Thank you, Kiz! It’s about time someone called out Avs center Nathan MacKinnon. He’s a jerk. Did you notice this past season that whenever No. 29 was named the second or third star of the game in Colorado that he failed to appear on the ice? We fans did. As the three stars are a time-honored tradition, we took it as MacKinnon not only disrespecting the fans but the game. Two seasons ago, after the Avs were eliminated from the playoffs on home ice, while his teammates went to center ice to salute Colorado fans, MacKinnon stood by the gate at the bench, lifted his stick waist high and immediately departed.  Up in Section 126 of Ball Arena, we noticed. Just a thought: We know Connor McDavid sent a message to the Oilers by signing a two-year deal. Why not make a trade. MacKinnon for McDavid. Straight up.

— Bill, sees the real MacK

Kiz: Now there’s a blockbuster trade that would send tremors through the NHL universe. Superstar for superstar. Nearly the same age. Almost identical salaries. Both fed up with playoff frustration. A change of scenery might do both McDavid and MacKinnon good. Color me intrigued. If Joe Sakic hasn’t already placed an exploratory call to Edmonton, it’s time for Trader Joe to get busy.

Kiz: There’s much about hockey I don’t know. But as a former teacher, I’ve picked up on MacKinnon’s body language a number of times. He is spoiled and selfish, one of those kids who doesn’t share. Everything is about him. The Avs should trade MacKinnon while he’s got value. One person like him can ruin the entire team. A narcissist doesn’t do well when he can’t control everything. I admire MacKinnon’s abilities, but do not think he’s a good fit any longer for the Avs.

— Sally, armchair analyst

Kiz: OK, at the risk of riling Colorado fans, my firsthand observation is that MacKinnon and our old buddy Carmelo Anthony have more in common than anyone might like to admit. Both super-competitive and uber-talented. But like Melo, MacK gets way too much up in his feelings when adversity strikes. That kind of tension from a team’s best player reverberates throughout the locker room.

I wanted to say I really enjoyed your salute to the late Claude Lemieux. Excellent and thought-provoking. I learned a lot. 

— John, kind-hearted

Kiz: The death of Pepe hit me as hard as a hip check to the soul. I admire the family’s heartfelt decision to donate Lemieux’s brain to CTE research. Yes, the rock-’em, sock-’em hits are an undeniable part of the sport’s appeal. But as I’ve long argued, all the old-time hockey balderdash of settling on-ice disagreements with fists of vigilante justice has got to go. It’s stupid. And dangerous.

And today’s final shot takes great umbrage with anyone who dares to step outside the echo chamber to speak an uncomfortable truth.

If Kiz had any actual knowledge that pertained to hockey, he wouldn’t have to write ridiculous shock headlines to grab people’s attention. Look! I can do it too: John Tortorella fights Scotty Bowman over the last popsicle at P.K. Subban’s party!

— Kevin, hockey know-it-all