Every NHL team has a core of at least three players who take command of the team’s fortunes, and keep them competitive. They may be scorers, or shut-down defensemen, or a goalie who dominates. They are the central nervous system of the team, and without them the team starts to shutdown, or falter endlessly.
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They are the players who pull a team back into a playoff race, with their skills and locker room pep talks. They lift up the younger players, trying to make their way into the league.