DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon only played one preseason game in 2023 and went on to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. His linemate Mikko Rantanen usually prefers to play two but he only appeared in one and had another 100-plus point season. It’s pretty easy to conclude that some of the veterans don’t need a lot of exhibition play to get up to speed.

But is preseason too long in general?

“I prefer not to have a three-week camp [including preseason]. When we were in covid, coming out of covid twice, camp was 10-12, days,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “We played a couple exhibition games and we were rolling and that was plenty of time for our team to get up and rolling.”

This is a more unique season for the Avs. Teams expected to contend for the Stanley Cup don’t often have many roster spots up for grabs. Just last year, Colorado’s defense was figured out before camp began. And at forward, 11 of the 12 expected to dress for opening night were solidified well before September. The only position up for grabs was the fourth-line center role, which eventually was won by Freddy Olofsson. But had preseason been shorter, Bednar still feels the team would’ve had enough time to figure out its roster.

This year, the Avs have a lot more than just one position on the fourth line for grabs. The absences of Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin to start the year have made it so.

“There are three open spots in our roster to start opening night, and we have a lot of options at all of the positions,” Bednar said. “We can move guys from wing to center, which we’re doing. We may have to move players from center to wing. It just depends on who’s playing well and as they play well, then we start thinking more and more about what our opening night roster looks like, and where we may have to move someone.

“Like a player like [Ross] Colton, he might have to move up and play with Middlestadt. And if he does that, then what does our roster look like? So there’s a lot going on.”

But despite the challenge of figuring all of that out, Bednar still thinks the 10-12 day COVID-lengthed camps and preseason would be enough.

Among the top stars on the team, Rantanen echoed those sentiments.

“Nowadays guys come in [to camp] in good shape,” Rantanen said. “I think two games and hard practices should be enough to get you ready for the season. I understand some guys who might think if you play as a veteran four or five preseason games, I understand why they’re thinking it’s probably too long or too many games.”

For MacKinnon, preseason is more than just getting up to game speed. As one of the NHL’s elite, and of course, the reigning MVP who is in tune with his health 365 days a year, we are unlikely to ever see a training camp where MacKinnon isn’t in game shape right away.

But the superstar feels other aspects of the lengthy camp make it worthwhile. The Avs have had a lot of turnover year-over-year since winning the Stanley Cup. Perhaps having more time with your teammates could help with off-ice chemistry.

“I enjoy camp. Honestly, summer gets long too. So it’s like, what do you do? Do you want to be at home for another two weeks,” MacKinnon said. “At least we have everything we need here. Good skates and being around the guys that you’re going to be with the whole season. So I enjoy it.”

One thing to factor in is, not every team is in the Avs’ position. Even with three spots up for grabs, Colorado is nowhere near the top of the list of open roster spots available. A rebuilding team like the Anaheim Ducks or San Jose Sharks could use the extra time to figure out their lineups. As it currently stands, each team is required to play between six and eight preseason games.

The Avs, whether they’re rebuilding or a Stanley Cup contender, traditionally always schedule six games.

“I think it’s important that these young guys play and they get to showcase their abilities,” MacKinnon said. I mean, I don’t have to play in them, so I don’t really care how many we play.”