Welcome once again to the Three Stars of the Week, a regular THN.com feature in which we point out three NHLers who had the biggest impact in the past seven days. On to it, we go:
3. NICO DAWS, G, NEW JERSEY DEVILS The Devils have had major issues with their goaltending this season, but this week, Daws provided them with excellent netminding, posting a 3-1-0 record, 2.02 goals-against average, and .942 save percentage in four appearances. The 23-year-old German has a 6-6-0 record, .912 SP and 2.93 G.A.A. this season, and if he can keep up his hot play, Daws can be part of the goaltending solution for New Jersey. This is not to say the Devils won’t go out and acquire a veteran such as Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, but if Daws maintains the standard he set this week, he can be part of the goalie tandem in New Jersey for a very long time. Daws is currently earning $850,833 per season, but as a restricted free agent this summer, he’s in line for a notable raise. New Jersey has the salary cap space to pay him well, but it’s a matter of consistent production that will dictate how much of a raise Daws will receive. The opportunity is there for him, and this week, he reached out and took advantage of the opportunity he received.
2. CONNOR MCDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS McDavid led the NHl in point production this week, with 10 in three games. In one of those games, he produced six points, and this season, he’s generated 60 assists and 81 points in 49 games. That puts him on track to beat his current career high of 89 helpers, a record he set last season. McDavid remains every bit the superstar people considered him to be heading into the season, and on a deeper, more talented Oilers squad, he can be more of a playmaker and allow his teammates to finish scoring plays. McDavid is still the biggest all-around offensive threat on the planet, and this almost assuredly won’t be the last time he appears on this Three Stars list. At age 27, he’s a unique point-producing menace, and he’s focused on converting that talent as an individual into team wins. The way the Oilers have been playing of late, that process is coming along quite nicely. And McDavid will happily take a hit on his individual numbers if it means Edmonton goes on a long post-season run.
1. AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS As the NHL’s top goal-scorer this season, Matthews turned his game up a notch this week, with six goals and eight points in three games. That includes back-to-back hat tricks Thursday and Saturday – two games that pushed his season totals to 48 goals and 71 points in 52 games. Matthews has been on a tear all year long, and he’s worked himself into the debate over who is deserving of the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.
#
