It took one game for Nathan MacKinnon to spot a key difference with his new linemate, Martin Necas.
MacKinnon sent a pass to Necas on the far side of the ice against the Boston Bruins the day after the Colorado Avalanche’s blockbuster trade sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for Necas, Jack Drury and two draft picks.
He’d made a similar play to Rantanen countless times over nearly a decade of playing together.