Welcome to the NHL Star Power Index: A weekly gauge of the players who are controlling substantial buzz around the league. When a player is included on this list it may not be a good thing — it means that they are capturing a large amount of the hockey world’s attention.
These players are in no particular order when it comes to the amount of buzz that they’re creating. We’ll revisit the Star Power Index every week throughout the regular season.
San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has put together a strong rookie campaign, but the rookie had the most impressive performance of the season this week when he recorded his first hat trick in a 8-7 overtime loss against the Minnesota Wild.
Celebrini scored three times and added two assists in the high-scoring affair. The Sharks star became the first 18-year-old in franchise history to accomplish the feat and the NHL’s third over the past eight seasons as he joined Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson and Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger.
This marked the fourth multi-goal performance for Celebrini during his rookie season.
Celebrini started things off at the 7:29 mark of the opening period when he was the beneficiary of some tremendous puck movement. Fellow rookie forward Will Smith was able to slide the puck out to the blue line to defenseman Jack Thompson. Thompson was then able to get the puck towards the slot where Celebrini was waiting. Celebrini quickly corralled it and swept it past Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
Midway through the third period, Smith was able to race down the ice and come up with a loose puck. After circling behind the net, Smith found Celebrini cutting towards the goal, and Celebrini was able to roof a shot that a sprawling Fleury wasn’t able to slide across to stop for his third of the game.
Celebrini had somewhat of a slow start to his rookie campaign, but he has really picked up his level of play over the last two months. The Sharks rookie has tallied six goals and 14 assists since the beginning of March.
He trails Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson by just two points for the rookie points lead. Despite missing time early in the season, Celebrini still has been one of the most impressive rookies this year.
It may be a down season for the Boston Bruins, but that hasn’t stopped star winger David Pastrnak from putting on an offensive clinic.
In Tuesday’s 7-2 win against the New Jersey Devils, Pastrnak registered a goal and two assists to reach the 100-point mark for the third consecutive season. Pastrnak actually became the first Czech-born player in NHL history to accomplish that feat.
Earlier in the week, Pastrnak made even more history as he recorded his first career natural hat trick in a 5-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Bruins star factored in on all five tallies for the team in that one with a pair of assists to boot. It also clinched his fourth straight season of at least 40 goals and fifth overall in his career to match Rick Middleton (5) for the second-most in team history.
In Saturday’s game against the Hurricanes, Pastrnak really made his mark over the final 30 minutes of the contest.
Midway through the second period, Pastrnak provided a goal from an impossible angle. Bruins forward Elias Lindholm was able to flip the puck in front of the net before Pastrnak was holding court. Pastrnak ended up kicking the puck to himself, and once he got control, he fired a side-angle shot past Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen for the goal.
At the 15:18 mark of the contest, the Bruins star showcased his spectacular stick-handling skills. Teammate Morgan Geekie brought the puck into the Hurricanes zone, surveyed landscape, and found Pastrnak wide-open in the face-off circle. Pastrnak then was able to skate in on Andersen and deke his way to a goal.
Pastrnak is having a week for the ages as he’s tallied five goals and eight assists in his last four games. Dating back even further, the Bruins winger has scored seven goals in his last six contests, and clearly isn’t slowing down despite Boston missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
Since breaking into the NHL back in 2022, Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson has made significant strides in each of his three seasons. As the regular season winds down, Sanderson is having the best season of his professional career from an offensive standpoint.
Sanderson has tallied 54 points and his 43 assists rank second on the team behind only forward Tim Stutzle (51).
The Senators blue-liner has logged three goals and two assists across his last five games, and registered a point in four of those contests. Sanderson recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win against the Florida Panthers this past Saturday.
At the 11:21 mark of the first period against Florida, Sanderson found himself at the right place at the right place. After teammate Shane Pinto scooped the puck up behind the Panthers net, Sanderson was positioned in the face-off circle and Pinto slid over a perfect pass for a scorching goal via a one-timer.
