Avalanche sign No. 1 pick Nathan MacKinnon to entry-level contract

The Avs signed No. 1 draft pick Nathan MacKinnon to a three-year deal. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHL/Getty Images)

The Colorado Avalanche signed the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Nathan MacKinnon to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced Tuesday.

MacKinnon was the first player to be selected No. 1 by the Avalanche since the franchise moved to Colorado in 1995.

The 17-year-old MacKinnon led the Halifax Mooseheads to a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title and first Memorial Cup championship last season.

MacKinnon had 75 points in 44 games for Halifax during the regular season.

MUIR: Evaluating MacKinnon

"The signing of this first NHL contract represents for me another step toward becoming a professional hockey player," MacKinnon said in a statement. "I am excited and thrilled to have been drafted by the Avalanche, and I am already working very hard in order to be ready physically and mentally for training camp." Earlier this month, Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said MacKinnon likely would be his third-line center.

"We are happy to have Nathan under contract and anxious to see him at training camp," Avalanche executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said in a statement. "His presence will bring additional speed and talent to our team, as well as a lot of excitement to our fans."