The Colorado Avalanche are skating with a swagger and self-belief that vividly echoes their triumphant 2022 Stanley Cup championship season. Their blistering speed, relentless energy, and well-rounded team play have them on track to potentially set a new franchise record for points in the regular season. At the heart of this formidable charge is superstar centre Nathan MacKinnon, who is authoring a campaign of such remarkable consistency that he is redefining excellence and has firmly planted himself at the centre of the Hart Memorial Trophy conversation for the league's most valuable player.
MacKinnon's Electrifying Play Creates a Stark Contrast
Nathan MacKinnon's offensive production this season has been nothing short of electric. With a stellar tally of 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points, he currently leads the entire National Hockey League in both goals and total scoring. His ability to dominate play and tilt the ice in his team's favour has reached an unprecedented level this year. What makes his season particularly noteworthy is the stark contrast it presents when compared to the five-on-five statistics of Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain and perennial MVP contender. This growing disparity between the two generational talents has emerged as one of the season's most compelling and unexpected storylines.
The Jaw-Dropping Five-on-Five Numbers
The most revealing data comes from even-strength, five-on-five play, where MacKinnon has established a level of control that borders on the surreal. As highlighted by The Denver Post's Corey Masisak, the Avalanche's performance with MacKinnon on the ice is overwhelmingly dominant. Colorado has outscored opponents by a staggering margin of 37 to 9 during MacKinnon's five-on-five ice time. This incredible plus-28 goal differential at even strength is a rarity in the modern NHL and underscores how much more potent the Avalanche become the moment he steps onto the ice.
In total, MacKinnon has logged 400 minutes and 31 seconds of five-on-five ice time, during which Colorado has scored those 37 goals while conceding only nine. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Connor McDavid's numbers paint a completely different picture. Masisak reported that McDavid, with 469 minutes and 24 seconds of even-strength ice time, has been on the ice for 21 goals for and 25 against, resulting in a minus-4 differential. This means that despite playing nearly 70 more minutes at five-on-five, the Oilers have been outscored by four goals with their captain deployed.
Team Fortunes Reflect the Superstar Divide
McDavid's negative differential points to deeper systemic issues plaguing the Edmonton Oilers. Even a talent of his calibre cannot single-handedly compensate for the team's struggles, which include inconsistent goaltending, defensive breakdowns, and structural lapses. These problems have diminished his overall impact on games, despite his personal point production remaining strong.
Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon continues to be the relentless engine driving the Colorado Avalanche's success. Each dominant performance further strengthens his case for the Hart Trophy. With the Avalanche soaring high in the standings and the Oilers sliding, the gap between these two elite centres has never appeared wider. As the season progresses, MacKinnon stands as the clear front-runner for the MVP award, powered by his historic even-strength dominance and a confident team that is thriving under his leadership.
