Some NHL clubs have one puzzle piece responsible for their team’s success, while other teams have several puzzle pieces that fit the criteria of a crucial player, requiring a closer examination.
However, this list names only one crucial player on every NHL Eastern Conference team that’s the ‘make’ or ‘break’ puzzle piece for each team.
Boston Bruins
Most crucial: Patrice Bergeron
Although Brad Marchand’s voice and physicality are vital to Boston’s success, Patrice Bergeron is not only one of the most respected players in the league, but he’s the heart and soul of the Bruins.
Bergeron is one of the most productive two-way players in the NHL. The Canadian’s ability to win faceoffs in crucial situations, maintain possession of the puck and earn a minimum of 40 points a season contributes to the Bruins’ offensive success.
Defensively, Bergeron’s ability to block shots, intercept passes and shut down elite scorers indicates why Bergeron’s remarkable contributions are challenging to replace.
Buffalo Sabres
Most crucial: Rasmus Dahlin
The Sabres continue to fall from grace as their decade of torment continues as Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs since 201l. Since 2011, Buffalo has hired and fired several head coaches and general managers and traded away second overall pick Jack Eichel.
While the Sabres have some quality pieces in Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, Victor Olofson and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to build around, none of them hold more significance than defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
The Swede has excelled in first-year coach Don Granato’s system. Granato’s system has allowed Dahlin to evolve into a dual threat. With Dahlin’s mobility, quick hands, improved situational awareness, shot-blocking and shot selection from the point, it’s translated into success for the youngster. While Dahlin has 7 goals and 21 assists this season, the most amongst defensemen on the team, he’s unarguably the number one defensive player on the Sabres.
Carolina Hurricanes
Most crucial: Frederik Andersen
All of Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov are stars in the league for their scoring proficiency and ability to create scoring opportunities. However, all three players seem to disappear at times. That can’t be said about goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has risen to the occasion every time his number has been called.
Andersen has been lights out this season, posting a 21-6 record while boasting the best goals-against average (2.03) in the NHL, and currently tied for the second-best save percentage (.928) in the league. Without Andersen’s career year season, the Hurricanes aren’t contending for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Most crucial: Boone Jenner
Wearing the “C” on your sweater is not a task to be taken lightly. By watching Boone Jenner this season, any individual would recognize Jenner as a player that breathes hockey and leads by example.
Jenner’s confidence in his team, combined with his leadership and ability to influence a game, is indescribable. With Columbus treading water currently, Jenner has continued to give his endless trust and support to the Blue Jackets despite the disappointing results.
Without Jenner’s eagerness to score goals and make others around him better, Columbus would be in free fall with no way up due to a lack of leadership.
Detroit Red Wings
Most crucial: Lucas Raymond
The Motor City appears to be exiting a taxing rebuild thanks to their 2019 and 2020 first-round draft picks, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. One could argue that Seider is more crucial to Detroit’s success than Raymond due to the Red Wings’ instability of top-quality defensemen. But Raymond serving as an offensive catalyst in his rookie season can’t be ignored.
With Detroit searching for a top-line forward to play alongside Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin before the season, nobody thought Raymond would be the long-term answer due to his lack of experience. Through 42 games this season, it’s fair to say Raymond proved all the doubters wrong.
Even though Raymond lacks physicality and size, his decision-making combined with an array of scoring tools in his arsenal propel him to be a difference-maker. With Detroit ahead of schedule, sitting at 18-18-6, a lot of their success can be traced back to Raymond.
Florida Panthers
Most crucial: Jonathan Huberdeau
With pivotal pieces like Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Duclair and Sergei Bobrovsky sidelined this season due to injury or COVID-19 related, many thought the Panthers’ play would be affected immensely. However, Jonathan Huberdeau proved that narrative to be false.
With 55 points through 41 games, the Quebec-native continues to flash his unique playmaking skillset, goal-scoring knack and durability, keeping Florida atop the Eastern Conference. But that’s not why Huberdeau is so crucial to the Panthers’ success. Huberdeau’s ability to always find a way to make others around him better is what makes the Panthers a dangerous team. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett didn’t become better overnight. Huberdeau’s playmaking skills like, luring a defender over to him and beating him with speed, helped Reinhart and Bennett boost their play offensively and become forces to be reckoned with.
Montreal Canadiens
Most crucial: Tyler Toffoli
A season ago, the Canadiens shocked the hockey world by advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Now Montreal is fighting for the number one pick in the draft. How did the Canadiens hit rock bottom so quickly? Montreal’s season is a direct reflection on the absence or departure of several key players like Shea Weber, Carey Price and Phillip Danualt. However, Montreal’s young stars struggling to reach the next level have also contributed to a disastrous season. Nick Suzuki hasn’t been the solution as the first-line center, and Cole Caufield, the rookie that had 12 points in 20 playoff games last season, has endured a dry spell in his sophomore campaign.
