BROSSARD, Quebec — Barely more than two weeks ago, a stunned Nathan MacKinnon sat at his locker inside TD Garden and gave his raw, emotional thoughts on losing a friend in the biggest in-season NHL trade in two decades.
On Monday, MacKinnon sat at a stall inside the Montreal Canadiens’ practice facility, again surrounded by reporters and answering questions about playing with friends. The emotions were again raw but a complete reversal.
This was pure joy.
“I definitely just feel like a little kid coming to the rink today,” MacKinnon said.
Avalanche stars Cale Makar, Devon Toews and MacKinnon have traded in burgundy and blue for the red, white and black of Canada.