Colorado Avalanche captain Nathan MacKinnon didn’t have much to say when asked about the possibility of facing his longtime former teammate Mikko Rantanen in the Western Conference playoffs. Speaking to reporters after Friday's practice and following the Rantanen trade to the Dallas Stars,

The Colorado Avalanche has a re-tooled roster capable of winning the Stanley Cup, but the cost makes it a huge risk.

With such a bold move for one of the premier players available ahead of Friday's trade deadline, the Avs will strengthen their Stanley Cup aspirations surrounding star forward Nathan MacKinnon with even more firepower.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon continues to prove why he’s among the best in the world. Through 61 games this season, he has 23 goals and 68 assists, totaling 91 points—putting him on pace for the second-highest point total of his career.

With the NHL’s trade deadline now in the rearview mirror, we’re going to pinpoint below the league’s teams that are shaping up as true Stanley Cup contenders. In alphabetical order:

Nathan MacKinnon's childhood idol and role model has turned into a training partner and an offseason neighbor back home in the Halifax area of their native Nova Scotia. One of his closest friends, too.

The Colorado Avalanche have had one major weakness on their roster the past couple of seasons that has really held them back come playoff time: the lack of a legitimate second-line center.

Speculation grows as Sidney Crosby might join the Colorado Avalanche to reunite with Nathan MacKinnon after showcasing chemistry at the 4 Nations Face-Off. With MacKinnon securing an eight-year contract and the Avalanche's strong Stanley Cup prospects,

Weeks after the Colorado Avalanche traded away Mikko Rantanen, star Nathan MacKinnon issued an honest admission on a key difference in Colorado's game with Martin Necas.

DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon’s childhood idol and role ... place in the Central Division — as they try to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in four seasons. Crosby spoke glowingly about ...