Even though the Canadiens have been day and night in back-to-back seasons, Tyler Toffoli has been the microscopic spark for Montreal this season. With Toffoli returning from a lengthy layoff due to a hand injury, the 29-year-old’s effectiveness as a two-way player is challenging to replace.
Toffoli is known to be an aggressive player who’s able to maintain the puck and find the open ice to create scoring opportunities. However, Toffoli’s high IQ continues to be overlooked. Due to his IQ, Toffoli can hamper the opponent through all three zones and contribute in any way Montreal needs him to.
New Jersey Devils
Most crucial: Nico Hischier
While Nico Hischier is no Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, it doesn’t automatically signify he brings no value to the Devils, when in reality, the former top pick brings a great deal to the table.
Since the 23-year-old was drafted in 2017, Hischier has always been a crucial factor to the Devils in terms of his scoring production, pristine stick handling and devilish ability to slip into the number one center role with ease. While Hischier needs to continue to become more of an offensive forward instead of a defensive forward, his dedication to incorporating physicality into his game has paid off.
Even though the Devils currently sit out of the playoff picture, the Devils continue to show their grit and dedication thanks to Hischier’s leadership. With Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer and other youngsters on the roster, the future in New Jersey is bright.
New York Islanders
Most crucial: Mathew Barzal
While the Tampa Bay Lightning have won back-to-back Stanley Cups, they endured several roadblocks on the way to glory, with the New York Islanders acting as the most formidable one. With Stanley Cup expectations entering the season, the Islanders have been the most disappointing team this campaign as they sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Aside from COVID-19 protocols, the Islanders have floundered this season due to Mathew Barzal’s inability to replicate his previous success — the heartbeat of the Islanders’ offense. New York’s offense has endured significant slippage as they rank third-to-worst in the league in goals scored per game (2.32). Due to Barzal’s slump, his usual linemates Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Beauvillier have also sputtered this season. As a result, both Palmieri and Beauvillier have seen ice time on other lines this season to ignite the offense, which has yet to be seen.
Although Barzal is encountering a scoring drought this season, the 24-year-old’s ability to escape laterally is astounding. Furthermore, Barzal’s top-end speed, puck handling and shot give opposing defenders headaches as it’s tough to contain Barzal.
New York Rangers
Most crucial: Igor Shesterkin
Henrik Lundqvist represented the Rangers organization with class and dignity his entire 15 year NHL career. Once the Rangers bought out the final year of Lundqvist’s contract in 2020, it was time to hand over the crown to the next face of the franchise: Igor Shesterkin.
Like the majority of Lundqvist’s career, the Rangers have given up numerous scoring opportunities with sloppy coverage in front of Shesterkin. Without Shesterkin, the Rangers are an above-average team instead of an elite team that consists of offensive talents like Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and several others. With Shesterkin’s excellent positioning in the crease, incredible athleticism, developed reflexes and ability to control rebounds, the Russian has proved to be a difference-maker for the Rangers, positioning the Blueshirts atop the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future.
Ottawa Senators
Most crucial: Brady Tkachuk
Before the season got underway, Ottawa’s general manager Pierre Dorion publicly announced the Senators’ rebuild was complete. If that’s the case, it’s fair to question why the Senators are only ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division and point out the minimal tangible progression in terms of wins and losses.
With a young and talented roster, only one player separates himself from the pack – Brady Tkachuk. As the fourth overall pick in 2018, several criticized the selection of Tkachuk due to his lack of creativity on the ice. However, the critics must have forgotten who Tkachuk’s father was – Keith Tkachuk. Brady Tkachuk followed in his father’s footsteps and took on a power forward persona. The 22-year-old is an offensive threat who competes with a physical edge that sets the tone for the team. When Tkachuk is facing a scoring drought or can’t generate a scoring opportunity, he plays a physical brand of hockey.
Philadelphia Flyers
Most crucial: Carter Hart
It’s no secret why the Flyers haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1975. Since Ron Hextall last played for the Flyers in 1999, Philadelphia has had 28 different starting netminders in the last 21 seasons. Whether it’s Brian Boucher, Ilya Bryzgalov or Ray Emery, several Flyers netminders share a commonality: short-term success.
However, Carter Hart is rewriting the narrative of Philadelphia goaltenders with his remarkable play since being drafted by the Flyers. It’s not Hart’s fault Philadelphia owns a sub .500 record due to their inability to find the back of the net (2.49 goals scored per game) and allowing the second-most shots against per game (34.5). With the horrific play of James van Riemsdyk offensively and Keith Yandle defensively, the Flyers are fortunate to have a goaltender like Hart camouflage their mistakes.
