Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon a big fan of new Islanders coach Patrick Roy

TORONTO — Nathan Mac-Kinnon is participating in his seventh straight All-Star Weekend. He won a Stanley Cup in 2022 with the Avalanche — who are leading contenders again this season — and is second in the NHL with 84 points on 31 goals and 53 assists in 49 games.

Thank you, Patrick Roy.

MacKinnon played for the recently hired Islanders coach when Roy was behind the Avalanche’s bench from 2013-16 and also served as that organization’s de facto general manager with his title of vice president of hockey operations.

So he was happy to see Roy, who coached against MacKinnon when he ran the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, get a second chance to be a bench boss in the NHL.

“Yeah, he drafted me in 2013,” said MacKinnon, selected first overall that year ahead of the Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Drouin, who went third to the Lightning, and defenseman Seth Jones, picked fourth by the Predators. “I know there wasn’t really a consensus for the top pick. A lot of guys were up for that top pick. I played against the Remparts in the Q and he liked my game and drafted me and had a lot of faith in me.

“I had him for three years and he really pushed me to be better. I wish I was a little better for him, honestly. When he left, I got a little older and developed a little bit more. I think he’s a great coach and a great motivator and I’m sure he’s going to light a spark under the Islanders.”

Sound advice

The Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin was asked if he had any advice for young goalies. He had a simple recipe for success.

“Work hard,” he said. “Listen to the coach and don’t give up a lot of goals.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.