From star-caliber goal scorers to clutch goaltenders, every NHL team has one player they can’t afford to lose during the season. In other words, a crucial player is more than his stats; he’s the face of the team’s franchise and the backbone of the team’s success on and off the ice.
Nevertheless, this list names only one crucial player on every NHL Western Conference team.
Anaheim Ducks
Most crucial: Troy Terry
While Trevor Zegras, John Gibson, Sonny Milano and Ryan Getzlaf are all paramount to Anaheim’s success, none of their consistency has come remotely close to Terry’s during his breakout season.
Former general manager Bob Murray selected Terry in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, hoping that Terry could blossom into a star one day. The Colorado native’s first three seasons reflected that it was nearly impossible. However, in his fourth NHL season, Terry has taken flight. The 24-year-old went on a tear to begin the campaign with a 16-game point streak, the longest by a Ducks player since Corey Perry with a 19-game point streak since 2009.
Since Terry’s 16-game point streak ended, he’s still the Ducks lead scorer with 22 goals, 12 more goals than anyone else on the team, and the main reason why the Ducks occupy second place in the Pacific Division.
Without Terry’s dynamic speed and scoring production in the lineup, it’s hard to imagine the Ducks being in the playoff conversation.
Arizona Coyotes
Most crucial: Clayton Keller
The Arizona Coyotes are atrocious. There’s no way to sugarcoat how they’ve struggled this campaign.
Following an offseason of roster moves, including a farewell of long-time captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a head coaching change, the Coyotes’ ability to compete in a tough Central Division was a near impossibility with their depleted roster.
However, Arizona’s roster consists of a minuscule bright spot, Clayton Keller. Keller continues to shine for the Coyotes, even in a lost season. Not only does the 23-year-old lead his team in goals scored (15), but he competes tough defensively with his ability to strip the puck from the opposing team.
Despite Arizona in the running for the number one pick in the draft, Keller continues to give 100 percent in games and bring his positive attitude to the locker room, elements that Arizona needs to build around as they rebuild.
Calgary Flames
Most crucial: Elias Lindholm
Although Jacob Markstrom is in the Vezina Trophy conversation this season, Elias Lindholm solved the Flames’ pursuit of an impactful centerman that dates back 25 years.
With Sean Monahan struggling this season, Lindholm was elevated to the first line that consists of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Through 36 games, Calgary’s first line, especially Lindholm, has been flaming hot. Lindholm eats up significant minutes at even strength and is on the Flames’ top powerplay and penalty kill units. Not only does the Swede lead the team with a plus 23 rating, has 12 goals and 19 assists on the season, but Lindholm is prolific at the faceoff dot, winning 53.1% of his draws.
Even though Lindholm’s tangibles are eye-popping, beneath the surface are his intangibles, a significant reason the Flames are one of the league’s most surprising teams this campaign. Lindholm’s film sessions and pep talks push players around him like Johnny Gaudreau to perform better in games.
Chicago Blackhawks
Most crucial: Alex DeBrincat
The Blackhawks have underperformed this season, offensively and defensively. Offensively, they are a disaster as they are fourth-to-last in the league with 2.34 goals per game. Chicago’s offensive woes can be described as “one and done.” In other words, the Blackhawks don’t spend a lot of time in the offensive zone, with their shot selection not producing second opportunities.
Despite the lack of offensive production, Alex DeBrincat is playing at an elite level. As a result of his vigorous effort this season, DeBrincat is comparable to Hall of Famer Bobby Hull. Like Hull, DeBrincat finds areas in the offensive zone to receive the puck and put it behind the goalie, along with driving to the net to receive those opportunities.
Not only does DeBrincat lead the Blackhawks with 24 goals on the season, but his command to develop scoring chances and efficient neutral zone game is irreplaceable for an offense that has struggled all season.
Colorado Avalanche
Most crucial: Cale Makar
There’s no doubt Colorado doesn’t have a difficult time scoring goals thanks to the plethora of goal scorers on their roster like Gabriel Landeskog and Andre Burakovsky. However, the Avalanche also has a porous defense, contributing to the abundance of goals they give up.
Despite Colorado’s defensive troubles, defenseman Cale Makar has kept the Avalanche from tumbling down a mountain, specifically on the right side of its goal differential. With Makar entering his third season, he has become a household name and fan favorite in Colorado. While the 23-year-old struggles defensively at times, his offensive prowess as an elite blueliner makes up for it.
With Nathan MacKinnon enduring a scoring drought this season, Makar has picked up the slack, scoring 16 goals with 22 assists through 35 contests. With Makar’s ability to break the opponent’s ankles due to his flawless skating talent, he’s essentially irreplaceable for a team that needs elite blueliners come postseason.
Dallas Stars
Most crucial: Roope Hintz
Although Miro Heiskanen’s value to Dallas is significant, Roope Hintz’s value to the Stars is an entirely separate discussion. Hintz’s intelligence and skating dexterity transformed him into a pillar on one of the best lines in the league that consists of Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson.
