Colorado Avalanche

NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup for December 17

In our NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup for Dec 17, NHL’s Quarter Century Players, Sherwood’s Breakout, NHL Three Stars of Week

by
Old Prof
December 17, 2024

Welcome to the morning roundup with NHL Trade Talk. We will bring you three key NHL stories in brief each morning. Stay updated on the latest team performances, trade buzz, and standout player news from around the league. Here’s today’s NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup for December 17.

Sherwood’s Breakout Season Continues with First NHL Hat Trick

Kiefer Sherwood’s breakout season reached new heights as he netted his first NHL hat trick in the Vancouver Canucks’ 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Sherwood is enjoying the best season of his career. He now has 11 goals in just 30 games—already surpassing last season’s total of 10 in 68 games with Nashville. The 28-year-old forward was serenaded by the home crowd after his second and third goals. Sherwood called it a “pretty special honor.” He credited the energy of Vancouver fans, whose passion has been key to the Canucks’ bounce-back efforts at home.

This game highlighted Sherwood’s emergence as a reliable offensive contributor but also reflects a growing confidence in his game. As Vancouver works to solidify their playoff positioning, Sherwood’s breakout season is proving to be a timely boost for a team aiming to maintain its momentum.

NHL to Honor Best Players of Past 25 Years in Quarter-Century Team Celebration

The NHL has announced an exciting multi-phase campaign to celebrate its top players from the past 25 years, culminating in the creation of the NHL Quarter-Century Team. Kicking off on Dec. 30, each NHL team will unveil its First and Second Quarter-Century Teams, featuring the best three forwards, two defensemen, and one goaltender to play for their franchise since Jan. 1, 2000.

Following the team-specific reveals through January, fans will have their say in a League-wide vote from Feb. 12-26 to select the 25 best players overall for the NHL Quarter-Century Team. The final fan-voted team will be announced later in 2025. There will also be debate-style shows and extensive coverage celebrating the game’s biggest stars.

Draisaitl, MacKinnon, and Ullmark Earn NHL’s Three Stars of the Week

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl led the way as the NHL’s First Star of the week. He scored three goals and six assists (3-6–9) in three games to fuel Edmonton’s five-game winning streak. Draisaitl became the first player to hit 20 goals this season. During the week, he scored two game-winners and put up a four-point game in a 7-1 win over Minnesota. His league-leading seventh game-winning goal capped off the week as Edmonton climbed to third in the Pacific Division.

Leon Draisaitl Oilers MVP leads vs Wild - NHL Trade Talk — Leon Draisaitl for Oilers MVP?

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon earned Second Star, contributing four goals and five assists (4-5–9) to lead the NHL in even-strength scoring. MacKinnon hit the 50-point mark faster than any other player this season, highlighted by a five-point night against Pittsburgh and a three-point effort versus Nashville.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark claimed Third Star honors, posting a 3-0-0 record with a stellar 0.99 goals-against average, a .967 save percentage, and one shutout. Ullmark stopped 88 of 91 shots over the week, helping Ottawa win three straight and move into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.