Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: A weekly look at the players creating the most talk in the league. Being on this list means a player is getting a lot of attention in the hockey world.
The players are listed without any ranking based on buzz. We will update the Star Power Index every week during the regular season.
Since joining the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021 from the Buffalo Sabres, Jack Eichel has proven to be a valuable acquisition. He helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023 and is currently having what could be his best statistical season yet.
Eichel has achieved a personal best of 90 points (26 goals and 64 assists), surpassing his previous high of 80 points from earlier in his 10-year career.
In Tuesday`s game against the Minnesota Wild, which the Golden Knights won 5-1, Eichel scored three goals. This was his third hat trick with the team, tying him for the second-most hat tricks in franchise history.
In the first period, with 6:23 on the clock, Eichel passed across the ice to Shea Theodore, who shot at the net. When the shot was blocked, Eichel was in perfect position to score against Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who was out of position.
Leading 2-1 in the third period during a power play, Eichel showed great poise. After William Karlsson won a face-off in the offensive zone, Vegas set up their power play. Eichel, with the puck at the top of the face-off circle, used the open space to fire a powerful shot past Fleury.
Eichel completed his hat trick with the game`s final goal at 17:28, securing the win.
He is projected to reach 105 points this season and has helped the Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division as the regular season nears its end. Eichel is currently on a four-game point streak, with five goals and five assists.
After a career-best 109-point season in 2022-23, Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson`s production has decreased slightly. However, he seems to be regaining his top form on a strong Dallas team.
Robertson is the Stars` leading scorer with 32 goals and is tied for second in points with 73, along with Matt Duchene. He recently scored a natural hat trick in the second period of the Stars` 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
With Dallas already up 1-0 against the Oilers, Robertson started his scoring spree at 5:01 of the second period. Mikko Rantanen passed to Roope Hintz while falling, and Hintz then passed to Robertson, who scored with a backhand shot.
Just over five minutes later, Robertson scored again after coming out of the penalty box into a two-on-one situation. Instead of passing to Rantanen, Robertson shot and scored under Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner`s pad.
Robertson completed his natural hat trick less than five minutes later, giving the Stars a 4-0 lead. The Oilers then scored three goals, making Robertson`s goals crucial for the win.
While Robertson may not beat his career-high of 46 goals, his offensive output has increased this season. This is his third season with at least 30 goals in the last four years.
The Edmonton Oilers are currently missing key offensive players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injuries. As a result, they are relying on other players for offense, and defenseman Evan Bouchard has stepped up significantly.
Bouchard has scored points in three of his last five games, including two assists in a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. After an earlier assist, Bouchard helped the Oilers close a 4-0 deficit against the Stars.
At 18:35 of the third period, Bouchard shot on net, and although Jake Oettinger saved it, Zach Hyman scored on the rebound, making it 4-3 with 90 seconds left.
Bouchard has three assists in his last three games and has a total of four goals and eight assists in March.
The Oilers defenseman is third on the team in points (57), behind McDavid and Draisaitl. He is also third among NHL defensemen in points and sixth in assists (44).
While not as offensively dominant as McDavid or Draisaitl, Bouchard provides valuable playmaking ability that Edmonton needs, especially now. He will be a crucial player for the Oilers in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Earlier this season, the Colorado Avalanche traded Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks and acquired Mackenzie Blackwood. It has become clear that this move has improved their goaltending significantly.
Blackwood has a 21-8-3 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 32 games for the Avalanche. He is also tied for third in the NHL with four shutouts this season.
Blackwood achieved his fourth shutout of the season by stopping all 22 shots in a 4-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. This was his third game in a row allowing two or fewer goals.
On Tuesday, Blackwood played exceptionally well again, saving 21 of 23 shots in a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings. He has only lost once in regulation in his last nine starts.
The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with Darcy Kuemper in goal but couldn`t keep him due to free agency in 2022. They then acquired Georgiev, but his performance in Colorado was inconsistent before he was traded to San Jose.
Blackwood has become the reliable goalie the Avalanche needed and could be a key factor in the upcoming playoffs.
