Nathan MacKinnon is now Nathan Mac-K.O.

In addition to being the best hockey payer on the planet, MacKinnon has won more fights in his sport since Christmas 2024 (2-0) than Colorado-based UFC stalwarts Cory Sandhagen (1-2) and Brandon Royval (1-2) have won in theirs.

“Little Muay Thai over the years,” a typically deadpan MacKinnon said of his scrap on Wednesday evening with the Los Angeles Kings’ young goon/defenseman Brandt Clarke, the heavyweight brawl at the heart of the Avalanche’s 8-4 victory in its home opener. “I don’t use it much. Lucky win there.”

Hang on, champ. One, it wasn’t luck. It was some good ol’ fashioned bobbing and weaving, with at least two clear, clean shots where Nate Dogg’s right fist met Clarke’s face before the tussle went horizontal on the ice.

Two, the NHL needs more “Muay Thai” talk. The art of eight limbs is a personal MMA favorite among the Grading The Week crew’s combat sports sickos. Although good luck landing many high knees to the chin while wearing skates, Mighty MacK.

Three, after much debate and consternation in the GTW offices, and a few days of going back and forth on whether the Avs’ best player dropping gloves was a good, or even necessary, idea, we’re down with Nate throwing down.

MacKinnon defending Makar — B

Is there an injury risk? Without a doubt. In March 2022, MacKinnon suffered what was believed to be a hand injury after fighting Minnesota’s Matt Dumba. The last thing anybody in burgundy and blue wants is a recurring rupture of any kind.

Only here’s the thing: During the ’21-22 season, MacKinnon averaged 1.35 points per game and 0.42 goals before and during his Wild donnybrook. In the 13 regular-season games that followed, Nate Dogg averaged 1.39 points and 0.56 goals per tilt. And we don’t need to remind you what happened for MacKinnon and the Avs in May and June.

And the GTW gang don’t have any issues with MacKinnon sending a message to the Kings, Clarke, the Western Conference or to the free world in general, right from the jump. Because the other pillar of the Avalanche’s current-sorta-kinda dynasty is defender Cale Makar. And Makar, who suffered a significant injury — presumably of the shoulder variety — during last spring’s Stanley Cup run, is a moving target now for opposing checkers.

Earlier in the night, Clarke went after Cale Makar and drove the lithe Avs defender into the boards. The worst-kept secret in hockey is that one way to beat the Avs is to figure out how to take Makar out of the action somehow — even if it means doing it physically. No. 8 needs protection, now more than ever, whether he likes it or not.

“Didn’t love the hit (on Cale),” MacKinnon told reporters later. “I know Cale might have fell, but it is what it is. It’s Cale Makar. But yeah, just kind of (a) spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, too. Sometimes, it just happens.”

Anyone who touches Makar has to go through MMAckinnon now. If someone makes it a point to get extra nasty with Cale, Nate’s got to bring the nasty right back. There have to be repercussions.

It was Nate Dogg’s first dogfight since Dec. 27, 2024, when he’d scrapped with Utah’s Barrett Hayton. Not that you want to make a habit of it, mind you.

“You don’t want him to get hurt,” goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood told reporters. “But I don’t know. The guy’s got big balls.”

And, as it turns out, a pretty big right cross if you happen to cross him.

Jared Bednar extension — C

While Team GTW is willing to take Nikola Jokic at his word about re-upping with the Nuggets, we’re a little less enthused about the Kroenkes handing Avs coach Jared Bednar a four-year extension.

If MacKinnon’s message to the Kings was to leave Makar alone, the message from Nate’s bosses to fans this week is that the Stanley Cups don’t matter as much as Presidents’ Trophies (yuck), regular-season success, and franchise stability. Which we get. We just don’t love it. We’re often asked this: OK, wise guys, who would you hire who’s out there that’s a better coach than Bednar? In the regular season, nobody. But wouldn’t you at least take a look at DU’s David Carle? Or leave that door open just a crack? Bedsy’s never done us wrong, and he’s as professional and accomplished as anyone you’ll find. But that extension wasn’t earned. It was gifted.

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