Adam Proteau writes why Dylan Larkin, Elias Pettersson and Phillip Grubauer stood out the most in the NHL in the past week.
This is THN.com’s three stars of the week, a weekly feature in which we pay homage to three NHL players who’ve made special attention on the ice. As always, we’ll get straight to our choices.
3. Phillip Grubauer, Seattle.
Of all NHL goaltenders this week, Grubauer stood out for his Seattle team. In four appearances this week, the 31-year-old German posted a 2-0-1 record, as well as a .927 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average.
Grubauer has an 8-9-3 record overall this season, but the 31-year-old German’s numbers on the year (2.81 goals-against average, .900 save percentage) are an improvement on his numbers with the Kraken last season (.889 SP, 18-31-5 record, 3.16 G.A.A.).
Seattle still has to fight hard to secure a Stanley Cup playoff berth this spring. And they’ve depended on Martin Jones, probably for too long. It’s encouraging for Seattle brass to see Grubauer slowly turn his season around, but he has to be this good, consistently, if the Kraken are to remain at or near the top of the Pacific Division. It’s highly unlikely Seattle will trade for a goalie, so it’s on Grubauer and Jones to limit their goals-against numbers and give the Kraken’s offense enough support to succeed night in and night out.
2. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver
There’s not a lot to cheer about for the Canucks this season, but the performance of star forward Pettersson gave Vancouver fans a break from the constant disappointment they’ve felt this year. This week, Pettersson put up a league-best five assists and seven points in only three games. And he’s been a defensive threat, as his two goals this week were both shorthanded. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet clearly trusts Pettersson, giving him an average of 21:05 of ice time this week.
It’s easy to forget Pettersson is still in the early stages of his ascendancy to the top of the hill in the NHL, but it’s true. He’s just 24, and he’s put up a career-best 44 assists and 71 points in only 54 games this season. He’s also registered 27 goals this year, putting him just six goals away from setting a new personal best in that department. Pettersson has one more year on his contract that pays him an average of $7.35 million per year. After that, he’s scheduled to be a UFA in the summer of 2024, but the Canucks are well-advised to get his signature on a contract extension well before then. It will cost them a pretty penny, but it will be well worth it for the player and the team.
1. Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
In four games this week, Larkin led the streaking Red Wings on offense, with a league-high four goals and eight points. Detroit’s captain and No. 1 center is now on a seven-game point streak (in which he’s generated seven goals and 13 points), and he’s on a pace to produce 33 goals, 51 assists and 83 points. That would be a new personal best for Larkin, whose current career highs are 32 goals and 73 points, both posted in the 2018-19 campaign, and 47 assists, set in 2017-18.
Much is being made of Larkin’s contractual situation as a pending UFA at the end of this season, but we believe he’ll find common ground with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, get a decent raise on his current $6.1-million annual salary and remain in Detroit. He is too valuable to let leave, and if the Wings have any hope of beating out numerous teams for a wild-card slot this season, they’ll need Larkin to be undistracted as he continues to provide consistent offense to overcome Detroit’s defensive issues.