Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: a weekly look at the players generating the most talk around the league. Being on this list means a player is capturing significant attention in the hockey world.
The players are listed in no particular order based on the buzz they are creating. We will update the Star Power Index every week during the regular season.
26
64
+31
The Vegas Golden Knights are seeing a great return on their investment in Jack Eichel, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. Eichel led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in 2023 and is having what might be his best statistical season.
Eichel has reached a career-high 90 points (26 goals and 64 assists), surpassing his previous high of 80 points from earlier in his 10-year career.
He scored a hat trick in Tuesday`s 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, his third since joining the Golden Knights, tying him for the second-most hat tricks in franchise history.
In the first period, Eichel passed to Shea Theodore, whose shot was blocked. Eichel was in the right place to score on the rebound past Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
With Vegas leading 2-1 in the third, Eichel showed patience on a power play. After William Karlsson won a face-off, Eichel got the puck at the face-off circle and fired a shot past Fleury.
Eichel completed his hat trick with the final goal of the game at 17:28, securing the win.
Eichel is projected to reach 105 points this season and has helped the Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division. He is currently on a four-game point streak with five goals and five assists.
32
41
+10
After a career-best 109-point season in 2022-23, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars saw a slight decrease in performance. However, he seems to have regained his top form.
Robertson leads Dallas 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 a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
With the Stars already leading 1-0, Robertson started his scoring spree at 5:01 of the second. Mikko Rantanen passed to Roope Hintz while falling, who then passed to Robertson for a backhand goal.
Just over five minutes later, Robertson scored again after coming out of the penalty box on a two-on-one. 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. They needed all his goals as the Oilers scored three unanswered goals in the final period.
Robertson may not surpass his career-high of 46 goals, but his offensive output has increased this season. This is his third season in the last four with at least 30 goals.
13
44
+13
With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl injured, the Edmonton Oilers need offense from other players, and Evan Bouchard has stepped up significantly.
Bouchard has 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 narrow the gap against the Stars after they were down 4-0.
In the third period, Bouchard shot on net, and Zach Hyman scored on the rebound, making it 4-3 in the final minutes.
Bouchard has three assists in his last three games and has four goals and eight assists in March.
He ranks third on the team in points (57) behind McDavid and Draisaitl and is third among defensemen in points and sixth in assists.
While not as offensively dominant as McDavid or Draisaitl, Bouchard provides valuable playmaking for Edmonton, especially now. He will be crucial in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
27-17-6
2.46
91.6
The Colorado Avalanche traded Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood earlier this season, and it appears to be a goaltending upgrade.
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.
Blackwood recorded his fourth shutout, stopping all 22 shots in a 4-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. It was his third straight game allowing two or fewer goals.
He also played well on Tuesday, saving 21 of 23 shots in a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Blackwood has only one regulation loss in his last nine starts.
The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with Darcy Kuemper but could not keep him. They then acquired Georgiev, who had inconsistent performance before being traded. Blackwood has become the reliable goalie the Avalanche need and could be a key factor in the postseason.
