The previous article on Nathan MacKinnon covered the mechanics of his stride (click here to view that article). This article will cover the practical strategies that MacKinnon employs which allow him to effectively use his speed to blow past defenders and score goals.
By The Numbers
The following numbers are from the 2023-24 season, with data taken from NHL Edge:
| Games Played | 82 |
| Top Speed | 24.05 |
| 22+ mph speed bursts | 118 |
| 20-22 mph speed bursts | 599 |
| 18-20 mph speed bursts | 768 |
Every one of these numbers is in the 99th percentile, meaning that MacKinnon has an elite top speed, is able to reach a high speed level in a short amount of time, and can do all of this consistently throughout an 82-game season.
Speed Tools
#1: High Rate of Linear Crossovers
Nathan MacKinnon uses crossovers in situations where 99% of NHLers would be taking strides.
These are just a few examples, but there are examples from nearly every one of his shifts. He uses crossovers in all three zones of the ice and in all different types of in-game situations. MacKinnon’s unique crossover mechanics allow him not only to generate speed, but also to paralyze defenders by constantly changing his angle of attack. This leads into his second tool.
#2: Attacking Defensemen Inside-Out
Nathan MacKinnon does not skate full speed down the wall and try to simply beat defensemen wide. Rather, he attacks at the defensemen, then takes crossovers towards the boards, and then takes crossovers to start moving back towards the net. This technique makes it far more difficult for defensemen to angle MacKinnon, as they have the respect him taking the middle ice as a real threat.
#3: Little Push-Offs
The little push-off is a move that MacKinnon uses a lot in games to control his speed while also positioning his body to get up ice very quickly if necessary. The little push-off is when MacKinnon takes many consecutive, short strides with the same leg. MacKinnon rarely reaches a full stop during his shifts, often preferring to take these little push-offs to maintain his glide and keep his speed to some degree. MacKinnon already has exceptional acceleration, and employing the little push-off tactic gives him an extra head start.
This is an example of the little push-off after a faceoff. Rather than skate in a straight line and then begin his crossovers up-ice, MacKinnon elects to use his little push-offs as a better option for controlling his speed.
The next example demonstrates three different instances of MacKinnon using little push-offs, all from the same shift. You can see that these push-offs are often subtle, but they are a frequently used method that allow him to maintain speed.
MacKinnon uses the little push-offs as the off-puck option entering the zone in order to maintain good spacing. Then, on the backcheck, MacKinnon recognizes that he needs to pick up a player that he has already skated by. He uses the push-offs here to both slow himself down to be level with the opposing attacker, and also to maintain enough speed so that if the puck transitions the other way he is not starting from a standstill.
#4: Wide Stance and Anchor
This is another move that MacKinnon frequently employs to slow himself down without coming to a full stop. However, while his little push offs are taken when he does not have the puck, MacKinnon gets into his wide stance most frequently when he does. The wide stance allows MacKinnon to slow down quickly without having to rotate his entire body as he would in a traditional hockey stop. The anchor, a move in which the player lifts the toe of one of his skates off the ice, allows MacKinnon to sharply change direction, and also adds a layer of deception to his puck moves. His goal this season against Carolina is a prime example of him using both a wide stance and an anchor (key in on his left skate to see the anchor move):
#5: A Play-Fast Mindset
This final tool is more abstract, and perhaps more obvious, than the previous four but is nonetheless the most important. There are a lot of great skaters in the NHL who rarely get to top speed during their shifts, eschewing downhill attacks in favor of trying to slow the game down. MacKinnon has an attack-first mindset and gets at or close to top speed nearly every shift. Even on rushes where MacKinnon pulls up to make a play, he still attacks at top speed prior to turning back. MacKinnon has an intense, competitive temperament, and it shows in his attack mentality on the ice.
Videos obtained via InStat. Photo by Ron Chenoy, USA Today Sports
A Note on the Player Reports
These player reports are designed to provide analysis on what makes the best players in the NHL so good. Please get in touch with me (information found in the Contact Me page) if you have any players/skills that you would like me to analyze and I’ll be sure to respond quickly. For examples of other analyses, see my work on Matthews’ goal-scoring or Kucherov’s collection of skills.