Sanderson also added a secondary assist on a Drake Batherson power-play goal just three minutes later to extend Ottawa’s advantage to 2-0.
Sanderson has been a big part of Ottawa’s success this season as the franchise will be playing postseason hockey for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. He provides a stabilizing presence on the back end, while possessing the offensive skillset that gives the Senators an added boost.
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill has been a constant source of stability in the crease since he was acquired by the team during its Stanley Cup-winning season in 2022-23. Finally getting his chance as a franchise netminder, Hill continues to excel for a team that wants to return to glory.
Hill has tallied a 31-13-5 record in addition to a 2.46 goals-against-average and a .908 save percentage this season. Over his last two starts, the veteran goalie has produced back-to-back victories to go along with a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .935 save percentage.
Most recently, Hill turned aside 24 of the 25 shots that he faced in a 2-1 win against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. He ended up stopping 11 shots in the third period to keep the Kraken from tying the game.
Hill has also allowed one goal or less in four of his last nine outings, and has been a force down the stretch.
The Golden Knights are on the verge of clinching the top playoff spot in the Pacific Division with just a few games remaining in the regular season. Once the Stanley Cup Playoffs roll around, Hill will be heavily counted on to keep some of the Western Conference’s elite teams off the scoreboard as the team attempts to make another Stanley Cup run.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Stars push Avalanche to the brink with commanding Game 5 win: Takeaways
This entire era of Dallas hockey has been built on their depth, but that doesn’t mean the Stars aren’t loaded with, well, stars, too. But you wouldn’t know it based on the first four games of the series. Wyatt Johnston hadn’t scored yet. Neither had Mikko Rantanen. Or Matt Duchene. Or Mikael Granlund. Meanwhile Jamie Benn, Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley had just one goal each.AdvertisementAnd yet Dallas was still even in its first-round series with the high-octane Colorado Avalanche through four games.“You know what, I don’t think any of our big guys have delivered yet in this series,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said before Game 5 when asked about Rantanen (one assist) in particular. ”He’s not the only one on this list. But the beauty of this, it’s time now. This is money time. I actually like the fact […]
Inside Newcastle Q&A: Transfer policy, Guehi interest – and predicting the run-in
Once a week (mostly) for an hour during the Premier League season, The Athletic’s Newcastle United subscribers can ask our writers covering the club for views and insight into what’s happening at St James’ Park.Here we have pulled together some of the questions and our answers from Monday’s edition of our Inside Newcastle live Q&A, which included queries about whether Marc Guehi and James Trafford remain priority transfer targets, whether Eddie Howe’s side will secure Champions League football and how the club feel William Osula is developing.Want to ask us anything Newcastle-related? Chris Waugh will be back on Monday at 2pm BST (9am EST) for another session.Will Newcastle be active in the pre-Club World Cup transfer window in June? Or is it a case of wait until July for any incomings? — Jamie SWaugh: There is a chance that Newcastle […]
Athletic Club’s Basque-only rule: What is it? When did it start? Who qualifies?
