NHL Playoffs 2012: Jonathan Toews and Injured Players Essential to Team Success

The Chicago Blackhawks currently sit in the sixth spot in the Western Conference. Their seeding won't matter if they are without captain Jonathan Toews in the first round.

The Hawks aren't a serious contender without their leader, and they are in danger of a first-round exit if he can't go. A matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes already sees the Hawks without the home-ice advantage.

Playing without Toews would make an upset nearly impossible. Toews has missed 21 consecutive games with symptoms of a concussion. When he's played, he has been solid, amassing 57 points in 59 games.

Even if he returns, the chances that he is at the level the Hawks need him isn't high.

Translation: The Hawks are in trouble.

Toews and the Blackhawks aren't the only team and player combination whose playoff hopes hinge on health.

Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings

The Kings acquired Carter from the Blue Jackets to provide depth and defense, but the ankle injury he suffered on March 28 against the Calgary Flames still isn't 100 percent healed.

Carter had scored nine points in 12 games as a King, and he was providing over 26 minutes of productive ice-time per game before the injury.

The Kings' chances of knocking off Vancouver in the first round were already slim. Playing without Carter certainly doesn't help their cause.

Jacob Josefson, New Jersey Devils

Josefson just suffered a broken left wrist and the injury will impact the Devils defense. More specifically, the checking line where Josefson had become a solid contributor with his physical play.

The Devils will need to plug in Ryan Carter and others to take up the slack for Josefson's absence.

It won't be the first time this year they have played without him. He missed 36 games earlier this year with a broken clavicle.

That was the regular season—the Devils will need all hands on deck to challenge the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.

Josefson will be sorely missed.