Construction delays and measurement concerns continue to cast uncertainty over the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic hockey venue.

When examined closely, Martin Nečas and Nathan MacKinnon reveal a strikingly similar blueprint—parallel in skill, mindset, and the nuanced growing pains that have shaped their paths to NHL prominence.

Learn more about Nathan MacKinnon's international career and his road to the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals, points and his second in assists and is NHL.com's favorite at the quarter-mark of the season to win the Hart Trophy as the League's most valuable player to his team, earning 14 out of a possible 16 first-place votes and finishing with 70 voting points, 30 more than anyone else.

Stars forward Mikko Rantanen used ex-teammate Nathan MacKinnon as an example to explain his connection with Wyatt Johnston.

Nathan MacKinnon is powering the Colorado Avalanche to a dominant season with historic five-on-five numbers and league-leading production. His impact sharply contrasts Connor McDavid’s, whose even-strength struggles mirror Edmonton’s collapse.

Nathan MacKinnon has, by nearly any measure, achieved the full spectrum of professional triumphs: a Stanley Cup championship, a host of individual accolades, a Four Nations title, a wedding ring, and—should the organizers in Milan manage to align their ambitions—perhaps even an Olympic gold medal in the near future.