Welcome to the NHL Star Energy Index: A weekly gauge of the gamers who’re controlling substantial buzz across the league. When a participant is included on this checklist it might not be a great factor — it implies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.

These gamers are in no explicit order in relation to the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Energy Index each week all through the common season.

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk tallied simply 5 objectives over the primary two weeks of the season. His final two weeks, nonetheless, have proven a return to the elite type that helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Closing appearances.

Tkachuk has racked up 5 objectives and 6 assists in his final 4 video games, and not too long ago recorded a six-game level streak. The Panthers winger not too long ago put collectively a two-goal efficiency in a 3-1 win in opposition to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Tkachuk really ended up scoring the game-winning objective in opposition to the Sharks, which was the twenty fifth game-winning tally of his NHL profession.

On the 10:05 mark of the second interval, Tkachuk had initially dumped the puck into the offensive zone. The Sharks weren’t capable of clear the zone, and Tkachuk ended up intercepting the puck. Tkachuk displayed super puck-handling expertise as he flipped the puck off of the shoulder of goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood’s for an incredible objective.

Tkachuk’s objective in the end was the game-winner because of the truth that the Sharks may solely put one objective on the board all through the competition.

Since Nov. 23, Tkachuk has registered 19 factors (5 objectives & 12 assists) and recorded not less than one level in seven of the 9 video games. He additionally has 4 multi-point performances, together with two multi-goal video games, throughout that span.

When the stress mounts through the postseason, Tkachuk all the time appears to show his sport as much as a particularly excessive degree. In current weeks, Tkachuk has performed the identical and it is one of many principal causes that the Panthers are main the Atlantic Division.

When the Philadelphia Flyers chosen Matvei Michkov with the No. 7 decide within the 2023 NHL Draft, it was believed that the franchise must be affected person since he nonetheless was below contract with Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Whereas the wait did not find yourself being so long as anticipated, the Flyers nonetheless needed to stay affected person for his or her potential franchise cornerstone to come back to North America.

Michkov signed his three-year, entry degree contract this previous summer season, and it hasn’t taken lengthy for the winger to showcase his star energy within the NHL.

Getting into Friday, Michkov ranks first amongst rookies in factors (27) and objectives (11). He is additionally second amongst rookies in assists (16). In truth, the Flyers ahead is the one NHL rookie that has already reached double-digit objectives on the season.

Michkov has tallied two objectives and 6 assists over his final 4 video games. In final Saturday’s 4-3 time beyond regulation loss in opposition to the Boston Bruins, Michkov grew to become the third teenager in crew historical past to register three consecutive multi-point video games as he joined Peter Zezel (1985) and Eric Lindros (1993).

In Saturday’s contest in opposition to the Bruins, Michkov registered a two-goal efficiency as he scored the opening two objectives of the sport.

On the 7:24 mark of the opening interval, Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae let a shot go from the purpose that was blocked within the slot. Fortunately for the Flyers, ahead Sean Couturier was capable of provide you with the unfastened puck and shuffle it over to Michkov. The Russian actually did not miss his alternative as he deposited a one-timer into the again of the online for a power-play objective.

Michkov additionally acquired into the scoring column late within the first interval when he was the beneficiary of a lovely discover from defenseman Travis Sanheim. The Flyers rookie scored on a bang-bang objective simply to the left of Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman to provide his crew a 2-0 lead on the time.

Over the primary two months of the season, it has been clear that it is a two-horse race for the Calder Trophy between Michkov and No. 1 decide Macklin Celebrini. Contemplating the tempo that Michkov is on, the Flyers ahead must be considered because the overwhelming favourite to earn that honor in June.

Whereas Michkov has been probably the most spectacular rookie from an offensive standpoint, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson has been turning heads on the defensive finish of the ice.

Hutson recorded an help in Monday’s 3-2 win in opposition to the Anaheim Geese, and made historical past within the course of. The 20-year previous blue-liner prolonged his level streak to seven consecutive video games, which is the longest by a rookie defenseman in franchise historical past. Hutson is also one in every of eight rookie defensemen in NHL historical past with not less than 21 assists throughout his first 30 profession video games.

Hutson has racked up eight assists throughout his final eight video games, and noticed his level streak lastly come to an finish in Thursday’s 9-2 loss in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In Monday’s win in opposition to the Geese, Hutson helped get the scoring began for the Canadiens.

Simply 2:36 into the opening interval, Hutson was capable of pinch the puck alongside the boards and maintain it within the offensive zone. Hutson then fired the puck throughout to teammate Nick Suzuki, who arrange offseason acquisition Patrik Laine for the sensational one-timer objective from the face-off circle.

Hutson has been nothing however a mannequin of consistency not too long ago as he tallied one help in 4 consecutive video games previous to Thursday. His playmaking expertise on the blue line have been a breath of contemporary air for a Montreal crew that has been in want of an elite defenseman since Shea Weber left.

The Canadiens defenseman ranks second amongst rookies in factors (19), whereas main all rookies in assists (21). Hutson continues to offer the offensive assist that the Canadiens want as they transfer in direction of rebuilding their roster.

Adin Hill was an integral a part of the Vegas Golden Knights crew that received a Stanley Cup again in 2023. Because the common season rolls alongside, Hill is beginning to regain his elite type that made him a power throughout Vegas’ spectacular Stanley Cup run.

Hill has been thriving throughout his final three video games as he recorded wins in all of these contests. As well as, the veteran netminder has registered a 1.33 goals-against-average to associate with a .955 save share over that stretch.

Most not too long ago, Hill offered a stabilizing presence in between the pipes within the Golden Knights’ 3-2 time beyond regulation win in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. In truth, Hill stopped 18 of the 20 photographs that the Jets threw at him, together with turning apart eight of the 9 photographs that he confronted within the third interval and time beyond regulation.

Whereas Hill has been super over the previous three contests, he is been having fairly a profitable run during the last month. Hill has allowed two or fewer objectives in eight of his final 9 video games, whereas even registering a shutout throughout that span.

The Golden Knights have performed Ilya Samsonov a good quantity within the crease this season, however it’s clear that Hill is the primary possibility in web on the present second. Contemplating that Hill has performed it when the lights are the brightest, his current run is not precisely an enormous shock.