Adam Proteau analyzes the solid weeks of Edmonton's Connor McDavid, Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev and Chicago's Max Domi.
Welcome, once again, to the THN.com three stars of the week – a regular feature in which we pick out the three NHL players who most excelled in the past seven days. It’s that simple. On to it, we go.
3. Max Domi, Chicago
With the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline now only five days away, Domi has been polishing his personal brand, posting four goals and nine points in four games this week. The 27-year-old forward now has 18 goals and 47 points in 58 games, his best numbers in those areas since he was a Montreal Canadien in 2018-19, when he posted 28 goals and 72 points in 82 games.
Domi will likely be dealt to a Stanley Cup playoff contender by Friday, with teams seeking scoring depth looking at the soon-to-be-UFA as a rental option who won’t cost them a ton of assets. They could do much worse than landing Domi, who remains hungry to be a difference-maker in the post-season. It doesn’t make much sense for the Blackhawks to hang on to him the rest of this season, and leave for no asset in return. Domi’s $3-million cap hit makes him an affordable option on the trade front, and it will shock no one if and when he’s moved by the tanking Hawks.
2. Alexandar Georgiev, Colorado
The Avalanche goaltender had a very productive week, going 3-0-0 in three appearances and posting a 2.27 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. The 26-year-old Russian improved his overall record this season to 25-12-4, with a GAA of 2.63 and an SP of .920 in 41 appearances. That smashes his previous career best of 34 appearances, set when he was a New York Ranger in 2019-20.
The Avs traded for journeyman netminder Keith Kinkaid Saturday, as regular backup Pavel Francouz was injured and will be sidelined for two more weeks. However, there’s no question Colorado coach Jared Bednar will rely heavily on Georgiev to carry the bulk of the load in net. Georgiev’s solid play was precisely what the Avalanche hoped for when they acquired him in a trade with the Blueshirts last July.
Georgiev is under contract for two more seasons after this one at a salary-cap hit of $3.4 million. That’s a terrific bargain for what Georgiev has delivered thus far this year, but, like all goalies, he’ll ultimately be judged by what he does in the playoffs. For now, though, the Avs are largely thriving because Georgiev is giving them a chance to win every time he plays.
1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton
What more can you say about McDavid? He’s the best hockey player on the planet. He’s incredibly fast, savvy and determined. And this week, he had a league-best six goals and 12 points in only four games – three more points than the next-most-productive NHLer.
He did it all in all areas, as evidenced by the fact he generated three even-strength goals, two shorthanded goals, and one power play marker. His consistency also could be seen in terms of his assist totals this week: three of them came at even strength, and the other three came with the man advantage.
McDavid is far and away the leading candidate to win what would be the third Hart Trophy (as the NHL’s most valuable player) of his phenomenal career, and, with 65 assists and a staggering 113 points in 60 games, he’s also going to win his fifth Art Ross Trophy as the league’s best point-producer. He’s still seeking out the first Cup appearance of his career, but McDavid is reaching new heights this season. And he’s only 26 years old.