[Avs] Avalanche Select - Nathan MacKinnon

[Broncoholic3233]

Sweet!! Hope he turns into a superstar!!

[InsaneBlaze23]

Feel bad for Seth Jones, he was so sure he'd be an Av.
He was on ESPN the other day saying how he grew up watching them, and that he went to the final game of 2000-2001 Stanley Cup game. He said that made him wanna play hockey.

He was so sure he'd be an Av, I started to believe he'd be an Av. He looked bummed till he was interviewed after he was drafted.

[Houshmazode]

We have too many centers now. We should trade Stastny and something to Memphis for Jones.

[Blondie79]

Dont really follow any other hockey barring NHL some info on our picks? if anyone has any lol

[Houshmazode]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/draft2013/sto...non-first-pick

[Broncoholic3233]

Dont really follow any other hockey barring NHL some info on our picks? if anyone has any lol

He's compared to Sidney Crosby. He's insanely young at only 17 years old. He absolute tore it up as part of the Halifax Mooseheads. He was ranked the 2nd best skater of the draft. The first best? The defensemen we took in the 2nd round.

Can't wait to see him hit the ice.

[Houshmazode]

The first best? The defensemen we took in the 2nd round.

Really? That's awesome. His favorite shootout move is called "The Forsberg." Looks like he can score too.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospect...htm?dpid=81855

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...2nd-round-pick

[Broncoholic3233]

Dont really follow any other hockey barring NHL some info on our picks? if anyone has any lol

Touted by many league scouts as one of the most complete players in this year's draft class, Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon looks to be a force in the league for years to come.

With speed and skill that has often been compared to fellow Halifax native Sidney Crosby, MacKinnon possesses explosive skating abilities and elite passing vision on the ice that has helped him cement his spot as one of the top forwards in the draft.

"He is an exceptionally powerful skater and a natural goal scorer," said NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr of MacKinnon. "He plays with determination and he is highly competitive with his style of play. He is one of those players that is capable of being a difference maker in the game."

MacKinnon was ranked as the No. 2 North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2013 draft. However, he was ranked as the top prospect in the International Scouting Services' final list, which came out a few weeks after the NHL's.

MacKinnon, who turns 18 years old on Sept. 1, is one of the youngest players available in this year’s draft, but that didn’t stop him from making a big impact on his championship-bound Halifax team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Memorial Cup.

He recorded 75 points (32g/43a) during his 2012-13 campaign and despite playing in 14 fewer games, ended the year only three points shy of his impressive QMJHL 2011-12 season in which he set the mark for the most assists by a rookie player (47). MacKinnon had a nine-game goal streak this season (14 goals) – which was the longest in the QMJHL – and had two 13-game point streaks that spanned from Oct. 2-Nov. 5 (24 points, 14g/10a) and from Jan. 12-Mar. 17 (23 points, 10g/13a).

Things got even better for the dynamic center in the playoffs.

On his way to the QMJHL championship with the Mooseheads, MacKinnon finished tied for second in the league playoffs with 33 points (11g/22a) – with only teammate Jonathan Drouin (35 points, 12g/23a) having more.

In the Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup, MacKinnon and Halifax went on to defeat the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, 6-4, for the championship title. He earned the Stafford Smythe Trophy as the tournament's most valuable player, and his three goals and two assists in the championship game secured him the Ed Chynoweth Award for the most points in the Memorial Cup with 13 (7g/6a).

His performance at the Memorial Cup didn’t go unnoticed by fellow top draft prospect and defenseman Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks.

“He left a great impression,” Jones said in an interview with the Toronto Star about MacKinnon. “Every time we played him, a hat trick each game. It doesn’t get any better than that. Five points in the final, one of the greatest performances in the final. He’s a tough player to contain.”

For The Love Of Sports – Not Just Hockey

Most NHL caliber players develop a love for the sport at an early age, with many taking skating lessons and developing their skills before they have even entered elementary school. In an interview with CBC Sports, his mother said that MacKinnon’s love for other sports such as canoe racing, basketball, soccer and tennis – not just hockey – started at a young age, too.

"He walked early, and always had a stick or [baseball] bat or golf club or hockey stick the minute he could walk," said Kathy Mackinnon. “I knew there was no question he’d play sports. We just didn’t know what sport it would be.”

