Folklore states their was once a superstar by the name of Jesus Christ who could change water into wine, make blind men see and cure the sick. He was an old time magician gifted with amazing powers. His most astonishing act though, according to the old wives tales, was when he walked on water. It was an accomplishment the likes never seen before or likely again. That was until November 2017 when not only did Nathan MacKinnon walk on water (ice is technically water in solid form), but did it while putting up a five point night against the future Stanley Cup Champions. And unlike the fairy tales of Jesus there’s actually video footage to back this otherwise unbelievable tale of magical proportions up. Could this mean MacKinnon is the really Messiah?
https://youtu.be/tLFp28FstpI
As I sit at home pondering whether a return to sports is even possible this side of Christmas (the fake Messiah’s birthday), I delved back into the Avalanche archives to satisfy my hockey addiction and found myself transported to a night unlike any other… November 16th 2017. Eleven days earlier on November 5th, 2017 Matt Duchene had left the Avalanche in a three team trade, joining the Ottawa Senators. Duchene was a disciple of the Church of MacKinnon, who many thought was the real star and leader. His departure set the record straight that there could only be one true Messiah.
Incase you weren’t aware, Colorado received goaltender Andrew Hammond, center Shane Bowers, a conditional first round pick in 2018 (which due to the conditions would later become the 2019 first round pick that got defenseman Bowen Byram), a 2019 third round pick (which became center Matthew Stienberg) and center Kyle Turris, who was immediately flipped to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Sam Girard, forward Vladislav Kamenev and a 2018 second round pick, which they later flipped to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third round (goaltender Justus Annunen) and fifth round pick (defenseman Danila Zhuravlyov) in 2018.
Immediately after the deal the Avalanche headed to Sweden to play the Senators in a two game global series and lost both. Not only were the Av’s coming off their worse season in history, they had now lost what was considered at the time to be a big part of the team and top line. Needless to say It was not a great time to be a fan.
But then the magic happened.
MacKinnon, who had started the season slowly, suddenly exploded and Mikko Rantanen, who replaced Duchene on the top line, began to have real chemistry with his new line-mates. It was joyous to watch… if you weren’t a Capitals fan of course. Gabe Landeskog scored a hat-trick (with his first coming after only 00:17 of the first period) and MacKinnon became the ultimate creator (and didn’t take seven days to do so) the likes of which Washington had never seen, with three primary and one secondary assist to add to a first period goal.
Like all great fairy tales it had a happy ending as the Avalanche ran out 6-2 winners, made the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and built for the future with Sam Girard and draft pick Bowen Byram. MacKinnon laid down the foundations to be considered elite status within the NHL and Capital fans falsely screamed in unison that “He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!” I beg to differ.
