Joshua Kloke

Pavelski was an unheralded prospect taken in the seventh round. Now, more than a decade later, he's one of the NHL's top players—and still unheralded.

With Steven Stamkos injured, and John Tavares lining up across from him, Victor Hedman has become the key to Tampa's series against the Islanders.

The Nashville Predators have been around for almost two decades. Is this the year they are finally all grown-up?

The Ducks have had a topsy-turvy season. Can the aging team find its form one more time before the playoffs?

Rancourt has been singing and fist pumping for the Bruins since the 1975-76 season. Now, at age 76, he may be facing the end of his career.

Coach Bill Peters and a talented young defensive core have the perpetually mediocre Canes in playoff contention.

Auston Matthews is a lock to go first in the next NHL Draft. He's leading Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championships. He's also from Arizona.

Don't be fooled: these are the same old Oilers, who have firmly put themselves in the Auston Matthews sweepstakes.

Shane Doan's career is winding down. His style of play is becoming harder and harder to find. But his legacy in Phoenix is still just beginning.

With a cap in place and roster turnover high, teams rarely contend consistently for more than a few years at a time. That's why the Jets are going for it probably before they should be.

Defying current NHL conventional wisdom, Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has assembled his first-place team almost exclusively through trades and free agency.

After a disastrous start, Columbus fired their coach and hired a controversial replacement. But even the new guy knows coaching wasn't the problem.