NEW YORK – New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of January.
FIRST STAR – JACK HUGHES, C, NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Hughes led the NHL with 13-10—23 in 13 games – and ranked second with 67 shots on goal – to propel the Devils (32-13-4, 68 points) to a 9‑2-2 January. He found the scoresheet in 12 of his 13 outings, including each of his last eight to close the month (Jan. 13-27: 7-8—15). Hughes recorded nine multi-point games (including four straight to end January: 4-4—8), four multi-goal performances (highlighted by three in four contests from Jan. 5-13: 6-2—8), two three-point efforts (Jan. 7 vs. NYR: 2-1—3 and Jan. 13 at ANA: 2-1—3) and a pair of game-winning goals (Jan. 13 at ANA and Jan. 27 at DAL). He became the fastest player in franchise history to reach the 60-point milestone, doing so in his 47th contest of 2022-23 (Jan. 24 vs. VGK), and the third-fastest to compile 30 goals (46 GP; Jan. 22 vs. PIT) – behind only Paul Gardner (44 GP in 1977-78 w/ CLR) and Claude Lemieux (45 GP in 1991-92). The 21-year-old Hughes, who this week will become the first Florida-born player in NHL history to skate in multiple All-Star Games (also 2022), ranks among the League leaders in shots on goal (4th; 220), goals (t-5th; 33) and points (9th; 64) through 49 total appearances this season (33-31—64).
SECOND STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS
Pastrnak shared the League lead with 13 goals and placed third overall with 21 points (13-8—21) in 14 contests to power the Bruins (38-7-5, 81 points) to a 10-3-1 January en route to becoming the fastest team in NHL history to reach the 80-point milestone (47 GP). He found the scoresheet in 10 of his 14 appearances, highlighted by four-point performances Jan. 8 at ANA (3-1—4) and Jan. 24 at MTL (1‑3—4). Pastrnak produced four other multi-point outings, a total of four multi-goal games (including three straight from Jan. 5-8: 7-1—8) and a pair of game-winning goals (Jan. 7 at SJS and Jan. 16 vs. PHI). He also hit the 30-goal milestone for a sixth time Jan. 8 at ANA (40 GP), becoming the fastest Boston player to do so since Cam Neely in 1993-94 (27 GP). The 26-year-old Pastrnak, who will be making his third career All-Star Game appearance this week (also 2019 and 2020), sits among the League leaders in shots on goal (1st; 243), goals (2nd; 38), power-play goals (t-3rd; 14), points (4th; 71), power-play points (5th; 28) and plus/minus (t-10th; +24) through 50 total games this season.
THIRD STAR – VINCE DUNN, D, SEATTLE KRAKEN
Dunn topped defensemen with 5-12—17 in 15 games and tied for the League lead among all skaters with a +18 rating to lift the Kraken (29-15-5, 63 points) from fifth to first place in the Pacific Division on the strength of an NHL-best 11-3-1 January. Dunn, who nearly doubled his scoring from his first 34 games of the season (4-15—19), collected points in 11 of his 15 appearances – including a career-high nine straight outings from Jan. 5-19 (5-8—13). He also posted an even or better plus/minus rating 11 times, highlighted by a career-best +6 performance Jan. 14 at CHI. The 26-year-old Dunn, who played the fourth-most minutes of any skater in January (365:37), sits 11th among defensemen with 9‑27—36 and tied for fifth among all players with a +26 rating in 49 total contests this season. His 36 points already are a career high, ahead of the 35 he compiled in 78 games in 2018-19 (12-23—35 w/ STL) and matched in 73 appearances in 2021-22 (7-28—35 w/ SEA).