Despite the 23-year-old still experiencing growing pains, Hart is ahead of the curve with his quick reflexes and year-to-year improvement of covering up loose pucks, which has helped Hart steal some wins for the Flyers in contests they were outright outplayed.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Most crucial: Tristan Jarry
Even though Evan Rodrigues is crafting a story for himself this season and Jake Guentzel is proving he can be dangerous without Sidney Crosby, they aren’t the key reason why Pittsburgh is in a position to contend for the Stanley Cup this season. It’s the guy with Tom and Jerry featured on his goalie mask: Tristan Jarry.
Yes, Jarry was an outright catastrophe last year against the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs. Jarry lost four of six starts, posted a 3.18 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage, along with his infamous blunder to end Game 5, passing the puck to Josh Bailey for the game-winning goal in the second overtime. Following his disastrous results, Pittsburgh fans expressed their desire for Jarry to be traded over the offseason. With all of the outside noise and devastating results, Jarry remained calm, a rare trait for a goaltender to possess considering their performance.
When October arrived, the Penguins would begin the season without three of their best players, Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust due to injury. Also, Jarry would be the starting goaltender, causing fans to believe their championship window was sealed. However, Jarry had other plans. Since the Penguins’ first regular-season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jarry has been lights out in the crease and in the Vezina Trophy conversation (21-7-4, 2.10 GAA, .928%). With Jarry’s improved confidence, better vision of the puck and improved mobility within the crease, the 26-year-old is ready to erase his playoff demons and win the Pittsburgh fan base over.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Most crucial: Andrei Vasilevskiy
While Tampa Bay has a plethora of contributors like Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kurcherov and Alex Killorn on their roster, none of them provide what Andrei Vasilevskiy does to the Lightning.
There are several goaltenders in the NHL that have showcased why they are the best, whether that’s Marc-Andre Fleury or Juuse Saros. However, there’s only one goalie who distinguishes himself to be the best of the best: Vasilevskiy. At 27-years-old, the Russian has already won two Stanley Cups, a Vezina Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy, with several other accolades. There have been plenty of games where Vasilevskiy has made numerous saves or a timely save to allow his team to collect two points when they had no business winning.
Since becoming the second-highest-paid goaltender in the league, only behind Carey Price, Vasilevskiy has only gotten better. Vasilevskiy’s ability to make timely saves and always be ready for the next obstacle in his path has allowed him to become one of the best goaltenders in the league at such a young age.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Most crucial: Jack Campbell
The Maple Leafs have a black cat running around their franchise come playoff time. In 2018, the Maple Leafs squandered three one-goal leads in Game 7 against Boston. In 2019, Toronto held three one-game leads over Boston and lost again. In 2020, lower seed Columbus swept Toronto. Last year, Toronto owned a 3-1 series lead against the Canadiens and managed to choke yet again. This season, Toronto has the ingredient to slay its playoff demons: Jack Campbell.
Campbell doesn’t only have a contagious positive personality, but he frustrates teams in the crease. Since the first faceoff of the season, Campbell has been rock solid, indicating he will be the crucial piece to eradicate Toronto’s demons come postseason. With backup goaltender Petr Mrazek dealing with the injury bug, the Maple Leafs have needed Campbell to step up even more this season due to their inexperienced backup netminders. Campbell has answered the call. The Michigan native has started 29 of 38 contests for the Maple Leafs, posting a 19-6-3 record. Campbell holds the fifth-best goals-against average (2.24) and the fifth-best save percentage (.927) amongst his peer netminders.
As Maple Leaf fans continue to chant “Soup,” Campbell’s nickname, from the stands, Campbell responds with his quick reflexes to stop a high-scoring opportunity for the opposing team.
Washington Capitals
Most crucial: Alex Ovechkin
There’s no doubt Alex Ovechkin is this generation’s greatest goal-scorer and on the Mount Rushmore of all-time snipers. For some perspective, Ovechkin has 759 goals since entering the league in the 2005-06 season. That’s 263 more goals than Sidney Crosby, who also entered the league the same season.
Before the season began, it’s safe to say nobody expected Ovechkin to be in the MVP conversation and carry an aging roster to a 23-10-9 record, fourth in the Metropolitan Division while getting off to the hottest start of his career. Ovechkin has a lot of hockey left in him as he attempts to make another playoff run and chase Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goal mark. Currently, Ovechkin sits at 759 career goals, good for the fourth-most goals of all time.
While Ovechkin is a player that has a nose for the net and provides the spark to a struggling team by throwing a big hit or dropping his mitts, nothing beats his passion for the game of hockey. Not only did Ovechkin grow up in post-communist Russia where he lost many friends to the streets, but he also lost his older brother Sergei, who introduced him to hockey. In his seventeenth season, Ovechkin still plays with a ton of heart and continues to terrify the league at 36-years-old.
*Disclaimer: statistics are as of Jan. 22, 2022