Next month, Nathan MacKinnon is likely going to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. The 22-year old superstar had a breakout season, and was a part of one of the best lines in the NHL. Along with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, MacKinnon carried the offsense for the Avalanche all season. If this team is going to get better, they’re going to have to start icing a middle-6 that can pose more of a threat to opponents.
Tyson Jost and Alex Kerfoot will grow with experience, but that’s still not enough to form the kind of balanced lineup needed to be a legitimate contender.