Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon: Commands seven-year contract extension

MacKinnon (knee) signed a seven-year, $44.1 million contract extension with the Avalanche on Friday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Analysis:

MacKinnon received a qualifying offer from the Avs in late June, with team executive vice president and general manager Joe Sakic saying Friday, "Signing Nathan to a long-term contract was a priority this offseason. He is going to be a key part of our team for many years to come and it was important to secure his rights moving forward." MacKinnon's 2015-16 campaign was cut short by 10 games due to a left MCL sprain, but he still managed to produce 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) over the course of the season. Just 20 years old, MacKinnon is a power-play dynamo who should fly off draft boards this fall.