The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon is the NHL’s fifth-best center and right wing Mikko Rantanen ranks 17th among wingers, according to the NHL Network, which is running its top 20 lists heading into the 2018-19 season.
Defenseman Tyson Barrie didn’t make the network’s cut; he was listed as being “on the bubble.…
Here’s the network list of TOP 20 CENTERS.
MacKinnon played a pivotal role as the Avalanche improved by 47 points in the standings and reached the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2013-14. He was fifth in NHL scoring with career highs in goals (39), assists (58) and points (97) in 74 games. The Hart Trophy runner-up to New Jersey’s Taylor Hall, MacKinnon and Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point tied for the league lead with 12 game-winning goals, matching Joe Sakic’s Avalanche record set in 2000-01.
MacKinnon led the league in scoring at home with 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists) in 39 games, tying another of Sakic’s Colorado records set in 2000-01. MacKinnon had point streaks of 14 and nine games.
Here’s the network list of TOP 20 WINGS.
Rantanen, in his second NHL season, tied for 16th in league scoring with career bests in goals (29), assists (55) and points (84). He had nine games with at least three points and three games with four points. Rantanen led the Avalanche in games (81) and power-play points (35). He tied MacKinnon for the team lead with 12 power-play goals.
Here’s the network list of TOP 20 DEFENSEMEN.
Here’s the network list of D’s ON THE BUBBLE.
Like MacKinnon and Rantanen, Barrie set career highs for goals (14), assists (43) and points (57) despite missing 13 games with a broken hand. He had seven power-play goals and 30 power-play points, also career bests. He averaged 22:42 in ice time, second on the Avalanche to Erik Johnson’s 25:26.