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.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Auston Matthews to a contract extension before the start of the 2023-24 season. Matthews has made an incredible start to the season, recording back-to-back hat tricks in the first two games. He is only the fifth player in NHL history to achieve this feat. Matthews also reached 300 goals in just 482 games, making him the 10th-fastest player to do so. He currently has six points, ranking second in the NHL.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have shown their determination to win the Stanley Cup by acquiring Erik Karlsson in the offseason. Evgeni Malkin has been highly productive in the first week of the season, with three goals and four assists in three games. Malkin’s chemistry with his linemate Reilly Smith has been excellent, as he has assisted on both of Smith’s goals. Malkin has had great success against the Detroit Red Wings throughout his career, with 42 points in just 28 games. If Malkin’s production continues, the Penguins have a strong chance of making a deep playoff run.
Cale Makar, despite being in only his fourth full season in the NHL, has already achieved significant milestones. He became the fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 250 points, doing so in just 241 games. Makar has also been consistent in the opening three games of the season, tallying two goals and two assists. He has already won multiple awards, including the Calder Trophy and the Norris Trophy, and helped the Colorado Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup in over 20 years.
Jordan Binnington had disappointing performances in the past two seasons but has started the 2023-24 season strongly. In the first two games, he has a 1-0-1 record with a 0.92 goals-against-average and a .969 save percentage. Binnington made impressive saves and has been dominating in the crease, which is crucial for the St. Louis Blues.
