Avalanche coach Jared Bednar reacts to viral Nathan MacKinnon pool workout video

A viral video showing Nathan MacKinnon grinding through an intense underwater workout during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs sparked league-wide attention this week. After learning about it, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar sounded more amused than surprised by it.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, Bednar jokingly opened with, “Spies in our hotel?” after being asked about footage of MacKinnon training in a Minnesota hotel pool. The clip showed the Avalanche superstar using flippers, goggles, and underwater balance drills designed to sharpen spatial awareness and recovery.

For Bednar, the video simply reinforced what the organization already knows about its franchise center.

“It’s a mentality, right?” Bednar said. “Nate kind of leads the charge in this, and I’m sure there’s other guys that lead the charge in similar areas, and they’re always talking about what players are doing in our sport to get better, what players are doing in other sports to get better.”

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The Avalanche coach explained that MacKinnon constantly searches for new ways to improve physically and mentally, whether through traditional conditioning or unconventional recovery methods.

“I think the strength and conditioning team and some of the people that we have around have a lot to do with that,” Bednar said. “Nate himself has a lot to do with it. He’s going to leave no stone unturned.

“So if there’s something that a player tries, and they feel like it helps them, and there’s science behind it, there’s personal beliefs behind it, and it helps make them better or more prepared to play or helps them on the ice and situational awareness, whatever it is,

“These things can be mental, they can be physical, but our guys are kind of, like, they’re all sort of in tune with that, searching and looking for ways to get better and to help them prepare for the competition, and Nate’s obviously a guy that is willing to think outside the box and go to different areas.”

The timing of the viral attention makes sense given MacKinnon’s dominance this season. The Avalanche star posted 127 points during the regular season, won the Rocket Richard Trophy, and entered Saturday leading Colorado through another deep playoff run.

Nathan MacKinnon’s habits continue shaping Colorado’s identity