The halfway point of the NHL season has come and gone this past week. During this mid-way week Jacob Markstrom, Clayton Keller and Elias Pettersson rose above the rest to put the league on notice.
Welcome once again to the Three Stars of the Week, an ongoing THN.com file in which we identify three NHLers who had the biggest positive impact for their team in the past week. Let’s get to it:
3. Jacob Markstrom, G, Calgary Flames
The veteran Flames goaltender was 3-0-0 this past week, with a 2.00 goals-against average, and .939 save percentage. The 33-year-old is well on his way from rebounding from a sub-par 2022-23 season, and although he has two more seasons under contract at an average annual value of $6-million per season, he could be making himself more attractive for potential trade partners that sense Calgary is about to embark on a full rebuild and choose to try and set the trade market for goalies by sending draft picks or prospects the Flames’ way.
Markstrom no longer has time on his side, but if Calgary retains some of his salary, Flames GM Craig Conroy could land his team some solid building pieces for the future, and give Markstrom perhaps his last best chance at winning a Stanley Cup. He isn’t going to get that by remaining in Calgary, but he is being a good soldier right now, and teams in dire need of experienced netminding could do much worse than acquiring the Swede.
2. Clayton Keller, RW, Arizona Coyotes
The 25-year-old Keller generated four goals and seven points in four games this week, and he now has 17 goals and 38 points in 41 games this season. He earns $7.15 million per season from this year through the 2027-28 season, and as the Coyotes push for a playoff berth this year, Keller is central to their competitive hopes.
Keller is far and away Arizona’s highest-paid active player, and he’s aching to be part of a ‘Yotes team that gets into the post-season. That task will be made much easier if Keller can follow up on his hot streak this week and provide the Coyotes with consistent offense on an elite level. Arizona needs other players to produce as well, but they need Keller to do the heavy lifting up front, and this week, he showed he was more than capable of the job.
1. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Pettersson posted five goals and nine points in four games this week, which made him the leading point-getter in the league in that span. Three of his goals were game-winning goals, and all five of his goals came at even-strength.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet has Pettersson playing at even strength, power play and penalty kill moments, and with 22 goals and 57 points in only 43 games, Pettersson is on pace for a 42-goal, 109-point season, all of which would set new career highs for the 25-year-old, who will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.
Pettersson is in line to get a huge raise on his current $7.35-million salary this season, and Vancouver will happily be paying him about $5-million more than that beginning next year. Pettersson isn’t yet at his peak, but he’s absolutely one of the brightest lights in the league, and he’s one of the key reasons the Canucks are the NHL’s top team right now. Pettersson is leading the way for Vancouver, and there’s no question he has what it takes to help the Canucks finally ascend to the winner’s circle in the playoffs.