NHL Three Stars: Fleury Becomes a Brick Wall While Bedard and Kucherov Rack Up the Points

Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, Lightning All-Star forward Nikita Kucherov and Blackhawks rookie sensation Connor Bedard sat atop the NHL this week, writes Adam Proteau.

Welcome back to THN’s Three Stars of the Week, a regular web feature in which we identify a trio of NHLers who made the biggest impact over the past week. Let’s get right to it:

The 39-year-old Fleury turned back the clock this past week, posting a 1.45 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage, a 3-0-1 record and one shutout in four appearances with the Wild. Fleury now has a save percentage of .906, a G.A.A. of 2.67 and a record of 16-11-4 this season.

Fleury is likely to retire at the end of this season, but at nearly 40 years old, he’s demonstrating he’s not coasting by on reputation. His streak of 17 seasons making the playoffs will almost certainly end this year, but Fleury is a lock to be a Hall of Famer because of his consistently above-average play and his performance in high-pressure situations. He’s certainly not the reason Minnesota will miss the post-season this year, and he’s underscoring his reputation by delivering positive results even at a time when his Wild teammates aren’t doing the same thing.

With five assists and seven points in just two games, Kucherov thrived for the Lightning this week – and he did so while averaging only 18:12 of ice time. The 30-year-old Russian winger now has 40 goals and 114 points in 66 games, an improvement on his 2022-23 season in which he generated 30 goals and 113 points in 82 games.

Kucherov is on pace to beat his career-highs of 41 goals and 128 points, both of which he set in 2018-19. The Bolts need all the offense he can provide as they attempt to lock up a wild card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, and although team success means more to Kucherov than individual glory, he’s a real threat to win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top-point-getter, and he’s in his prime.

After returning to action following a broken jaw, Bedard picked up right back where he was early in the season – namely, as the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. This week, Bedard posted three goals and eight points in only three games, giving the 18-year-old 20 goals and 51 points in 53 games this year.

While it’s true youngsters such as Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber closed the Calder race in Bedard’s absence, there should be no doubt as to Bedard deserving to be named top rookie. He’s a constant threat to produce points, he’s capable of many multi-point games – including a four-assist, five-point showing against the Anaheim Ducks this week – and he’s barely scratched the surface of his NHL potential. Barring another injury, the Calder is Bedard’s to lose, but we don’t see him losing it. He’s the gold standard for rookies this season, and that’s not going to change in the final quarter of the year.