Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the players who are generating significant excitement around the league. Inclusion in this list signifies a player is capturing considerable attention in the hockey world.
The players are listed without ranking based on buzz. The Star Power Index will be updated weekly throughout the regular season.
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San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini is having a remarkable rookie season, highlighted this week by his first hat trick in an 8-7 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Celebrini scored three goals and provided two assists in the high-scoring game. He became the first 18-year-old in Sharks history to achieve this and the NHL`s third in the last eight seasons, joining Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks and Cole Sillinger of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
This was Celebrini`s fourth multi-goal game in his rookie year.
Celebrini`s first goal came at 7:29 of the first period, capitalizing on excellent puck movement. Rookie teammate Will Smith passed to defenseman Jack Thompson at the blue line, who then got the puck to Celebrini in the slot. Celebrini controlled it and shot it past Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Midway through the third period, Smith chased down a loose puck and, circling the net, found Celebrini heading to the goal. Celebrini lifted a shot that Fleury couldn`t reach for his third goal.
After a slow start, Celebrini has elevated his play in the past two months, recording six goals and 14 assists since March.
He is just two points behind Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson for the rookie points lead. Despite missing early season time, Celebrini remains one of the most impressive rookies.
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Despite a challenging season for the Boston Bruins, star winger David Pastrnak is showcasing his offensive prowess.
In Tuesday`s 7-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils, Pastrnak scored and assisted twice, reaching 100 points for the third straight season. He is the first Czech-born NHL player to achieve this.
Earlier in the week, Pastrnak made history with his first career natural hat trick in a 5-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. He contributed to all five Bruins goals, adding two assists. This also marked his fourth consecutive 40-goal season and fifth overall, tying Rick Middleton for second-most in Bruins history.
Pastrnak dominated the final half of Saturday`s game against the Hurricanes.
Midway through the second period, Pastrnak scored from a sharp angle. Elias Lindholm flipped the puck in front, and Pastrnak kicked it to himself, then fired a side-angle shot past Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen.
At 15:18 of the game, Pastrnak displayed incredible stickhandling. Morgan Geekie entered the Hurricanes zone and found Pastrnak open in the face-off circle. Pastrnak skated in and deked Andersen for another goal.
Pastrnak`s week has been exceptional, with five goals and eight assists in his last four games. Over his last six games, he has seven goals and shows no signs of slowing down, even though the Bruins are missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
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Since entering the NHL in 2022, Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson has consistently improved. This season is his best offensively.
Sanderson has 54 points, and his 43 assists are second on the team, behind Tim Stutzle`s 51.
Sanderson has three goals and two assists in his last five games, scoring in four. He had a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers last Saturday.
At 11:21 of the first period against Florida, Sanderson was perfectly positioned. Shane Pinto got the puck behind the net and passed to Sanderson in the face-off circle for a powerful one-timer goal.
Sanderson also had an assist on Drake Batherson`s power-play goal three minutes later, extending Ottawa`s lead to 2-0.
Sanderson is crucial to Ottawa`s success as they aim for their first postseason since 2016-17. He provides defensive stability and offensive skill.
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Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill has been a consistent presence since joining the team during their 2022-23 Stanley Cup win. Now a franchise goalie, Hill continues to excel for a team seeking more glory.
Hill has a 31-13-5 record, 2.46 GAA, and .908 save percentage this season. In his last two starts, he has consecutive wins, a 1.50 GAA and a .935 save percentage.
Recently, Hill stopped 24 of 25 shots in a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, including 11 saves in the third period to prevent a Kraken tie.
Hill has allowed one or fewer goals in four of his last nine games and is performing strongly as the season ends.
The Golden Knights are close to securing the top Pacific Division playoff spot with few games left. Hill will be vital in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to shut down top Western Conference teams as the team aims for another Stanley Cup.