Highlights From His 2012-13 Season

- CHL Memorial Cup champion
- CHL Memorial Cup Ed Chynoweth Award (Most Points)
- CHL Memorial Cup Stafford Smythe Trophy (Tournament MVP)
- Named to the CHL Top Prospects Game
- Gold medal with Canada at Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (U-18 Junior World Cup)
- QMJHL champion
- QMJHL Second Team All-Star

Did You Know?

- Halifax secured its first Memorial Cup championship this season, marking the QMJHL’s first Memorial Cup in a Western Hockey League city (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan).

- MacKinnon and fellow top prospect Seth Jones are actually friends off the ice. The two players were roommates during summer hockey camps as they climbed the junior ranks, and they have been close ever since.

http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=674736

[Houshmazode]

I'm liking this draft, we're taking a ton of d-men.

That G pick was a little weird.

D Chris Bigras
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...all/in/4243693

G Spencer Martin
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...all/in/4243693

Mason Geertsen
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...mason-geertsen

D Will Butcher (nice name)
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...her/in/4243693

D Ben Storm (6'6" 215)
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...orm/in/4243693

D Wilhelm Westlund
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2013/6...und/in/4243693

Our blueliners are official on notice.

[Houshmazode]

Plus, we get to watch Seth Jones play for division rival.

[Matymaddog]

Dont really follow any other hockey barring NHL some info on our picks? if anyone has any lol

This is what I could dig up. Excuse me for not having the links. I'll go back through and find them to post them up later

Chris Bigras D
18 years old
6'0
187 pounds

Bigras is one of this year’s most intelligent draft prospects -- both on the ice and off. He was able to maintain an A+ average in his high school studies, but most people in the league have been impressed with the way the blueliner thinks the game. He has great hockey sense and vision. Bigras can be counted on to make the smart, first pass, but will not impress you with flash. He’s poised, refined, and patient with the puck and has a game whose success is predicated on positioning.

Spencer Martin G
18 years old
6'2
192 pounds

A tall, butterfly-style goaltender with excellent agility and flexibility.. generally speaking, receives inadequate support from his blueline crew, yet frustrate shooters by routinely making highlight-reel saves – that he makes look easy due to his sharp reflexes and quick lateral movement…focuses on keeping his body square to the puck… demonstrates good fluidity and excellent push-off strength…will need to work on his mental toughness moving forward – as well as rebound management, as he kicks out some juicy ones straight back out, especially when moving laterally.

Mason Geertsen D
18 years old
6'4
203 pounds

Big, tough, rearguard. Already NHL-sized. Established early as a player prepared to take on WHL heavyweights. Able to control opponents in defensive zone. Should become more involved offensively as skating improves.

Will Butcher D
18 years old
5'11
180 pounds

Butcher is a high-level offensive defenseman, who distributes the puck well and has a nice, accurate shot from the point. His size will limit his draft stock, but the puck skills he possesses increase his potential. Butcher needs to work on some of his decisionmaking, but he is really sound in his own end for an undersized defenseman.

Ben Storm D
19 years old
6'6
215 pounds

Excels at using his body to move guys out of the crease. He also considers his outlet passes as a strength.

Wilhelm Westlund D
18 years old
5'11
185 pounds

A smart and pretty skilled two-way defenseman. Was able to log pretty big minutes in the SHL at an early age. Skates well, is agile, and has soft hands and good puck moving ability. Hasn't got many stand-out skills, but does most things rather well

[Blondie79]

Thanks guys - looks like we had a decent draft - hopefully we will see some future superstars on the ice!

[CanDB]

Colorado got a "can't miss" explosive forward who plays big on big stages. Looks like you are stocked at forward now with him, Duchene, Landeskog, Stastny and others.

[broncsfan21]

I suppose the Avs must like what Duncan Siemens is developing into to skip Jones.

I like the MacKinnon pick. We are real deep at Center now, and with the addition of Tanguay we have enough wingers to go around.

The Fan was talking about possibly moving Rhyno to winger on the Duchene-PA line, but I'm not sure how well he'd do there. We'll see I suppose.

What I would like to see would be:

PA-Duchene-Tanguay
McLeod-O'Reilly-Landy
Mitchell-Stastny-Downie
McGinn-MacKinnon-Bordeleau

Johnson-Wilson
Hejda-Sarich
Hunwick-Zanon

Although if Hejduk decides to stick around, it would be kind of funny if we tried the AMP line again, just substituting Peter for Paul.

[Broncoholic3233]

Roy said these are the lines (it's early tho so it could change)

1 - Tanguay, Statsny, Landeskog

2 - PA, Dutchy, Rhyno

3 - McGinn, MacKinnon, Downie