Jakob Chychrun’s big week is being acknowledged by the NHL.
Chychrun was named the league’s Third Star of the Week on Monday after recording seven points (3g, 4a) in four Capitals games. The 26-year-old defender is also tied with Cale Makar and Zach Werenski for the most goals scored by a defenseman this season (8).
Macklin Celebrini (@SanJoseSharks), Quinn Hughes (@Canucks) and Jakob Chychrun (@Capitals) have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending Dec. 1.#NHLStats: https://t.co/PRLlm4egyn pic.twitter.com/oJUWZ5ONR6
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 2, 2024
Chychrun kicked off the week with his best performance in the four games, tallying three points (1g, 2a) against his hometown Florida Panthers. He added the primary assist on Tom Wilson’s game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning, scored the overtime winner against the New York Islanders two days later, and finished the week by scoring against the New Jersey Devils.
The Capitals acquired Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators in an offseason trade this past July. Chychrun, an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, has recorded 15 points (8g, 7a) in 19 games with Washington.
Chychrun skates the third-most minutes per game on the Capitals, averaging 19:58 of ice time. He recently took up a role on the club’s first power play unit after Alex Ovechkin exited the lineup due to injury.
The Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes (1g, 8a, 9 points in 4 GP) joins Chychrun as the other defender among the three stars. Macklin Celebrini received first-star honors after the rookie had seven points (4g, 3a) in four games for the San Jose Sharks.
Third Star of the Week: Chych!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/s1jFbKGKWz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 2, 2024
Here’s the full press release from the NHL:
Celebrini, Hughes and Chychrun Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week presented by GEICO
NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2024) – San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO for the week ending Dec. 1.
FIRST STAR – MACKLIN CELEBRINI, C, SAN JOSE SHARKS
Celebrini, who on Sunday was named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for November, notched 4‑3—7 and two game-winning goals in four appearances to guide the Sharks (9-13-5, 23 points) to a trio of victories. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft registered 2-1—3, highlighted by his second career decisive tally (also Nov. 18 vs. DET), in a 7-2 triumph versus the Los Angeles Kings Nov. 25. At 18 years, 165 days, he became the youngest player in franchise history with a three-point game – besting Patrick Marleau’s previous team mark (18 years, 171 days on March 5, 1998 vs. DET: 1-2—3). Celebrini then scored once in a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators Nov. 27 before collecting 1-1—2, including another game-winning goal, in an 8-5 victory against the Seattle Kraken Nov. 29. He ended the week with one assist (on the eventual decisive goal) in a 4-2 win over the Kraken Nov. 30. Celebrini sits third among rookies with 8-6—14 through 15 total contests this season despite missing 12 games due to injury. He also ranks among the leading rookies in game-winning goals (t-1st; 3), goals (2nd; 8), average time on ice (2nd; 19:48), shots on goal (3rd; 47), shooting percentage (minimum: 1 SOG/GP – 4th; 17.0%) and assists (t-6th; 6).
SECOND STAR – QUINN HUGHES, D, VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Hughes paced the NHL with eight assists and nine points in four games (1-8—9) to propel the Canucks (13-7-3, 29 points) to a 3-1-0 week. Hughes, who also shared the League lead with four helpers on the man-advantage, picked up an assist on the decisive power-play goal in a 2-0 triumph over the Boston Bruins Nov. 26. He followed that with 1-2—3, his second three-point outing of the season (also Nov. 5 at ANA: 0-3—3), in a 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Nov. 27. Hughes added a pair of helpers, including the primary assist on Conor Garland’s overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres Nov. 29. He capped the week with 0-3—3, again assisting on the decisive overtime tally, in a 5-4 win versus the Detroit Red Wings Dec. 1 to surpass Alexander Edler for the most helpers by a defenseman in franchise history. The 25-year-old Hughes, the reigning James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, ranks second among NHL blueliners with 5-23—28 through 23 total contests this season. He also places among the top defensemen in power-play assists (t-1st; 11), assists (2nd; 23), power-play points (t-3rd; 11), shots on goal (5th; 77), average time on ice (9th; 24:52) and goals (t-9th; 5).
THIRD STAR – JAKOB CHYCHRUN, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Chychrun recorded 3-4—7 and a pair of game-winning goals in four appearances to lift the Capitals (17-6-1, 35 points) into first place in the Metropolitan Division on the strength of a perfect week. He posted his eighth career three-point performance and first in nearly a year (last Dec. 15, 2023 at DAL: 0-3—3) with 1-2—3, including the decisive tally, in a 4-1 victory against the Florida Panthers Nov. 25. Chychrun notched the primary assist on Tom Wilson’s tiebreaking goal with 3:26 remaining in regulation in a 5-4 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Nov. 27 before collecting 1-1—2, highlighted by his third career overtime goal, as Washington again rallied from a third-period deficit for a 5-4 triumph versus the New York Islanders Nov. 29. He closed the week with another tally, his eighth of the season (tied for first among NHL defensemen), in a 6-5 victory over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 30. The 26-year-old Chychrun, who was acquired by the Capitals during the offseason, has produced 8-7—15 and a +10 rating through 19 total contests in 2024-25.