Since his rookie season, Hintz accelerated his development process and essentially became a better player overnight. The Finn has established himself as an offensive force, threat on the power play and becoming a leading contributor for a championship-caliber team one day. Hintz’s ability to dish out scoring chances for his teammates and shot block are reasons why the Stars can shoot for the postseason despite their disappointing start to the season.
With 17 goals and 15 assists through 36 games, Hintz shows a ton of promise for the Stars for seasons to come that’s irreplaceable.
Edmonton Oilers
Most crucial: Connor McDavid
Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid all have something in common: they are all generational players. Right now, McDavid is easily the best hockey player in the world, and it’s not even close.
McDavid possesses the foresight to see a play develop before it does, contributing to his offensive and defensive prowess. McDavid has Gretzky-like creativity, phenomenal hand-eye coordination resulting in timely passes or shots while skating with incredible explosiveness. The two-time MVP continues to terrorize opposing defenses by showing a killer instinct and attacking the defenders head-on instead of gaining the zone to set up a play. Without McDavid, the Oilers aren’t a playoff team despite having all-star caliber players like Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman on their roster.
Los Angeles Kings
Most crucial: Jonathan Quick
Elite goaltending goes a long way for teams. As Los Angeles currently holds a 20-16-5 record and ‘rules’ third place in the Pacific Division, it’s a miracle they aren’t in the NHL basement. Over the offseason, the Kings brought in Viktor Arvidsson, Phillip Danault and others to upgrade their offense. So far, the Kings’ offense this season has been putrid, ranking at the bottom of the league in goals per game (2.73).
With a horrendous offense and flawed defense, it would make sense the Kings would have an identical record to the Chicago Blackhawks. However, the Kings’ roster consists of a beacon of light, Jonathan Quick.
Despite Quick’s struggles the past few seasons, the American goalie has rediscovered the fountain of youth. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has made several jaw-dropping saves this season by throwing his body around the crease and sprawling out for shots at impossible angles. Without Quick’s stellar performance this season, the Kings’ season would be down the drain.
Minnesota Wild
Most crucial: Kirill Kaprizov
With the 135th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, former general manager Chuck Fletcher selected Kirill Kaprizov. Although nobody questioned his ability to score, individuals did question if Kaprizov could translate his KHL success into the NHL.
On January 15, 2021, Kaprizov made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings, where the Russian showed the NHL world he belonged in the league. Kaprizov finished with three points, along with becoming the third player in NHL history to score an overtime goal in his NHL debut.
Kaprizov instantly became a fan favorite with his big personality, goal-scoring talent and tendency to galvanize the troops. As a result, Kaprizov became known as “Kirill The Thrill.” Aside from Kaprizov’s intelligence and poise, the 2021 Calder Memorial Trophy winner possesses a very high-end offensive skillset that makes him an outstanding player. Furthermore, the 24-year-old seems to never panic under pressure due to his wicked instincts that allow him to locate an available pass or shot.
Nashville Predators
Most crucial: Roman Josi
The Music City has had some franchise players throughout its history, like David Legwand and Martin Erat. Although Legwand and Erat were franchise players for the Predators, their jersey numbers weren’t retired by Nashville. The same can’t be said for captain Roman Josi once he hangs up his skates. It’s probable 59, Josi’s jersey number, will be lifted into the rafters of Bridgestone Arena once Josi retires.
Josi is one of the first defensemen that reinvented what it meant to be an elite blueliner, which began a new era of hockey for defensive players. The Switzerland native can be depended upon in crucial situations and setting up scoring opportunities for himself at the blue line and his teammates in the low slot, making him a force.
Not only is Josi a sensational player and phenomenal leader on the ice, but his loyalty to the community off the ice speaks volumes. Josi has a partnership with the Best Buddies program in Nashville, which raises money for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals that are elite and kind-hearted like Josi are practically impossible to replace.
San Jose Sharks
Most crucial: Logan Couture
Since the Sharks lost to the St. Louis Blues in the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Conference Finals, they have been a shell of themselves due to massive contracts and the lengthy absences of captain Logan Couture.
Logan Couture has been plagued by the injury bug for the past two seasons, resulting in the Sharks missing the postseason in consecutive seasons. Despite the 32-year-old’s massive cap hit, the Sharks named Couture their captain because of his leadership qualities, sustained touch for scoring and his ferocious play on the Shark’s top power play and penalty kill units.
There’s no doubt Couture is the engine of the Sharks when he steps on the ice. Without Couture in the lineup, it’s alarming how fast San Jose sinks in the standings. When Couture is healthy, his ability to ignite the offense and have his teammates ‘attack’ the opponent is truly a gift.
