The 5 Softest Players in the NHL

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WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 13: Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Islanders at the Verizon Center on October 13, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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The NHL season is right around the corner as training camps begin to open. There will be many stories that unfold over the course of the 2011-2012 season.

For many, the upcoming season will end in the disappointment of not winning the Stanley Cup. Only one select group of guys will claim that prize.

Many players that have not won the Cup before, will give their all to finally get the honor. As fans, we will watch from the stands and television sets and judge every step of the way.

For the five players in this slide, this season may mean a little more. They have been judged by many as "soft", which can be considered one of the worst labels assigned to a player by the fans.

Making this list is not necessarily fun. I am sure that each of these players care more than the fans know, or perhaps even want to admit.

The reason that each has ended up on this list is that their past performance, for whatever reason, has led to the discussion of each as "soft." The common theme I see throughout the list is that each does not have a Stanley Cup.

Perhaps had one game gone differently last season, two players would not be on the list. That fact leads me to believe that this is largely the perception of each of these players.

The good news for each, is that through dedication and winning, they probably can reverse the things that fans say about them. The bad news is that, at least for one more season, these guys are rightly or wrongly judged as the five softest players in the NHL.

This is a topic best left to the comments sections, why a guy does or does not belong and who should be on the list. Leave some comments on this controversial topic!

Jason Spezza

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Why he belongs on the list: Typically either injury-prone or underproducing. A very skilled player that can disappear for stretches of time.

Daniel Sedin

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Why he belongs: Incredibly skilled but seemingly unable to handle himself when a game or series gets chippy.

Henrik Sedin

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Why he belongs: Incredibly skilled but seemingly unable to handle himself when a game or series gets chippy. Identical twin with the same criticisms against him as his brother.