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 listing it will not be an excellent factor — it implies that they’re capturing a considerable amount of the hockey world’s consideration.

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

Nathan MacKinnon is having arguably essentially the most spectacular season within the NHL ranks this yr. The Colorado Avalanche star added to that resumé earlier this week by reaching a profession milestone.

MacKinnon tallied his 1,000th profession level by recording a pair of assists within the Avalanche’s 3-0 win in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

The 29-year outdated turned the a hundredth participant in league historical past to tally 1,000 profession factors. MacKinnon additionally joined Joe Sakic (1,641) and Peter Stastny (1,048) as the one gamers in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques historical past to attain the feat.

As if that wasn’t spectacular sufficient, MacKinnon additionally turned the primary NHL participant to reach on the 100-point milestone for the season. He additionally turned simply the second participant in franchise historical past to register three 100-point seasons together with Stastny.

MacKinnon has registered a degree in six of his final seven video games, together with tallying a two-goal recreation in a 7-4 win in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

On the 15:45 mark of the third interval, ahead Martin Necas despatched the puck throughout the ice to an open MacKinnon within the reverse face-off circle. Upon taking possession of the puck, MacKinnon stick-handled his method nearer to goaltender Anthony Stolarz and snapped the puck over Stolarz’s shoulder for a sensational objective.

MacKinnon’s objective ended up being the game-winner to raise the Avalanche previous the Maple Leafs. Fellow ahead Valeri Nichushkin clinched his hat trick objective, whereas MacKinnon additionally added an empty-net tally to clinch the sport.

It appears to be a two-horse race for the Hart Trophy between MacKinnon and Edmonton Oilers standout Leon Draisaitl. MacKinnon is at present on tempo for 127 factors on the season.

It has been a whirlwind of every week for ahead Dylan Cozens. He was one of many greater names moved on the NHL commerce deadline when he was shipped from league-worst Buffalo to an Ottawa staff that leads the Wild Card standings within the Japanese Convention.

Within the early days of his Senators tenure, Cozens is prospering to the tune of two objectives and two assists in his first 4 video games. On Tuesday, Cozens discovered the again of the web in a 5-2 win in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Halfway by way of the second interval, Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler was trying to clear the puck out of his personal zone when Cozens was in a position to take management of it within the offensive zone. Shortly after securing the puck, Cozens was in a position to snap a scorching shot previous Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov to make it a 4-2 recreation.

Cozens additionally registered a objective in Monday’s 2-1 win in opposition to the Detroit Purple Wings.

The 24-year outdated was initially chosen with the No. 7 choose within the 2019 NHL Draft by the Sabres. Cozens tallied 106 factors (44 objectives & 62 assists) in his first two full seasons in Buffalo, which included a career-high 68 factors (31 objectives & 37 assists) through the 2022-23 season.

Nonetheless, Cozens noticed his manufacturing dip over the previous two campaigns with simply 47 factors (18 objectives & 29 assists) in 2023-24. Previous to Friday’s commerce, the middle had tallied simply 11 objectives and 20 assists in 61 video games for Buffalo this season.

It is clearly solely been a number of video games, however Cozens has appeared to have discovered a house in Ottawa. Cozens has been centering a line that additionally options Drake Batherson and David Perron, and will assist the Senators break their Stanley Cup Playoff drought this season.

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Moutour had a night for the ages in a 5-4 additional time win in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Montour even made certain to finish the sport in dramatic vogue.

Montour registered two objectives and two assists, together with scoring the game-winning objective simply 4 seconds into additional time. 

On the opening face-off of the additional time interval, the puck squeaked forward of everyone and Montour was in a position to observe it down. Montour shortly gained management of the puck, introduced it in on their own and despatched a shot previous Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes to win the sport.

Within the Kraken’s NHL-best eighth comeback win of the season, Montour matched an NHL report for the quickest objective to start any interval, which had been achieved 3 times prior.

Montour additionally tied a Kraken report for many factors by a defenseman in a single season. He additionally turned the third NHL defenseman to report a number of four-point video games this season. Lastly, Montour set the franchise report for essentially the most objectives in a season (15) by a Kraken defenseman as he handed Vince Dunn’s 14 objectives from the 2022-23 season.

After serving to the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup final season, Montour signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken over the summer season. Montour has added a ton of offensive acumen to Seattle’s again finish as he is recorded his third double-digit objective season over the previous 4 campaigns.

After two subpar seasons with the Washington Capitals, veteran goaltender Darcy Kuemper has actually settled in together with his staff.

In his first season with the Los Angeles Kings, Kuemper has thrived to the tune of a 21-8-7 report, a 2.23 goals-against-average, and a .917 save share. Kuemper’s goal-against-average ranks because the second-lowest amongst qualifying goaltenders behind solely Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck.

Most lately, Kuemper stopped all 21 photographs that he confronted in a 3-0 win in opposition to the Capitals on Thursday. Within the course of, Kuemper improved his report to a 11-0-1 in his final 12 residence video games. That matches the longest residence level streak by a Kings goaltender since Kelly Hrudey went 11-0-1 through the 1990-91 season.

Kuemper has tallied a 1.58 goals-against-average through the month of March, together with surrendering simply two complete objectives throughout his final three begins. The Kings netminder has additionally allowed simply eight complete objectives in 5 appearances this month.

After profitable the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, Kuemper had tallied a minimum of a 2.87 goals-against-average in every of the earlier two seasons. Nonetheless, Kuemper has appeared to discover a residence in Los Angeles with a Kings staff that’s at present second within the Pacific Division and looking out primed to make the postseason.