The situation around Nathan MacKinnon looked pretty bad. The online responses were even worse.
Fans of the Avalanche and those following the league couldn’t help but notice how the captain of Colorado was struggling to skate during crucial moments in their Game 3 defeat against Vegas on Sunday.
The NHL Review didn’t hold back, stating, “It’s really not a good look for MacKinnon to be out there limping like that. ” The article mentioned that maybe winning another championship is what he needs to fix how people see him.
When an injured player plays through pain, we usually think of it as a brave thing. But what we saw on Sunday didn’t feel that way at all.
Seeing a star player, who earns $12.6 million, barely able to move his leg while playing hurts the team. It damages the brand. It affects the player’s reputation.
That’s a tough thing to say about a player who just had an amazing season with 127 points. Some of this criticism is valid, but some of it overlooks who he is and the achievements he’s made.
Before Sunday, MacKinnon had scored 14 points in 11 playoff matches, with 7 goals and 7 assists. That’s not a player having a bad playoff. That’s a player lifting his team.
The injury he took was serious. You could see he was in pain. The decision about whether he should have been playing in his state is more of a conversation for Jared Bednar, the coach, rather than just MacKinnon alone.
Colorado was already keeping an eye on Cale Makar, who was labeled as day-to-day this round. Now, their captain is also struggling and on the same injury list.
General Manager Chris MacFarland’s team finished the season at the top, with a record of 55 wins, 16 losses, and 11 ties, totaling 121 points and a goal difference of plus-99. They cannot win the Cup if either of these two players is hobbled.
Vegas witnessed it. John Tortorella’s team knows how to put a lot of pressure on defenders who aren’t fast on their feet. They will take full advantage of a weak defense and a center who isn’t moving quickly.
What will Colorado do if MacKinnon can’t play in Game 4? They really have no good options. The talk around it will just keep getting worse.
Honestly, some of the remarks online go too far. A player who is blocking a shot and tries to return in a playoff game shouldn’t have their entire career judged by that moment. But that’s how it is in 2026.
MacKinnon’s achievements don’t vanish just because he limped for a moment on camera. His reputation was never one playoff series away from being changed completely.
The next two days are crucial. It looks bad if he sits out when he can’t play. But everyone wants him to somehow be ready to go.
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