By the summer of 2017, after Colorado had finished dead last in the NHL, MacKinnon was a four-year veteran still searching for his breakthrough, although he had started to show so

It was no surprise to Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar that MacKinnon downplayed his accomplishment that saw him join Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny as the only players in franchise history to reach 1,000 points.

The top pick in 2013, MacKinnon, 29, also is on the precipice of becoming the first player in his draft class to reach 1,000 points (362 goals, 637 assists). The next closest is Florida center Aleksander Barkov — the second overall pick — with 771 points.

MacKinnon joins a select group of active players with 1,000 career points that includes features true legends of the game.

Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon notches the 1,000th point of his career with an assist to Artturi Lehkonen.

Nathan MacKinnon, in his 856th career NHL game, has recorded his 1,000th NHL point. MacKinnon is the 100th player in NHL History to reach the milestone. The Cole Harbour native is also the 23rd player to do it in 856 games or less.