The NHL Draft takes place this coming Sunday June 30 and the Colorado Avalanche have all but stated their intention who the organization would draft with its first overall pick.
According to NHL.com, Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy both voiced an interest in drafting center Nathan MacKinnon.
"I think if we had to do it today, right now, he would probably be the guy, yes," Sakic said Monday about picking MacKinnon. "But we still have some time."
"Nathan MacKinnon, we saw what he did at the Memorial Cup," he added. "He's always, ever since he's been a kid, been able to elevate his game. That's one thing I like about him -- it doesn't matter about the moment, the time, he looks forward to that, he cherishes that. He's lived under the microscope of being the next [Sidney] Crosby and he's done pretty well with that. I'm not saying he will [be the next Crosby], but he's got a lot of upside."
"It would be tough for us not to take MacKinnon. MacKinnon is ready to play tomorrow," Roy added.
The 6-foot, 182 pound center is currently second on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters; defenseman Seth Jones is the top prospect according to the rankings. MacKinnon scored 32 goals, 43 assists and earned a plus-40 rating in 44 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular-season games before notching 33 points in 17 playoff games on the way to winning the championship in 2012-13.
MacKinnon has previously stated that he would enjoy working with the legendary Roy in Colorado. "He'd be a great person to develop under," MacKinnon said of working with Roy. "He has a very competitive nature and I think I have that, too, so I think it'd go really well. He wants to win and I'd love to play for him. It'd be great."
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