Avalanche Announce Historic Nathan MacKinnon Update

Though Sakic remains the all-time leader in total franchise points with 1,641 when including his Quebec Nordiques years, MacKinnon stands alone atop the Avalanche record books since the team’s 1995 relocation.

The 30-year-old forward reached 1,000 career points in March and finished last season with 116 points in 79 regular-season games, a pace that suggests he could challenge Sakic’s combined record if he remains with Colorado for the long term.

With 1,017 points through 871 games, MacKinnon is averaging 1.17 points per game and would get to Sakic's 1,641 points in around 533 more games or about six and a half more seasons.

“He means a ton,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said of MacKinnon after Tuesday's win. “He drives our team on a nightly basis, offensively. Just so many things he does so well, and I’m not surprised that he’s, yet again, breaking another franchise record. It’s just kind of what he does.”

Colorado’s win came on the back of a strong offensive showing led by Necas, who scored twice, and Lehkonen, who added a goal and an assist. Cale Makar and MacKinnon each had two assists, while goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots.

The performance also placed MacKinnon in elite company outside the Avs organization.

After Tuesday's outing, he became just the fifth player in NHL history to record multiple assists in at least six season openers, joining Jaromir Jagr and Adam Oates (both with seven such games) and Ray Bourque and Dale Hunter (both with six).