Team Dad is an important but not easily defined role on an NHL roster. It’s not always the oldest player on the team, or even someone who is a leader on the ice. More often than not it’s a veteran who the younger players can look up to, and it’s not an assigned role but rather one that just seems to develop naturally.
Some teams have an obvious player who falls into the role of Team Dad. The Pittsburgh Penguins have Matt Cullen (again).
The Toronto Maple Leafs have Patrick Marleau, whose wife appears to be very accepting of the additions to the family.