MacKinnon taking a huge risk playing with injury at ASG!

Colorado Avalanche fans are stressing out since Thursday when Sportsnet’s John Shannon reported that star forward Nathan MacKinnon had undergone an MRI on his foot. They are getting more anxious to know if he will take the risk to participate in the All-Star Game and the skills competition.

Nathan MacKinnon and Avs being cautious today. MRI on his foot. AllStar appearance is in question.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) January 24, 2019

It has yet to be determined if MacKinnon will back out from taking part in the All-Star Game.

Later on Thursday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun revealed that there was a "sense here in San Jose is that MacKinnon will still come for ASG festivities even if he doesn’t play, which will protect him from the one-game ban post All-Star."

Sense here in San Jose is that MacKinnon will still come for ASG festivities even if he doesn’t play. That will protect him from the one-game ban post all star https://t.co/mybyL5B4Lc
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 25, 2019

Team insider Adrian Dater says he will be a game-time decision...

Nathan MacKinnon will be a game-time decision whether to play in ASG. Left foot was dinged in last game. Not serious, but a chance he sits it out @BSNDenver
— Adrian Dater (@adater) January 25, 2019

The rules are not very clear when it comes to the All-Star Game: if MacKinnon has a legitimate injury and can’t play, there is still a chance he will be slapped with an automatic one-game suspension for missing the weekend. It seems like the Avalanche could be playing it safe by sending MacKinnon anyway in order to prove that he’s not trying to get out of it to go on a vacation.

This year, two star players in Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price announced that they would miss the All-Star weekend, looking to rest before the end of the regular season calendar and for a long playoff run. Some fans were disappointed, but seemed to understand: the players are tired and want to rest up to be as healthy as possible when it matters most. They will both serve the automatic one-game suspension when the action picks up in February.

MacKinnon was named one of the four All-Star captains this year, representing the Central Division alongside Avalanche linemates Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.

Like the Avalanche think they are playing it safe to avoid the one-game suspension, it remains a huge risk to send a possibly injured player on the ice for the competitions. Let's hope MacKinnon chooses to stay out and does not aggravate his injury during the festivities. You know how crazy hockey players can get...

With 27 goals and 44 assists in 50 games played this season, MacKinnon cannot miss time in order to get the Avalanche in playoff contention.