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The Colorado Avalanche placed 29th overall this season. They went into the Draft lottery knowing they would get, at a minimum, a top three pick in the 51st NHL Entry Draft. Heading into the Draft on June 30th in New Jersey, the trade rumours were heating up, but in the end Joe Sakic and crew felt that they were unable to get enough out of a trade and so they decided to keep the pick.
The week and a half leading into the Draft Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy told the media that if the draft was to occur "at this very moment", they would take Nathan Mackinnon. Numerous sites, and reportedly numerous GM's, believed that it was posturing on the Colorado Avalanche side. But it wasn't.
The Colorado Avalanche went up the podium, first overall and welcomed Nathan MacKinnon to the team. MacKinnon was so excited earlier this morning that he woke up at 5 am and started getting ready. He thought the alarm had gone off. He only stopped getting ready when Seth Jones asked him what was going on.
MHH had an article up covering MacKinnon earlier this summer, including some video. "This regular season he played in 44 games and had 75 assists. Orginally MacKinnon was drafted by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, but Halifax wanted him. Desperately. They used three first round draft picks to get him. Since he has played for the Mooseheads, with Drouin as not only a teammate - but a linemate, he has tied a Halifax record - five goals in one game. He has also represented Canada numerous times: 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (as part of Canada Atlantic), 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (as part of Canada Atlantic), 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships."
When I asked MacKinnon his thoughts on being on a team with Patrick Roy behind the bench he answered: "Yeah, he'd be a great person to develop under. He's a winner. He has a very competitive nature and I think I have that too, so it'd go really well. Like I said, he wants to win. He'll do anything to win. I'd love to play for him. It'd be great".
Welcome to the Colorado Avalanche Nathan!