Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon wins 2025-26 Rocket Richard Trophy

MacKinnon finished the regular season with a career-high 53 goals, finishing two ahead of Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, who posted 51 this year, also a career-best. It was the second time MacKinnon reached the half-century mark in his career, as he posted 51 goals during the 2023-24 season.

The Cole Harbour, N.S. native also tied the mark for the sixth-most goals in a single season in the history of the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques. MacKinnon’s former teammate, Mikko Rantanen, holds the franchise record for most goals since the franchise moved to Denver, scoring 55 during the 2022-23 season.

MacKinnon was a huge part of the Avs’ success this season. The team had an incredible start and has sat atop the league standings pretty much wire-to-wire. Along with the likes of Martin Necas, Brock Nelson and Cale Makar, Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history, and first since the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign.

MacKinnon ended up leading the Avalanche with 127 points, good for third in the league behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (130) and Art Ross Trophy winner and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (134).

The Rocket Richard is the first individual award for MacKinnon since he won the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2023-24. The 30-year-old is certainly in the Hart conversation with his efforts this season.

The 2014 Calder Trophy winner has scored 420 goals and 722 assists for 1,142 points in 950 regular-season games in the NHL, with another 125 points in 95 Stanley Cup playoff games.