The second half of the NHL season is officially underway, and this week delivered everything: blockbuster trade rumors turning into reality, the league's best player hitting another milestone, and the All-Star rosters generating the usual mix of excitement and outrage. Let's break it all down.
The Week in One Breath
Dallas acquired Jakob Chychrun to shore up their defense, Connor McDavid became the fastest to 80 points this season, the All-Star Game rosters were announced with a few notable snubs, and Vegas continued their quiet dominance atop the Pacific Division.
Biggest Storylines
Dallas Makes a Move
After a dismal 0-3-3 stretch that had fans calling for heads, the Stars front office responded. Dallas acquired defenseman Jakob Chychrun from Ottawa in exchange for a first-round pick and prospect Thomas Harley. The deal addresses Dallas's biggest weakness: puck-moving defense that can support their transition game.
Chychrun, 27, has 19 points in 42 games this season and immediately slots into Dallas's top four. His skating ability and offensive instincts should help a Stars team that's struggled to generate clean zone exits.
"We needed to make a statement," GM Jim Nill said. "Jakob gives us another gear we didn't have."
The move signals Dallas's intent to compete now despite the rough patch. They're 25-18-5 and still firmly in the playoff picture.
McDavid Hits 80
Connor McDavid reached 80 points faster than anyone else this season, hitting the mark in just 45 games. His three-assist performance against Seattle on Wednesday pushed him to 80 points (29 goals, 51 assists), extending his lead over Nathan MacKinnon to four points.
The 80-point mark in 45 games puts McDavid on pace for 146 points over a full 82-game season. Only Wayne Gretzky (nine times) and Mario Lemieux (four times) have finished a season above that number.
His point streak ended at 20 games on Saturday when Calgary held him off the scoresheet in a 3-1 Flames victory. But by then, he'd already done the damage: 43 points during the streak.
All-Star Rosters Announced
The NHL revealed All-Star Game rosters on Tuesday, and the reaction was predictable: half celebration, half outrage.
Notable selections: Connor McDavid (captain, Pacific), Nathan MacKinnon (captain, Central), Auston Matthews (captain, Atlantic), Sidney Crosby (captain, Metropolitan).
First-time All-Stars: Macklin Celebrini (Sharks), Lane Hutson (Canadiens), Matvei Michkov (Flyers).
Snubs generating buzz: Jason Robertson (Dallas), Andrei Svechnikov (Carolina), Brock Boeser (Vancouver).
Robertson's omission is particularly puzzling given his 52 points in 48 games. Dallas fans are not pleased.
Around the League
Vegas Rolling
The Golden Knights posted a 3-1-0 week and sit atop the Pacific Division with a four-point cushion. Jack Eichel continues his career year with 59 points in 46 games, and the acquisition of Jonathan Marchessault (traded then re-signed in the offseason) has paid dividends with his chemistry alongside Eichel intact.
Vegas's penalty kill has been elite, operating at 86.2% - second in the league. That unit kept them alive in a tight 2-1 win over Colorado on Thursday.
Toronto's January Surge
The Maple Leafs went 4-0-0 this week, outscoring opponents 16-6. Auston Matthews found his groove with six goals in four games, and Mitch Marner's playmaking has been vintage stuff. Toronto is now 30-15-3 and looking like a legitimate Cup contender for the first time in years.
The biggest development? Their defense. Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have stabilized a blue line that's been Toronto's Achilles heel in past playoff runs.
Bedard Building Momentum
Connor Bedard's return from injury continues to go well. The 20-year-old had five points (2G, 3A) in three games this week, pushing his season total to 49 points in 35 games. He's on pace for 115 points if he stays healthy - a ridiculous number for a rebuilding team.
Bedard's chemistry with Philipp Kurashev (23 points since Bedard's return) has been the story in Chicago. The Blackhawks are 5-3 since their star came back.
The Scoring Race Update
With the All-Star break approaching, here's where the Art Ross Trophy race stands:
Connor McDavid (Oilers): 80 points (29G, 51A) in 45 games - 1.78 PPG
Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche): 76 points (36G, 40A) in 44 games - 1.73 PPG
Nikita Kucherov (Lightning): 68 points (22G, 46A) in 46 games - 1.48 PPG
Kirill Kaprizov (Wild): 65 points (24G, 41A) in 44 games - 1.48 PPG
McDavid's four-point lead isn't insurmountable, but MacKinnon would need to significantly outpace him down the stretch to catch up. MacKinnon leads in goals (36 to 29), which could matter for the Rocket Richard Trophy.
Hot Teams, Cold Teams
Trending Up
Toronto Maple Leafs: 4-0-0 week with dominant goal differential. Matthews is locked in.
Vegas Golden Knights: Quietly the best team in the West. Their depth is unmatched.
Carolina Hurricanes: Despite the Svechnikov snub, they're 7-2-1 in their last 10 and climbing.
Trending Down
Seattle Kraken: Lost four straight and are fading from playoff contention. The McDavid game was brutal.
New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes's inconsistency continues to plague them. They're 3-5-2 in January.
Ottawa Senators: The Chychrun trade signals they're sellers. Rough times in the capital.
Notable Performances
Connor McDavid (Oilers): 7 points in 3 games before the streak ended. Simply dominant.
Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs): 6 goals in 4 games during Toronto's perfect week.
Jack Eichel (Golden Knights): 5 points in 4 games, continuing his career-best campaign.
Connor Bedard (Blackhawks): 5 points in 3 games, showing no rust from the injury.
Lane Hutson (Canadiens): The rookie defenseman had 4 assists this week, earning his All-Star nod.
Deep Dive: The Numbers Behind the Headlines
- McDavid's 20-game point streak was the longest by an Oiler since Wayne Gretzky in 1986-87. His 43 points during the streak would've been a decent half-season for most players. It took a combined effort from Calgary's shutdown line to finally cool him off.
- The Chychrun trade marks Dallas's first midseason acquisition of a top-four defenseman since 2019. The Stars' analytics department identified puck movement as their primary issue - they ranked 26th in controlled zone exits before the trade.
- Toronto's 16-6 goal differential this week was their best since November 2021. More importantly, only 2 of those 6 goals against came at even strength. Their defensive structure is finally matching their offensive firepower.
- Bedard's 49 points in 35 games puts him on pace for the highest-scoring age-20 season in Blackhawks history. He'd need to stay healthy and maintain pace, but he's already surpassed Jeremy Roenick's age-20 total of 41 points.
- Vegas's 86.2% penalty kill would be the franchise's best ever if it holds. Their aggressive approach - pressing at the blue line rather than sitting back - has generated 7 shorthanded goals, tied for the league lead.
Trade Deadline Watch
With the March 7 deadline approaching, here's who to watch:
Potential Sellers: Ottawa (clearly), San Jose, Anaheim, Chicago (though they won't move Bedard obviously)
Names to Watch: Brady Tkachuk (if Ottawa goes full rebuild), Elias Lindholm (Vancouver rental), Kevin Hayes (St. Louis)
Buyers Loading Up: Dallas (already active), Toronto, Vegas, Carolina
The Chychrun deal sets a market for top-four defensemen. Expect prices to be high.
What to Watch Next Week
All-Star Weekend: The festivities hit Florida on Friday and Saturday. Skills competition should be fun.
Chychrun's Dallas debut: Can he immediately impact the Stars' struggling blue line?
Matthews vs. McDavid: Toronto hosts Edmonton on Tuesday in a marquee matchup.
Trade deadline dominoes: Will other sellers follow Ottawa's lead?
