Avalanche Star Nathan MacKinnon Wins NHL's Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy

MacKinnon led the league with 53 goals, edging out Montreal's Cole Caufield and Edmonton's Connor McDavid.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:26am

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A fractured, multi-angled painting depicting hockey player Nathan MacKinnon in motion, with his body and the puck broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant shades of burgundy, blue, and silver, conceptually representing his dominant goal-scoring prowess.MacKinnon's record-breaking goal-scoring season is celebrated through a cubist, geometric interpretation that captures the Avalanche star's dynamic offensive impact.Denver Today

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche has won the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top goal scorer. MacKinnon finished the season with 53 goals in 80 games, narrowly beating out Montreal's Cole Caufield (51 goals) and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, who fell short of catching MacKinnon in the final game of the season. This is the second time an Avalanche player has won the award, with Milan Hejduk being the previous winner in 2002-03.

Why it matters

MacKinnon has been one of the NHL's elite players for several seasons, finishing as a finalist for the Art Ross Trophy (leading scorer) and the league's MVP awards in recent years. Winning the Rocket Richard Trophy cements his status as one of the game's premier goal scorers and offensive talents.

The details

MacKinnon finished the season with 53 goals, the most in the NHL. He edged out Montreal's Cole Caufield, who had 51 goals, and Edmonton's Connor McDavid, who needed 5 goals in his final game to catch MacKinnon but fell short. MacKinnon's 53 goals were the most by an Avalanche player since Milan Hejduk won the award in 2002-03 with 50 goals. MacKinnon was also among the league leaders in even-strength points and goals, further cementing his status as one of the NHL's most dominant offensive players.

  • MacKinnon finished the 2025-26 NHL season with 53 goals in 80 games.
  • Cole Caufield finished the season with 51 goals on April 16, 2026.
  • Connor McDavid needed 5 goals in his final game on April 17, 2026 to catch MacKinnon, but fell short.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

A 30-year-old center for the Colorado Avalanche who led the NHL in goals this season with 53, winning the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy.

Cole Caufield

A forward for the Montreal Canadiens who finished the season with 51 goals, second-most in the NHL behind MacKinnon.

Connor McDavid

The star center for the Edmonton Oilers who needed 5 goals in his final game to catch MacKinnon for the goal-scoring title, but fell short.

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What’s next

MacKinnon and the Avalanche will begin their quest for a second Stanley Cup championship in five years with Game 1 of the playoffs on Sunday at Ball Arena.

The takeaway

MacKinnon's Rocket Richard Trophy win cements his status as one of the NHL's elite goal scorers and offensive talents. After finishing as a finalist for the Art Ross Trophy and league MVP awards in recent seasons, this individual honor is a well-deserved recognition of MacKinnon's dominant 2025-26 campaign.