Is Nathan MacKinnon the best player in Avalanche history?

Joe Sakic has long been considered Colorado's signature player. Has the 30-year-old MacKinnon surpassed him?

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:30am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the rink broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a cubist style, conceptually representing the debate over the Avalanche's all-time greats.As the debate rages over whether Nathan MacKinnon has surpassed Joe Sakic as the greatest player in Avalanche history, the team's rich legacy of star talent is captured in a cubist, geometric deconstruction.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche have had a rich history of star players, from Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg to the current generation led by Nathan MacKinnon. As MacKinnon continues to shatter franchise records and cement his status as one of the NHL's elite, the debate has emerged: Is he the greatest player to ever don an Avalanche sweater?

Why it matters

The Avalanche are a relatively young franchise, having relocated from Quebec in 1995. But in that short time, they've established a winning culture and produced several all-time greats. Determining whether MacKinnon has surpassed the legendary Sakic as the franchise's top player has significant implications for the team's legacy and MacKinnon's place in NHL history.

The details

MacKinnon has put up eye-popping numbers in his career, including a 111-point season in 2022-23 that earned him the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He's already third in franchise history in goals, second in assists, and fourth in games played. Sakic, the longtime face of the Avalanche, holds the team records in those categories, as well as points. But MacKinnon, at just 30 years old, is quickly closing the gap and may soon surpass Sakic's marks.

  • Nathan MacKinnon was born in 1995, the same year the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche.
  • MacKinnon set a new single-season franchise record for most points in 2024, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.
  • MacKinnon will turn 31 years old in September 2026.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

A 30-year-old center who has emerged as one of the NHL's elite players, challenging for MVP awards and quickly climbing the Avalanche's all-time scoring leaderboard.

Joe Sakic

The longtime face of the Avalanche franchise, Sakic is the team's all-time leader in goals, assists, points, and games played. He won two Stanley Cups as a player and one as an executive.

Peter Forsberg

A Hall of Famer who was part of the Avalanche's first two Stanley Cup-winning teams in the 1990s, Forsberg is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Patrick Roy

The legendary goaltender was a key member of the Avalanche's first two Stanley Cup teams and later served as the team's head coach.

Cale Makar

A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Makar is already considered the greatest defenseman in Avalanche history.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of records that Joe Sakic has with the Avs that we didn't think would be broken. And now all of a sudden, you see Nathan MacKinnon start to break some of these records or creep up on some of these records.”

— John-Michael Liles, Former Avalanche player and analyst

“Obviously, this comes along with a lot of hard work, team success and having players like Cale around me. That helps a lot. I don't know. That's not what gets me out of bed every day. I'm just trying to get better every day. Always tweaking things. That's what is the big motivator for me.”

— Nathan MacKinnon

“He's going to blow away all those numbers. He is the most exciting player to ever wear an Avs jersey.”

— Joe Sakic, Avalanche team president

“He takes care of his body and I just feel like there's another level that we may see from MacKinnon. I watch him on a nightly basis, and I still think that the best is yet to come.”

— John-Michael Liles, Former Avalanche player and analyst

“He's continuously invested in himself, in his body, in his craft and how he takes care of himself. Listen, he spends a lot of time, money and effort on making sure he gives himself the best chance. I don't think that's a secret by now. You can see the trajectory that he's been on.”

— Gabriel Landeskog, Avalanche player

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.