Hockey enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a thrilling showcase of November's NHL superstars who turned the ice into their personal playground! These elite players didn't just play—they dominated, leading their teams to victories and leaving fans in awe. But here's where it gets controversial: With such packed talent in the league, are these selections truly the cream of the crop, or is there room for debate on who shines brightest? Stick around as we dive into the details and uncover the numbers that make these athletes stand out.
We're excited to announce that Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson, and Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard have been honored as the NHL's Three Stars for November, courtesy of our presenting partner, GEICO. This recognition celebrates the players who lit up the scoreboard and propelled their squads forward in the early part of the season.
First Star – Nathan MacKinnon, Center, Colorado Avalanche
Leading the pack is Nathan MacKinnon, the powerhouse center fueling Colorado's stellar run. For beginners in hockey stats, 'even-strength points' refer to goals and assists scored when teams are at full strength—meaning no players in the penalty box—which highlights a player's skill without power-play advantages. MacKinnon topped the monthly charts in this category with 20 points, alongside a perfect plus/minus of +20 (indicating he contributed positively to his team's goals versus the opponent's), and tied for first in total points with 26. He also ranked near the top in even-strength assists (t-2nd with 11), goals (t-3rd with 11), even-strength goals (t-3rd with 9), assists overall (t-3rd with 15), and shots on goal (t-4th with 57). These stats powered the Avalanche to a record-breaking 11-0-2 record in November, racking up 24 points and securing 18 wins, 1 loss, and 6 overtime ties for 42 total points—landing them atop the NHL standings. This marks their highest monthly point haul since January 2022's impressive 15-0-1 run, worth 31 points.
MacKinnon was unstoppable, registering points in 11 of his 13 games, with seven outings featuring multiple points. A standout stretch was his three-game tear from November 8-11, where he amassed 4 goals, 8 assists, and 12 points—the most by any Colorado player since Peter Forsberg's legendary 4-8—12 in three games back in December 1995. In his career, all with the Avalanche, MacKinnon's amassed 387 goals, 672 assists, and 1,059 points over 895 games, placing him in the top three in franchise history for goals, assists, and points (check out the records at https://records.nhl.com/col/records/skater-records/goals/most-goals-career, https://records.nhl.com/col/records/skater-records/assists/most-assists-career, and https://records.nhl.com/col/records/skater-records/points/most-points-career). As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and a two-time runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy (the award for the league's top scorer), the 30-year-old now leads the NHL with 20 goals, 24 assists, and 44 points through 25 games this season. He's also atop the league in even-strength points (33), plus/minus (+30), and goals (tied for 1st with 20), plus holding spots near the top in even-strength goals (2nd with 14), even-strength assists (2nd with 19), assists (3rd with 24), and shots on goal (3rd with 108).
Second Star – Jason Robertson, Left Wing, Dallas Stars
Shifting gears to Texas, Jason Robertson's explosive performance earned him the second star nod. He led the NHL in goals with 13 and tied for first in points with 26 over 15 games, driving the Stars to an 11-2-2 month with 24 points—matching their best monthly output this century alongside March 2025, February 2008, and March 2001. This propelled Dallas to second place in the league standings with a 17-5-4 record and 38 points overall. Robertson also shone in shots on goal (1st with 62), power-play points (t-2nd with 10), power-play assists (t-3rd with 7), power-play goals (t-6th with 3), assists (t-9th with 13), and plus/minus (t-12th with +12).
He netted goals in nine of his 15 contests, including a personal-best seven-game scoring streak from November 11-25 (11 goals, 6 assists, 17 points)—the longest by a Stars player since relocating to Dallas in 1993-94 and tied for the second-longest in franchise history (see https://records.nhl.com/dal/records/skater-records/scoring-streaks/longest-consecutive-goal-streak). Plus, he delivered eight multi-point games, with three straight three-point outings from November 11-15 (6 goals, 3 assists, 9 points), and capped the month with 1-2—3 in his 400th career game (all with Dallas; check out the celebration at https://x.com/DallasStars/status/1995289573027618943) against Ottawa on November 30. The 26-year-old, picked 39th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft as a second-rounder, ranks sixth in the league with 16 goals, 19 assists, and 35 points through 26 games. He also sits among the season's leaders in shots on goal (2nd with 109), power-play points (t-3rd with 15), goals (t-5th with 16), and power-play assists (t-5th with 10).
Third Star – Connor Bedard, Center, Chicago Blackhawks
Rounding out the trio is the young sensation Connor Bedard, whose 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 14 games lifted the Blackhawks to a 6-5-3 November, putting them just one point shy of the Western Conference playoff line. Their 11-9-5 record and 27 points overall make this a pivotal comeback. Interestingly, only Patrick Kane has tallied as many points in a single month for Chicago this century—six times, with his most recent being March 2022's 5-21—26 in 14 games. Bedard contributed to over half of the team's 44 November goals (a solid 52.3%), and he ranked among the monthly top performers in power-play assists (t-5th with 6), goals (t-6th with 10), power-play points (t-6th with 8), assists (t-9th with 13), and shots on goal (t-11th with 52).
He recorded points in 10 of his 14 outings, including four games with at least three points: November 7 against Calgary (1-3—4), November 9 against Detroit (1-2—3), November 18 versus Calgary (3-0—3), and November 30 versus Anaheim (2-2—4). As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the 20-year-old stands third in league points (37), tied for fifth in goals (16), and tied for ninth in assists (21) through 25 games this season. And this is the part most people miss: With rookies like Bedard making such an impact, it begs the question—is the NHL evolving faster with these young guns taking center stage?
As GEICO proudly sponsors the NHL's Three Stars, they're also thrilled to introduce the Fourth Star program—a fun, ongoing initiative honoring the most passionate and vocal fans who bring the energy to every game. It's all about celebrating those who make hockey unforgettable. For a nostalgic look, check out last season's monthly Fourth Star videos here: https://www.nhl.com/video/topic/4th-star/.
There you have it—November's hockey heroes in full spotlight. But here's where it gets controversial: With MacKinnon's veteran dominance, Robertson's scoring streak, and Bedard's rookie brilliance, do these picks align with your view of the league's best? Or should we be debating if the system overlooks power-play specialists or under-the-radar grinders? What about the impact of draft pedigree on expectations—is it fair to compare a first-round phenom like Bedard to later picks like Robertson? Share your take in the comments: Agree with the honors, or think someone else deserved the glow-up? Let's chat hockey!
