Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index, a weekly look at players generating significant buzz in the league. Inclusion in this list signifies capturing the hockey world`s attention.
The players are presented without ranking based on buzz. The Star Power Index will be updated weekly throughout the regular season.
Jack Eichel
LV • C • #9
G 26
A 64
+/- +31
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The Vegas Golden Knights are seeing a great return on their investment in Jack Eichel since his acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. Eichel previously led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in 2023 and is currently having his best statistical season.
Eichel has achieved a career-high 90 points (26 goals and 64 assists), surpassing his previous high of 80 points from earlier in his 10-season career.
Eichel scored a hat trick in Tuesday`s 5-1 victory against 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, but Eichel was well-positioned to score past Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Leading 2-1 in the third, Eichel demonstrated patience on a power play. After William Karlsson won a face-off, Eichel received the puck at the face-off circle and fired a shot past Fleury.
Eichel completed his hat trick with the game`s final goal at 17:28, securing the win.
Eichel is projected to reach 105 points this season, leading the Golden Knights to the top of the Pacific Division. He is on a four-game point streak with five goals and five assists.
Jason Robertson
DAL • LW • #21
G 32
A 41
+/- +10
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After a career-best 109-point season in 2022-23, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars experienced a slight dip 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. He recently scored a natural hat trick in the second period of a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers.
With Dallas leading 1-0, Robertson started his hat trick at 5:01 of the second. Mikko Rantanen passed to Roope Hintz, who then set up Robertson for a backhand goal.
Five minutes later, Robertson scored again after exiting the penalty box, converting a two-on-one opportunity with a shot under Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner`s pad.
Robertson completed his natural hat trick less than five minutes later, extending the Stars` lead to 4-0. These goals proved crucial as the Oilers scored three unanswered goals in the final period.
While Robertson may not surpass his career-high of 46 goals, his offensive output has increased this season, marking his third 30-goal season in four years.
Evan Bouchard
EDM • D • #2
G 13
A 44
+/- +13
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The Edmonton Oilers are currently missing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl due to injuries, requiring other players to step up offensively. Evan Bouchard has significantly contributed.
Bouchard has points in three of his last five games, including two assists in a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. He assisted on a goal that narrowed the score after the Oilers were down 4-0.
Bouchard`s shot led to a rebound goal by Zach Hyman, making it 4-3 in the final minutes against the Stars.
Bouchard has three assists in his last three games and has accumulated four goals and eight assists in March.
The Oilers defenseman ranks third on the team in points (57) behind McDavid and Draisaitl and is third among defensemen in points in the league, with the sixth-most assists (44) among defensemen.
While not as offensively dominant as McDavid or Draisaitl, Bouchard provides crucial playmaking for Edmonton, especially during the playoffs.
MacKenzie Blackwood
COL • G • #39
Record 27-17-6
GAA 2.46
Save % 91.6
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The Colorado Avalanche traded Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood earlier in the season, a move that appears to have strengthened their goaltending.
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 achieved his fourth shutout against the Los Angeles Kings, stopping all 22 shots. This was his third consecutive game allowing two or fewer goals.
He also had a strong performance against the Detroit Red Wings, saving 21 of 23 shots. Blackwood has only one regulation loss in his last nine starts.
After winning the Stanley Cup with Darcy Kuemper, the Avalanche couldn`t retain him and later acquired Georgiev, whose performance was inconsistent. Blackwood has become a reliable goaltender for the Avalanche, which could be vital in the postseason.
Elton Marrow