Nathan MacKinnon trailing Connor McDavid in points has stirred talk, but Colorado Avalanche context, team success, and impact tell a fuller story for fans watching this season unfold.
The idea that MacKinnon must lead the NHL in scoring to validate his season misses the bigger picture of how Colorado is winning games. Points matter, but they are not the only measure of dominance in today's league.
MacKinnon impact matters beyond raw point totals.
The Mile High Sticking piece frames this debate around perspective rather than rivalry, and that framing fits. Being a few points behind McDavid does not erase MacKinnon's Hart Trophy level impact or his nightly workload.
MacKinnon has driven Colorado's offense night after night, often facing top matchups while still pushing play uphill. His speed through the neutral zone and power off the rush continue to tilt the ice, regardless of who finishes the play.
The Avalanche's record reflects that influence more than any leaderboard snapshot. Colorado has banked wins with a structured attack that flows through MacKinnon without relying solely on one stat column.
That context matters when comparisons heat up between elite players on very different teams. Edmonton leans heavily on Connor McDavid's scoring explosions, while Colorado spreads damage across multiple lines built around MacKinnon's engine.
This is where fans in Denver feel the difference, because MacKinnon's shifts often change momentum even when he does not record a point. There is a confidence when he hops the boards that something is about to happen.
MacKinnon's season includes goals scored off broken plays, assists created by pure speed, and shifts that pin opponents deep until matchups crack. Those moments do not always show up in clean point comparisons.
Colorado's supporting cast has benefited from that gravity. Wingers slide into space, defensemen activate with confidence, and the Avalanche spend less time defending because MacKinnon pushes play north.
The conversation also ignores usage and responsibilities. MacKinnon plays heavy minutes at even strength, quarterbacks transition, and still carries top power play duties without cheating the other side of the puck.
In the end, Colorado fans care more about April positioning than December leaderboards. If MacKinnon keeps driving wins, the points race will feel like background noise by the time games truly tighten.