Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index, a weekly look at players generating significant attention in the league. Inclusion in this list signifies high buzz, whether positive or negative, reflecting their current impact on the hockey world.
Players are listed without ranking, based on the buzz they are creating. The Star Power Index will be updated weekly throughout the regular season.
The Vegas Golden Knights are seeing a great return on their investment in Jack Eichel, acquired from Buffalo in 2021. After leading Vegas to a Stanley Cup in 2023, Eichel is having his best statistical season yet.
He has achieved a career-high 90 points (26 goals, 64 assists), surpassing his previous high of 80 points achieved earlier in his 10-year career.
Eichel scored a hat trick in Tuesday`s 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, his third with the Golden Knights, tying him for second-most hat tricks in franchise history.
His goals included a well-timed shot past Marc-Andre Fleury after a blocked shot and a powerful power-play goal. He completed his hat trick late in the game, securing the win.
Eichel is on track for 105 points this season, leading the Golden Knights to the top of the Pacific Division and currently on a four-game point streak with five goals and five assists.
After a 109-point season in 2022-23, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars experienced a slight dip in performance. However, he seems to be regaining his top form.
Robertson leads Dallas with 32 goals and is tied for second in points with 73. He recently achieved a natural hat trick in the second period of a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
His hat trick included a backhand goal from a pass, a shot from a two-on-one opportunity, and a final goal to extend the lead. The Stars needed all his goals as the Oilers mounted a late comeback.
While unlikely to surpass his career-high of 46 goals, Robertson`s offensive output has increased this season, marking his third 30-goal season in the last four years.
With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl injured, the Edmonton Oilers are relying on other players for offense, and defenseman Evan Bouchard is stepping up.
Bouchard has points in three of his last five games, including two assists in a recent loss to Dallas. He contributed to a late rally in that game, helping close a 4-0 deficit.
He has three assists in his last three games and a total of four goals and eight assists in March.
Bouchard is third on the team in points (57) behind McDavid and Draisaitl and ranks third among NHL defensemen in points and sixth in assists.
While not as offensively dominant as McDavid or Draisaitl, Bouchard provides valuable playmaking for Edmonton, especially crucial as the playoffs approach.
The Colorado Avalanche traded for Mackenzie Blackwood earlier this season, and it appears to be a significant upgrade in net.
Blackwood has a 21-8-3 record with a 2.15 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 32 games for the Avalanche. He is also tied for third in the NHL with four shutouts.
He recently recorded his fourth shutout in a win against the Los Angeles Kings, continuing a streak of allowing two or fewer goals in his last three starts.
Blackwood has been consistently strong, suffering only one regulation loss in his last nine starts.
After winning a Stanley Cup with Darcy Kuemper and then facing inconsistency with Alexandar Georgiev, Blackwood is proving to be the reliable goaltender the Avalanche need for a strong playoff push.
