Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to THN.com’s Three Stars of the Week. Like last season, every Sunday we’ll identify his three best NHL players of the past seven days. Of the three stars, he doesn’t necessarily have to score the most points (which certainly doesn’t hurt) to be one contender, but he has to stand out in some way. With that said, let’s start in reverse order with the best NHL talent from October 16-22.
3. Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey: After starting the year with a 5-2 loss to the upstart Philadelphia Flyers, Blackwood rebounded this week with three wins from three games, an average of 1.33 goals and a .932 save percentage.
The 25-year-old entered the year with additional competition for the Devils’ starting netminder position when he signed former Washington goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a three-year, $10.2 million contract. It was a season that had another postseason mistake. Coach Lindy Ruff’s tenure was coming to an end (at the earliest), and it didn’t matter if it was Blackwood or Vanessek.
Blackwood is entering the final season of a three-year contract with an average salary cap of $2.8 million, but will become a restricted free agent next summer. In an era of more balanced goaltending tandems, the Devils need solid production from Blackwood and Vanessek, but with three straight wins, New Jersey sees no reason to go back to Vanessek for the foreseeable future. Blackwood is doing great and that’s all the news the Devils need.
2. Rasmus Darling, Buffalo: On Thursday, the Sabers defense set a new NHL record for longest straight season-opening scoring streak for a Blue Liner, but the 22-year-old Swede didn’t stop there. Saturday night in Vancouver, Darling scored again to give his five goals. He added an assist to score eight points on the season.
Darling, now in his fifth season in the NHL, leads Buffalo in on-ice time. With an average ice time of 24:26, he has been used more than 2 minutes longer than Saber, the second most used Saber, and has played in all conditions.
Coming into the season, much of the spotlight in Buffalo was centered around rookie D-Man Owen Power. He’ll also be a dominant force munching on Buffalo’s share as he adjusts to the world’s premier hockey league, but Darling is looking to smash personal bests on offense, making him the best all-around player he’s ever been. showing great progress and confidence. The more effective he is, the more likely the Sabers will defy the odds and earn a playoff spot.
1. Valeri Nichushkin, Colorado: The defending Stanley Cup champions Avalanche didn’t get off to the best start to the season, going 2-2-1 in the first five games. But forward Nichushkin has been in his one wrecking crew for Avs this week, where he scored three goals and he scored eight points in four games.
The 27-year-old has contributed in every aspect of the game, recording even strength, power plays and short-handed goals over the span, with three even strength assists and one assist in those four. Added Powerplay Assist, 1 Shorthanded Assist. game.
Nichushkin is in the first year of a new eight-year, $49 million contract extension with Colorado. With star winger Gabriel Landeskog out for the next three months following knee surgery, Nituskin has more offense than last season when he tallied his career-high 25 goals and his 52 points in 62 games. would be expected. This year, he’s looking to prove last season was no fluke.
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