Seattle Kraken
Most crucial: Jared McCann
When the NHL expansion draft concluded, it was clear what general manager Ron Francis’s vision was for the Seattle Kraken — a defensive identity with a strong goalie tandem. While the roster lacked offensive aptitude despite selecting Yanni Gourde and Mason Appleton, many people believed the sea monsters would compete for a playoff berth due to its stout defense and dominant goalie tandem.
Through 40 games, Seattle sits in dead last in the Pacific Division for reasons that many individuals felt were their strengths entering the season. The Kraken boasts a minus 40 goal differential and has allowed 3.60 goals against per game, which is only better than the Ottawa Senators (3.65), Montreal Canadiens (3.66) and Arizona Coyotes (3.70). The promising defensive pairing of Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn has disappointed. Also, Philipp Grubauer, a finalist for Vezina last season, has been atrocious between the pipes, with Chris Driedger performing even worse. The tandem has combined for a .884 save percentage, which is the worst in the league.
Offensively, Seattle has a sliver of light: Jared McCann. The Ontario native is a force due to his speed that allows him to push past opponents and his knack for scoring goals which the Kraken can attest to. It’s easy to overlook McCann’s contributions on the power play, where he dishes out effective passes that generate scoring opportunities. With Appleton and Gourde having a down year in the Emerald City, McCann has been a significant player for the Kraken in all three zones on the ice.
St. Louis Blues
Most crucial: Jordan Kyrou
Whether it’s Jordan Binnington, Brayden Schenn or David Perron, the Blues have lost players left and right this season due to injury and COVID-19 protocols. However, players like Jordan Kyrou have elevated their game as the team continues to endure adversity.
The Toronto native continues to make an impact in every game, whether he plays 10, 12 or 15 minutes a game. Kyrou’s explosive speed and elite puck-handling skills combined with a handful of highlight-reel goals explain why Kyrou is the most impactful player on the Blues roster. Kyrou’s speed is what separates him and other players apart. The Toronto native entices defenders into believing he’s slowing down his pace only to burst through a seam to score a goal or create a scoring opportunity for his teammates. Also, Kyrou plays effectively along the boards and makes smart decisions with the puck due to his astonishing awareness.
As the Blues trail the Avalanche by four points in the Central Division for first place, keep an eye out how Kyrou makes an impact, whether that’s adding to his 15 goals on the season or winning crucial faceoffs.
Vancouver Canucks
Most crucial: J.T. Miller
With the likes of Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes and the additions of Conor Garland and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, there’s no shortage of talent within the Canucks organization. However, in early December, the Canucks owned an 8-15-2 record, the second-worst in the Western Conference at the time. As a result, the Canucks cleaned house by firing their general manager Jim Benning, head coach Travis Green and two assistants and hired Bruce Boudreau to serve as Green’s replacement. Since Boudreau’s hiring, the Canucks have posted a 10-5 record and sit four points out of a playoff spot despite Boeser and Pettersson facing adversity.
With Vancouver’s scorers struggling to find a rhythm, the Canucks’ offense this season has been stagnant and ranked near the bottom of the league in goals scored per game. Since arriving in 2019, J.T. Miller has been a focal point for the Canucks offense and has shown his importance by consistently winning puck draws and acting as an offensive catalyst.
While the move to obtain Miller is scrutinized by several to this day, his leadership qualities and ability to turn around Vancouver’s season speak for themselves.
Vegas Golden Knights
Most crucial: Chandler Stephenson
Chandler Stephenson went from an overlooked depth piece in Washington to Vegas’s top-line centerman. Although he went from playing with Nic Dowd and Devante Smith-Pelly as linemates to playing alongside Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, Stephenson’s play reached new heights.
Since Vegas departed ways with Paul Stastny two offseasons ago, Stephenson has thrived in his role as he continued to earn more minutes and an extended role. The 27-year-old possesses speed that allows him to excel in transition, either by generating space for his linemates or dashing to the net to beat the goaltender over the blocker side. With 12 goals and 26 assists on the season, Stephenson has also become the Golden Knight’s go-to guy for the penalty kill as he has improved his faceoff percentage the past two seasons.
Winnipeg Jets
Most crucial: Kyle Connor
Coming from the same draft class as Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Thomas Chabot, a player is bound to be overlooked. Kyle Connor is quietly becoming one of the best players in the NHL as his talent has flown under the radar. In the last four seasons, Connor has scored over 30 goals three times.
While Blake Wheeler, Paul Stastny and Mark Scheifele provide a lot to the Jets’ offense, their health remains a problem. The opposite can be said about Connor, who is often the player to take his play a notch higher. Through 37 games this season, the Michigan native has posted 21 goals and 19 assists this season with several players on injured reserve and enduring COVID-19 protocols. It’s evident Connor is a pure sniper with electric speed that allows him to blow past opposing defenses. Without Connor, Winnipeg wouldn’t be in a position to make the playoffs as they lack defensive depth and have several players sidelined.
*Disclaimer: statistics are as of Jan. 22, 2022