NHL Three Stars: Gaudreau, Connor and Reimer Steal the Show

Adam Proteau looks at three stars from the past week in the NHL, featuring a shining Flame, a marvelous Jet and a super Shark.

Once again, it’s time to tip our hat to the best NHLers of the past seven days, with the Three Stars of the Week. Every Sunday, THN.com acknowledges the three players who had the biggest impact on the league. Let’s get to it.

3. James Reimer, San Jose: The veteran Sharks goalie led all netminders this week with three wins (over the Coyotes, Flames and Ducks) in as many games, as well as a 2.00 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Reimer’s .917 SP in 39 games this season is his best showing in that category since the 2016-17 campaign, when he posted a .920 SP with Florida. The 34-year-old won’t see any playoff action this year, but with one more year on his contract after this season, he’s showing he still has gas left in the tank.

2. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg: Connor posted three goals and nine points in four games for the Jets this week, and he is on a 10-game point streak that has seen him generate 20 points. After 66 games this season, he has 41 goals and 82 points, all new career highs for him. Connor is in the third season of a seven-year, $50-million contract, and at age 25, he is only entering his prime. The Jets also aren’t likely to play in the post-season, but Connor is a foundational talent for the franchise, and his cap hit of $7.14 million is a relative bargain for what he brings to the table.

1. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary: This is Gaudreau’s third appearance in the Three Stars this season, and once again, he’s earned the honor by being one of the game’s most dynamic offensive-minded talents. Gaudreau led all NHLers this week with eight assists and 11 points in four games, including a five-assist night Saturday against Edmonton. The 28-year-old has 30 goals and 90 points in 65 games this year, putting him only six goals, three assists and nine points away from equally his career-highs in those categories. He is going to get a massive raise from the Flames when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, but considering how central he’s been to Calgary’s impressive success this year, the Flames will be happy to pay up.