Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index, your weekly update on the league’s most talked-about players. This list highlights players generating significant attention in the hockey world, for various reasons. The players are presented without ranking, reflecting the buzz they are creating. Check back each week for the latest Star Power Index throughout the season.
Nathan MacKinnon is having a very impressive season in the NHL this year. The Colorado Avalanche star recently reached a major career milestone.
MacKinnon achieved his 1,000th career point with two assists in the Avalanche’s 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
The 29-year-old became the 100th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points. MacKinnon joins Joe Sakic (1,641) and Peter Stastny (1,048) as the only players in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to accomplish this feat.
Adding to his achievements, MacKinnon was also the first NHL player this season to reach 100 points. He is only the second player in franchise history, along with Stastny, to have three 100-point seasons.
MacKinnon has recorded points in six of his last seven games, including a two-goal performance in a 7-4 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
At 15:45 of the third period against Toronto, Martin Necas passed the puck to MacKinnon in the opposite face-off circle. MacKinnon controlled the puck, moved towards Anthony Stolarz, and shot the puck over Stolarz’s shoulder for a remarkable goal.
MacKinnon’s goal was the game-winner as the Avalanche defeated the Maple Leafs. Valeri Nichushkin scored a hat trick, and MacKinnon also added an empty-net goal to secure the win.
The Hart Trophy race appears to be between MacKinnon and Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl. MacKinnon is currently projected to score 127 points this season.
It’s been a busy week for Dylan Cozens. He was a significant player traded at the NHL deadline, moving from Buffalo to Ottawa, a team leading the Eastern Conference Wild Card race.
Cozens has started strong with the Senators, scoring two goals and two assists in his first four games. On Tuesday, Cozens scored in a 5-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
During the second period against Philadelphia, Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler tried to clear the puck from his zone, but Cozens gained control in the offensive zone. Cozens then quickly shot the puck past Flyers goalie Ivan Fedotov, making the score 4-2.
Cozens also scored a goal in Monday’s 2-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings.
The 24-year-old was drafted seventh overall by Buffalo in 2019. Cozens recorded 106 points (44 goals and 62 assists) in his first two full seasons with Buffalo, including a career-high 68 points (31 goals and 37 assists) in 2022-23.
However, Cozens’ production decreased in the last two seasons, with only 47 points (18 goals and 29 assists) in 2023-24. Before the trade, he had just 11 goals and 20 assists in 61 games for Buffalo this season.
It’s early, but Cozens seems to have found a good fit in Ottawa. He is centering a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron and could help the Senators end their Stanley Cup Playoff drought this season.
Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour had an outstanding game in a 5-4 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, ending the game dramatically.
Montour scored two goals and two assists, including the game-winning goal just four seconds into overtime.
In the overtime face-off, the puck went forward, and Montour chased it down. He gained control, skated in alone, and shot past Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes for the win.
In the Kraken’s league-leading eighth comeback win of the season, Montour tied an NHL record for the fastest goal at the start of any period, a record previously set three times.
Montour also matched a Kraken record for most points by a defenseman in a single season and became the third NHL defenseman with multiple four-point games this season. He also set a franchise record for most goals in a season by a Kraken defenseman with 15, surpassing Vince Dunn’s 14 goals from 2022-23.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season, Montour signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken in the summer. Montour has brought significant offensive talent to Seattle’s defense, achieving his third double-digit goal season in the last four years.
After two average seasons with the Washington Capitals, veteran goalie Darcy Kuemper is performing well with his new team.
In his first season with the Los Angeles Kings, Kuemper has a 21-8-7 record, a 2.23 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. His goals-against average is second-best among qualified goalies, only behind Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck.
Recently, Kuemper stopped all 21 shots in a 3-0 win against the Capitals on Thursday. He improved his home record to 11-0-1 in his last 12 games, matching the longest home point streak for a Kings goalie since Kelly Hrudey in 1990-91.
Kuemper has a 1.58 goals-against average in March, allowing only two goals in his last three starts. He has allowed just eight goals in five appearances this month.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, Kuemper had a goals-against average of at least 2.87 in the following two seasons. However, he seems to have found success in Los Angeles with a Kings team currently second in the Pacific Division and likely heading to the postseason.