This is an updated version of this article, which was originally published in 2023.It is fair to say that Athletic Club facing Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals is something of a miracle.Famously, the side from the city of Bilbao eliminated United, then managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, from the round of 16 of the same competition in 2012. Reaching the semi-finals this year is not their only achievement. They are on course for a Champions League spot in La Liga and ended a 40-year wait for major silverware last season by lifting the Copa del Rey, so they are not short of quality.AdvertisementBut this does not tell the full story. Athletic have achieved all that while only being able to pick players from the Basque Country — a region of northern Spain and southern France with a population […]
Neuvěřitelné. Oba týmy vstřelily dva góly za jedenáct sekund, Florida v brutální koncovce
Florida po dvou výhrách v aréně Tampy Bay, doma v prvním domácím utkání za vyučenou (1:5). A s obhájcem prvenstvím dlouho ztrácela. Ve 29. minutě sice vstřelila úvodní gól střetnutí Antonem Lundellem (mimochodem přihrával nedávný spoluhráč Davida Pastrňáka z Bostonu Brad Marchand), ovšem její konkurent vývoj utkání otočil. Stalo se tak zásluhou dvou bleskových branek týmu s bleskem na hrudi v rozmezí neuvěřitelných jedenácti sekund krátce za zlomem zápasu do jeho druhé poloviny. Prosadili se Mitchell Chaffee a slovenský bek Erik Černák.Tato skutečnost s obhájcem Stanley Cupu poněkud zamávala. Navíc na začátku posledního dějství vyfasoval finský obránce Niko Mikkola 5+10 minut za naražení na hrazení. Domácí dlouhé oslabení přežili, což jim naopak vlilo krev do žil. V osmé minutě tohoto dějství jím vyrovnání zmařila trenérská výzva soupeře. Pak ale posadili Tampu na centrifugu a třemi góly za necelé dvě minuty úplně otočily kormidlo na cestu za třetí výhrou.V čase 56:13 se trefil obránce […]
Entenda como camisa vermelha da seleção foi escolhida e por que ela já nasceu sem ser unanimidade na CBF
O novo uniforme vermelho da seleção brasileira, que será lançado em março de 2026 para a Copa do Mundo pela Nike, não foi unanimidade na CBF, mas prevaleceu a estratégia da empresa americana. A cor nem foi tanto o problema, mas o fato de o novo uniforme substituir a camisa dois, azul, e não ser uma camisa 3, segundo o blog apurou. O presidente Ednaldo Rodrigues aderiu a estratégia da Nike. Quem defendia a camisa vermelha como terceiro uniforme argumentava que com as três em uso não haveria necessidade de polêmica, pois a seleção poderia escolher a que usar. O problema é que a Nike não faz camisa 3 para nenhuma seleção, sob o argumento de que as vendas são prejudicadas por uma espécie de canibalismo, onde o segundo uniforme concorre com o terceiro. Para evitar o prejuízo, muda-se o […]
2025 NFL Draft: Could Browns taking Shedeur Sanders after Dillon Gabriel pan out? Here’s the upside on Cleveland’s surprise strategy
Less than 24 hours after publicly endorsing the talents of Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry faced the media with a similar task Saturday afternoon.Describing another quarterback’s fit and value at the draft spot?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDrafting high-profile Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders 50 picks after selecting Gabriel warranted explanation.“We talk oftentimes about quarterback being the most important position in the sport,” Berry said. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks, but as we talk about, we do believe in best player available, we do believe position value, and we didn’t necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round.“It got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the draft.”The Browns are taking two swings at rookie quarterbacks in Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel. (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)Selecting Sanders […]
Related
Stars push Avalanche to the brink with commanding Game 5 win: Takeaways
This entire era of Dallas hockey has been built on their depth, but that doesn’t mean the Stars aren’t loaded with, well, stars, too. But you wouldn’t know it based on the first four games of the series. Wyatt Johnston hadn’t scored yet. Neither had Mikko Rantanen. Or Matt Duchene. Or Mikael Granlund. Meanwhile Jamie Benn, Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley had just one goal each.AdvertisementAnd yet Dallas was still even in its first-round series with the high-octane Colorado Avalanche through four games.“You know what, I don’t think any of our big guys have delivered yet in this series,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said before Game 5 when asked about Rantanen (one assist) in particular. ”He’s not the only one on this list. But the beauty of this, it’s time now. This is money time. I actually like the fact […]
Inside Newcastle Q&A: Transfer policy, Guehi interest – and predicting the run-in
Once a week (mostly) for an hour during the Premier League season, The Athletic’s Newcastle United subscribers can ask our writers covering the club for views and insight into what’s happening at St James’ Park.Here we have pulled together some of the questions and our answers from Monday’s edition of our Inside Newcastle live Q&A, which included queries about whether Marc Guehi and James Trafford remain priority transfer targets, whether Eddie Howe’s side will secure Champions League football and how the club feel William Osula is developing.Want to ask us anything Newcastle-related? Chris Waugh will be back on Monday at 2pm BST (9am EST) for another session.Will Newcastle be active in the pre-Club World Cup transfer window in June? Or is it a case of wait until July for any incomings? — Jamie SWaugh: There is a chance that Newcastle […]
Athletic Club’s Basque-only rule: What is it? When did it start? Who qualifies?
