Liles said.

MacKinnon's age has not diminished Liles' assessment of his physical capabilities. The analyst said he recently discussed the forward's conditioning with Colorado's strength coach after observing him at practice.

"He's 31 years old. He doesn't seem to be slowing down. And I said to, you know, the strength coach for the Avs the other day at practice, I said, I don't know if it's possible, but he looks almost more explosive than last year, which is crazy," Liles said.

Colorado's supporting cast has reinforced that threat. According to Sports Yahoo, the Avalanche scored 14 goals across their first two games, matching the franchise record established by the 1992-93 Quebec Nordiques. Necas reached 50 goals as a member of Colorado after 110 games with the franchise, while Lehkonen contributed three goals across the opening two contests.

The combination gives Colorado several ways to create scoring opportunities. MacKinnon drives the attack and creates chances, Necas supplies additional finishing ability, and Lehkonen contributes through turnovers, positioning and work in difficult areas of the ice.