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 record it is probably not 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 in terms of the quantity of buzz that they are creating. We’ll revisit the Star Energy Index each week all through the common season.

Edmonton Oilers standout Connor McDavid achieved a really lofty milestone when he recorded the 1,000 level of his NHL profession this week. In reality, McDavid achieved the feat in a outstanding period of time and joined some very elite firm in doing so.

McDavid turned the fourth quickest participant in NHL historical past to tally 1,000 factors as he achieved that milestone in simply 659 profession video games. Solely Wayne Gretzky (424 video games), Mario Lemieux (513), and Mike Bossy (656) reached the 1,000-point mark in few video games than the Oilers star.

McDavid additionally turned the fourth quickest to make the climb from 900 to 1,000 profession factors. The Oilers star ended up doing it in simply 58 video games, and was the quickest to take action since Lemieux made the soar in 51 video games.

“In a whole lot of methods we [Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse] form of grew up on this ice, taking part in in entrance of those followers and this metropolis. It is a particular evening and one I am going to always remember,” McDavid instructed Sportsnet in a postgame interview following Thursday’s recreation.

The star ahead obtained his 1,000th profession level out of the way in which within the second interval in typical McDavid trend by discovering the again of the web. On the 2:44 mark of the second interval, Nurse flipped the puck forward to Draisaitl, and Draisaitl arrange McDavid. Draisaitl displayed persistence as he waited earlier than getting the puck over to McDavid for a one-timer objective to realize the profession milestone.

As quickly as McDavid’s shot crossed the objective line, he was mobbed by his teammates, who spilled off the bench to take pleasure in McDavid’s large accomplishment.

In between all of this historical past, McDavid had only recently missed three video games whereas coping with an ankle harm, however made his return to the lineup on Nov. 6 in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights. In 4 video games since returning to the lineup, McDavid has racked up 9 factors (three targets & six assists) throughout that interval, and appears just like the celebrity playmaker that the league has come to anticipate.

McDavid additionally displayed his spectacular playmaking abilities when he earned the first help on Nurse’s game-winning objective in time beyond regulation to assist the Oilers earn a 3-2 victory in opposition to the Nashville Predators.

It was a really outstanding evening for a generational participant like McDavid. From the second he stepped into the NHL, McDavid has produced spotlight reel play after spotlight reel play, and that is simply the most recent chapter in a legendary profession.

It is no secret that Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will be an unstoppable freight prepare in terms of placing the puck within the web. Nonetheless, MacKinnon has actually been racking up a number of markers within the assists division as of late.

Following Colorado’s recreation in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, MacKinnon’s 22 assists have been probably the most by any participant by the primary 15 video games of a season in practically 20 years. In the course of the 2005-06 marketing campaign, Peter Forsberg compiled 25 assists taking part in for the Philadelphia Flyers, whereas Jason Spezza racked up 22 assists with the Ottawa Senators.

MacKinnon has tallied one objective and 7 assists throughout his final three video games. That stretch was highlighted by a three-assist efficiency in a 4-2 win in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

In the course of the third interval of Wednesday’s contest, MacKinnon was in a position to dig the puck free alongside the board regardless of being amongst a sea of gamers. The Avalanche star swept the puck to teammate Mikko Rantanen in entrance, and Rantanen buried a snap shot previous Kings goaltender David Rittich.

Rantanen tallied a hat trick in Wednesday’s victory and MacKinnon ended up aiding on two of his three targets. 

Over the previous two weeks, MacKinnon has racked up a mind-boggling two targets and 13 assists in simply six video games, and now has registered a degree in all however one recreation this season. Throughout this two-week span, the Avalanche ahead has recorded three video games of a minimum of three factors, whereas additionally eclipsing 4 factors on two events. 

Because of his latest sizzling streak, MacKinnon leads the NHL in factors (33) with the following closest participant being Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov (28). As well as, MacKinnon’s 26 assists are a league-best up up to now.

It is no secret that MacKinnon is likely one of the most gifted facilities that the NHL has to supply. Contemplating the scalding sizzling begin that he is off to this season, it will not be a shock if MacKinnon is within the dialog to win his second consecutive Hart Trophy as league MVP.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton helps anchor the staff’s blue line, however has additionally been a terrific playmaker on the offensive finish of the ice.

Hamilton presently is tied for second on the staff in assists (14) and is fifth on the Devils in factors (15). The veteran blue-liner has additionally tallied six assists in his final 5 video games, together with a three-assist efficiency in opposition to the New York Islanders this previous Saturday.

In that 4-3 time beyond regulation win in opposition to the Islanders, Hamilton earned a main help on a power-play objective from star ahead Jack Hughes. After the Devils received the face-off, Hamilton acquired the puck from Hughes close to the blue line. Hamilton surveyed the trail in direction of the web, and since there wasn’t an open shot, he slid the puck again over to Hughes. Hughes ended up stepping right into a snap shot and scored from the face-off circle.

Hamilton additionally earned a secondary help on a Stefan Noesen objective within the third interval that tied the competition at 3-3. In time beyond regulation, Hamilton and Hughes linked yet one more time to place the Devils within the win column.

The veteran blue-liner displayed some sensational ice imaginative and prescient in time beyond regulation. On the 2:35 mark of the additional session, Hamilton possessed the puck in his personal zone and observed Hughes forward of the pack on the different finish of the ice. Hamilton uncorked a move that almost went the size of the ice, and Hughes was in a position to get the puck previous Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin to win the sport.

Hamilton has actually benefitted from taking part in alongside one other veteran in former Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon on the staff’s high pairing. The 31-year previous continues to offer wonderful playmaking capability on the blue line for a really gifted Devils offense that continues to present opposing groups matches.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy additionally made some historical past of his personal on Thursday. In a 4-1 win in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets, Vasilevskiy turned the quickest goaltender to file 300 profession wins in simply 490 profession video games.

In doing so, Vasilevskiy surpassed Montreal Canadiens legend Jacques Plante, who reached the milestone in 521 profession video games. As well as, Vasilevskiy (30 years, 112 days previous) additionally turned the fourth-youngest goalie in NHL historical past to succeed in the mark as he solely was behind Martin Brodeur (29 years, 223 days), Terry Sawchuk (29 years, 323 days), and Marc-Andre Fleury (29 years, 361 days).

In simply as spectacular trend, Vasilevskiy and the Lightning turned the primary staff to beat the Jets by a minimum of three targets for the reason that Vegas Golden Knights did so again on March 28. 

Vasilevskiy has been a gradual presence in web for Tampa Bay recently. The 30-year previous has tallied a 2.33 goals-against-average and a .918 save proportion over his final 4 begins, whereas permitting simply two targets throughout his final two outings. 

Vasilevskiy seems to have returned to kind after handing over a down season in 2023-24 when he had a career-worst 2.90 goals-against-average and a .900 save proportion. His play will definitely be paramount if the Lightning wish to make a push for the postseason in 2024-25.