This is an updated version of this article, which was originally published in 2023.It is fair to say that Athletic Club facing Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals is something of a miracle.Famously, the side from the city of Bilbao eliminated United, then managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, from the round of 16 of the same competition in 2012. Reaching the semi-finals this year is not their only achievement. They are on course for a Champions League spot in La Liga and ended a 40-year wait for major silverware last season by lifting the Copa del Rey, so they are not short of quality.AdvertisementBut this does not tell the full story. Athletic have achieved all that while only being able to pick players from the Basque Country — a region of northern Spain and southern France with a population […]
Neuvěřitelné. Oba týmy vstřelily dva góly za jedenáct sekund, Florida v brutální koncovce
Florida po dvou výhrách v aréně Tampy Bay, doma v prvním domácím utkání za vyučenou (1:5). A s obhájcem prvenstvím dlouho ztrácela. Ve 29. minutě sice vstřelila úvodní gól střetnutí Antonem Lundellem (mimochodem přihrával nedávný spoluhráč Davida Pastrňáka z Bostonu Brad Marchand), ovšem její konkurent vývoj utkání otočil. Stalo se tak zásluhou dvou bleskových branek týmu s bleskem na hrudi v rozmezí neuvěřitelných jedenácti sekund krátce za zlomem zápasu do jeho druhé poloviny. Prosadili se Mitchell Chaffee a slovenský bek Erik Černák.Tato skutečnost s obhájcem Stanley Cupu poněkud zamávala. Navíc na začátku posledního dějství vyfasoval finský obránce Niko Mikkola 5+10 minut za naražení na hrazení. Domácí dlouhé oslabení přežili, což jim naopak vlilo krev do žil. V osmé minutě tohoto dějství jím vyrovnání zmařila trenérská výzva soupeře. Pak ale posadili Tampu na centrifugu a třemi góly za necelé dvě minuty úplně otočily kormidlo na cestu za třetí výhrou.V čase 56:13 se trefil obránce […]
Entenda como camisa vermelha da seleção foi escolhida e por que ela já nasceu sem ser unanimidade na CBF
O novo uniforme vermelho da seleção brasileira, que será lançado em março de 2026 para a Copa do Mundo pela Nike, não foi unanimidade na CBF, mas prevaleceu a estratégia da empresa americana. A cor nem foi tanto o problema, mas o fato de o novo uniforme substituir a camisa dois, azul, e não ser uma camisa 3, segundo o blog apurou. O presidente Ednaldo Rodrigues aderiu a estratégia da Nike. Quem defendia a camisa vermelha como terceiro uniforme argumentava que com as três em uso não haveria necessidade de polêmica, pois a seleção poderia escolher a que usar. O problema é que a Nike não faz camisa 3 para nenhuma seleção, sob o argumento de que as vendas são prejudicadas por uma espécie de canibalismo, onde o segundo uniforme concorre com o terceiro. Para evitar o prejuízo, muda-se o […]
2025 NFL Draft: Could Browns taking Shedeur Sanders after Dillon Gabriel pan out? Here’s the upside on Cleveland’s surprise strategy
Less than 24 hours after publicly endorsing the talents of Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry faced the media with a similar task Saturday afternoon.Describing another quarterback’s fit and value at the draft spot?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDrafting high-profile Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders 50 picks after selecting Gabriel warranted explanation.“We talk oftentimes about quarterback being the most important position in the sport,” Berry said. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks, but as we talk about, we do believe in best player available, we do believe position value, and we didn’t necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round.“It got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the draft.”The Browns are taking two swings at rookie quarterbacks in Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel. (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)Selecting Sanders […]
Be the first to leave a comment