Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson led the NHL with nine points to earn first star honors for the week ending November 23. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini followed as second and third stars, respectively, for their strong performances. The honors highlight key contributions in recent games across the league.
The NHL announced its "Three Stars" for the week ending November 23, recognizing standout players from three teams. Presented by GEICO, the awards spotlight performers who significantly impacted their squads' results.
Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames earned first star honors after leading the league with 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points in four games. The 29-year-old defenseman powered the Flames (8-13-3, 19 points) to three wins. On November 18, he recorded 1-1—2 in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The next day, November 19, Andersson tallied 1-2—3, including two third-period assists, in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He added one assist in a 3-2 shootout win against the Dallas Stars on November 22 and capped the week with 0-3—3 in a 5-2 win versus the Vancouver Canucks on November 23. Andersson has 2-8—10 points in a five-game streak dating to November 15 and ranks 12th among league defensemen with 5-11—16 in 24 games this season. In his career with Calgary, he has 52-195—247 points in 560 games, placing sixth in franchise history for defenseman points.
Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets took second star with 3-5—8 points in four games, helping his team (11-8-3, 25 points) to a 2-1-1 record. The 28-year-old notched 1-1—2 in a 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on November 17, scored his 400th career point in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on November 18, added 0-3—3 in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 20, and finished with 1-1—2 in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on November 22. Werenski has 3-7—10 in a six-game streak and ranks third among defensemen with 7-14—21 in 22 games. He leads Blue Jackets defensemen in career goals, assists, and points with 120-285—405 in 589 games.
Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks was named third star for 4-3—7 points and two game-winning goals in four games, lifting the Sharks (11-9-3, 25 points) to three wins. The 19-year-old, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, scored his third career hat trick—including the overtime winner—in a 3-2 win against the Utah Mammoth on November 18, becoming the fourth teenager with at least 30 points in his first 20 games. He added one assist each in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings on November 20 and a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on November 22, then scored 1-1—2 with his seventh career game-winner in a 3-1 triumph over the Boston Bruins on November 23. Celebrini ranks second league-wide with 14-20—34 points in 23 games, including points in nine of his last 10.