Today the National Hockey League announced their Three Stars of the Week for the week of December 8th through 14th.
First Star – Connor McDavid (C – EDM)
- McDavid led the NHL with 4-6—10 in four appearances to propel the Oilers (15-12-6, 36 points) to a 2-1-1 week. He scored twice, including the tying goal with two seconds remaining in regulation, as Edmonton overcame a three-goal third-period deficit in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres Dec. 9. McDavid then recorded his 12th career four-assist performance – tied for the eighth-most in League history – in a 4-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 11. He followed that with 2-1—3, including a highlight-reel goal 3:25 after the opening face-off, in a 6-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs Dec. 13 before closing the week with an assist on the Oilers’ lone goal in a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 14. The 28-year-old McDavid, a three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner and five-time Art Ross Trophy recipient, sits second in the NHL with 18-34—52 through 33 total contests this season – aided by 7-9—16 during a six-game point streak dating to Dec. 4. McDavid also tops the League in assists (34) while ranking third in both power-play assists (15) and power-play points (20).
Second Star – John Gibson (G – DET)
- Gibson posted a pair of shutouts in his three starts, going 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage to lift the Red Wings (18-12-3, 39 points) into second place in the Atlantic Division. He earned his first clean sheet with Detroit by making 39 saves in a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 8. Gibson then turned aside 34 of 37 shots, including each of the first 28 he faced, in a 4-3 triumph versus the Calgary Flames Dec. 10. He capped the week with 26 saves for his 26th career shutout in a 4-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks Dec. 13. The 32-year-old Gibson owns a 9-7-1 record, 3.13 goals-against average, .890 save percentage and two shutouts through 18 total appearances this season – his first with the Red Wings after spending his first 12 NHL campaigns with the Anaheim Ducks.
Third Star – Joel Eriksson Ek (C – MIN)
- Eriksson Ek collected 3-4—7 in four contests to help the Wild (19-9-5, 43 points) register a perfect week as they moved into fourth place in the overall League standings. He notched multiple points in each of his first two outings, picking up 1-2—3 in a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken Dec. 8 and 1-1—2 in a 5-2 triumph against the Dallas Stars Dec. 11. Eriksson Ek then scored the tiebreaking goal with 24 seconds remaining in regulation for a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 13 before posting one assist in a 6-2 win versus the Boston Bruins Dec. 14. The 28-year-old Eriksson Ek, who has played all 10 of his NHL seasons with Minnesota, has compiled 7-16—23 through 33 total games in 2025-26.
*All Graphics courtesy of the NHL, Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota Wild.
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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