Nathan MacKinnon achieves significant career milestone
Mar 10, 2025, 7:22 PM | Updated: 9:15 pm
Nathan MacKinnon became the 100th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point benchmark on Monday night with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal for the Colorado Avalanche against the Chicago Blackhawks to take a 1-0 lead in the third period.
MacKinnon almost got it done early in the game on a pass to Martin Necas but after everyone celebrated the Hawks challenged and the play was deemed offsides.
THE AVALANCHE BENCH CLEARS AFTER NATHAN MACKINNON EARNS HIS 1,000TH CAREER POINT pic.twitter.com/MB1tnYcPKF
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 11, 2025
Almost two hours later the first shift of the third period broke the deadlock and got Nate Dogg his mark. He set up a point shot for Toews, who sent it through to the net where Lehkonen tipped it in.
THIS ONE COUNTS
NATHAN MACKINNON HAS 1,000 CAREER POINTS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I68i7FPzc0
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 11, 2025
MacKinnon got 1,001 on his next shift, getting Necas his goal back and putting the Avs up 2-0.
MacKinnon, 29, has played his entire 12-year NHL career in Colorado and is third in franchise history for points behind Joe Sakic (1,641) and Peter Stastny (1,048.) Both of those historic players played for Quebec before the franchise relocated, meaning MacKinnon is now just 15 points shy of tying Sakic’s Avalanche career record.
MacKinnon is one of 11 active NHL players with over 1,000 points—led by Sidney Crosby, who just passed Sakic for ninth all-time last week with an assist against the Avs.
MacKinnon’s 1,000th point of his career was the 101st of his season, the third-straight season the reigning Hart Trophy winner has eclipsed a century. MacKinnon’s goals per game is down a bit but his assist rate is up, which has again placed him among the frontrunners for NHL’s MVP award.
MacKinnon has played in all 65 games this season, leading a banged-up crew to the fourth-best record in the West. In fact, the Avs 47 players used this season is by far the most in the NHL. Though some of those are now reinforcements that have come, with the club making a bevy of moves ahead of last Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline.
