The National Hockey League has announced the Stars of the Month for the month of October 2026.
First Star – Connor McDavid (C – EDM)
- McDavid (8-27—35 in 13 GP) led the NHL with 27 assists – the most by any player in a single October in League history (ahead of the 22 by Mario Lemieux in 1988 w/ PIT and Wayne Gretzky in 1986 w/ EDM) – and 35 points – the third-most by any player in a single October in NHL history (behind only the 38 in 1988 and 36 in 1992 by Lemieux w/ PIT) – to lift the Oilers (10-2-2, 22 points) to a 10-2-1 month and the top of the Western Conference standings. McDavid collected at least one helper in each of his October appearances to extend his season-opening assist streak to 14 games, surpassing the previous League record of 12 contests shared by Sebastian Aho (2018-19 w/ CAR), Ken Linseman (1985-86 w/ BOS) and Gretzky (1982-83 w/ EDM). McDavid – who finished 11 assists and 10 points ahead of the No. 2-ranked player(s) in each category – additionally placed among the October leaders in even-strength points (1st; 20), power-play points (1st; 14), power-play assists (1st; 14), average time on ice among forwards (1st; 23:32), even-strength assists (t-1st; 13) and plus/minus (2nd; +17). The 29-year-old McDavid, a six-time Art Ross Trophy winner and the reigning recipient, owns a League-best 8-29—37 through 14 total outings in 2026-27. No player in NHL history has recorded more assists within their first 14 games of a season (the previous benchmark was 25, by Gretzky: 3x and Lemieux: 1x), while only Lemieux has compiled more points through that stage of a campaign (42 in both 1995-96 and 1992-93 as well as 41 in 1988-89, all w/ PIT).
Second Star – Kirill Kaprizov (LW – MIN)
- Kaprizov (14-10—24 in 15 GP) tallied a League-high 14 goals (two more than the next-closest player) to propel the Wild to a 9-3-3 (21 points) October and into first place in the Central Division. Kaprizov’s 14 goals matched a franchise record for any calendar month, a benchmark he previously established in March 2022, and ranked as the most by any NHL player in a single October since Alex Ovechkin in 2009 (14 w/ WSH). Kaprizov scored in 10 of his 15 contests, including his seventh career hat trick Oct. 10 at FLA (3-1—4). He additionally finished among the October leaders in even-strength goals (t-1st; 10), game-winning goals (t-2nd; 3), points (t-3rd; 24), even-strength points (t-3rd; 17), average time on ice among forwards (6th; 21:44), power-play goals (t-6th; 4) and shots on goal (t-7th; 51). The 29-year-old Kaprizov begins November with 244-255—499 in 412 career NHL games (all w/ MIN). Only one player has recorded at least 500 points with the Wild since the franchise’s first season in 2000-01: Mikko Koivu (205-504—709 in 1,028 GP).
Third Star – Pyotr Kochetkov (G – CAR)
- Kochetkov (9-0-0, 1.66 GAA, .919 SV%, 1 SO) posted a flawless October, earning a League-best nine wins to help the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes (11-2-2, 24 points) finish the month with the best record in the NHL. Kochetkov, who was limited to nine total appearances in 2025-26, tied Felix Potvin (1993-94 w/ TOR) for the third-longest season-opening winning streak in NHL history – behind only Jack Campbell (11-0-0 in 2020-21 w/ TOR) and Carey Price (10-0-0 in 2016-17 w/ MTL). He also matched the longest winning streak at any point in a season by a Hurricanes/Whalers goaltender, a mark previously achieved by Brandon Bussi (2x in 2025-26) and Cam Ward (2008-09). The 27-year-old Kochetkov allowed two or fewer goals in eight of his nine starts, highlighted by his 12th career shutout Oct. 24 at STL (all w/ CAR) – only Ward (27), Arturs Irbe (20) and Mike Liut (13) have recorded more with the franchise.
*All Graphics Courtesy of the NHL
*Player Profiles written by NHL PR Staff.
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