The 25 Most Indispensable Players in the NHL

Let's face it—in the NHL, some players are more valuable to their teams than others. There are many different ways a player can become indispensable, and it's not always a club's highest-scoring player who fits the description.

Here is a look at the 25 most indispensable players in the NHL today.

Obviously, most of these players are going to be on winning teams. Some players on losing teams are on the list, however, especially because their club started losing after they were removed from the lineup via injury.

The biggest criteria is where a team would be without this player's contributions.

Feel free to comment and mention players you think I may have missed, but say why you feel they belong on this list and who you would remove from the list if your player were added.

25. Steven Stamkos

Sure, the Lightning are struggling this season, but let's face it, can anybody score goals like Stamkos does?

Last season, he led the league with 60 tallies, 10 more than any other player in the league.

In this lockout-shortened campaign, Stamkos is tied for the league lead (so far) with 26 goals in 40 games, which would put him on pace for 53 over a full, 82-game season.

Stamkos is indispensable for the Lightning, and as soon as they get improved goaltending and team defense around him, they will resume winning.

24. Antti Niemi

Many people expected the San Jose Sharks to miss the playoffs this season. One reason they are still in a strong position to qualify for the postseason is the strong play of goalie Antti Niemi.

The 29-year-old Finn is 20-9-6 on the season. He also has an impressive 2.19 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

Without Niemi in net, the Sharks are just 1-3-1, which tells you how heavily his club relies on its netminder.

The Sharks are presently fifth in the Western Conference and battling for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. If Niemi continues to excel, the Sharks have a chance to do some damage once the postseason gets under way.

23. Claude Giroux

The Flyers have struggled this season, but it's not because of their young star, Claude Giroux.

The 24-year-old Hearst, Ontario native is tied for the club lead with 39 points in 40 games. Giroux overcame a slow start to once again be the most productive member of the Flyers.

With Chris Pronger out of commission, Giroux has been named captain of the Flyers, a position he has taken over quite well.

The scary thing is that Giroux's best hockey is still likely ahead of him.

It looks like Philadelphia will miss the postseason this year, but without Giroux, the Flyers wouldn't be close to competing for a playoff berth.

22. Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Alfredsson has effectively helped keep the Senators together through a season that saw them lose many key players to injury, including Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, Craig Anderson and Milan Michalek (with Anderson and Michalek only recently returning to action).

Alfredsson's best statistical days are behind him, but his leadership has the Senators in playoff contention in a situation where few people expected them to be even close.

As a writer for the Ottawa Sun said, Alfredsson is, "the heart and soul of the Senators."

21. Zach Parise

Parise's value is measured in more than statistics, although his numbers are quite respectable (32 points in 40 games).

Parise is a leader who has 11 power-play points and three game-winning goals thus far this season.

You can see how the Wild have benefited from the addition of Parise and how the Devils have missed him over the course of the campaign.

20. Ryan Callahan

Ryan Callahan is the captain of the Rangers, and the way he plays he is almost the perfect extension of John Tortorella's style of play.

Callahan leads by example. Need a shot blocked? Callahan will do it. Kill a penalty? There's Captain Cally. Check the opposition's most dangerous scorer? Send Callahan out on the ice.

The Rangers have been inconsistent this season, but if Tortorella had a few more Callahans on the ice, there is little doubt the Rangers would be higher in the standings.

19. Viktor Fasth

The Anaheim Ducks went from missing the playoffs last year to leading the Pacific Division this year. One big reason for the club's turnaround was the play of 30-year-old rookie Viktor Fasth.

The Swedish netminder has an impressive 14-4-1 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.17 GAA.

Last season in a full, 82-game schedule, the Ducks' backup goaltenders totaled only five wins. Fasth has almost tripled that number in less than a full season.

He has also given the club the confidence to rest starter Jonas Hiller, who has also seen his play improve this season.

Fasth is a big reason for the Ducks' success in 2013.

18. Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter has been a difference-maker for the Los Angeles Kings since he came over from Columbus at the trade deadline last year.

In the playoffs, Carter helped lead the Kings to their first Stanley Cup win. This year, he is tied for third in the NHL in goals with 24 in 41 games.

Carter has also been very clutch and presently leads the league with seven game-winning goals.

On a Kings team that often struggles to score, Carter has been a key performer. Without Carter, it would be tough to imagine the Kings scoring enough to successfully defend their Stanley Cup title.

17. Pekka Rinne

The Nashville Predators are tied for 29th in the league with an average of 2.24 goals scored per game. The reason the team is still in most games is the fine play of goalie Pekka Rinne.

Rinne was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season. This year, he has been less consistent and the Preds are struggling more as a result.

The big Finnish netminder still has solid numbers with a 2.29 GAA and a .916 save percentage. He has also recorded five shutouts, which are needed on a team that struggles to score as much as Nashville has this season.

The Predators are unlikely to make the playoffs, but without Rinne's fine play, the club would have no chance to win most of their games due to their paltry offensive output.

16. Tuukka Rask

With the playoffs approaching, the Boston Bruins are again considered one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.

A chief reason for that feeling is the fine play of netminder Tuukka Rask.

Rask took over as the Bruins starter this season after Tim Thomas announced he would not play hockey this season.

All he has done is put up impressive numbers, including a 1.95 GAA and a save percentage of .929.

The other reason Rask is so indispensable to the Bruins is that while backup goalie Anton Khudobin has played well this season, he has played only 19 career NHL games and none in the playoffs. Boston will need experienced goaltending to move ahead in this year's playoffs.

15. Mike Smith

Mike Smith's strong play last season helped the Phoenix Coyotes win the Pacific Division crown and reach the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. This year, Smith's play has been a lot less consistent, and the Coyotes have struggled as a result.

Last season, Smith's GAA was 2.21 while this year it is 2.60. His save percentage has also gone down significantly from .930 to .909.

Unless Smith can regain the magic he showed last season, the Coyotes are unlikely to reach the playoffs this year or to do any damage if they manage to qualify.

14. Ilya Kovalchuk

How valuable is sniper Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils? With him in the lineup, New Jersey was 15-11-6. Since the Russian winger was injured, the Devils are 0-5-4 and falling rapidly out of playoff contention.

New Jersey is dead-last in the league in goals scored right now with 94 in 41 games. They could certainly use the fine offensive play of Kovalchuk, who has scored 10 goals and 27 points in 32 games thus far this year and is capable of so much more.

During his NHL career, Kovalchuk has six seasons of 40 or more goals, including a pair of 52-goal seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers.

New Jersey's power play also relies heavily on Kovalchuk. He has 12 points on the power play and four shorthanded this season. Four of his 10 goals have been game-winners.

With Kovalchuk in the lineup, the Devils were in the thick of the playoff race. Without him, they are winless in nine games and heading for an early trip to the golf course this spring.

13. Evgeni Nabokov

The New York Islanders are on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and the play of goalie Evgeni Nabokov is one of the biggest reasons why.

The Islanders have already won 21 games this season, and Nabokov has been in goal for 20 of them. The veteran Russian netminder has a record of 20-11-4 while all other goalies on the team are a combined 1-5-0.

Nabokov has also provided a steadying influence on a young team that sorely lacks playoff experience.

12. Sergei Bobrovsky

The Columbus Blue Jackets were last in the NHL standings a year ago, and few people expected much of them this season.

Yet, with a few weeks left in the regular season, Columbus is in the thick of the fight for a playoff berth in the tough Western Conference—and the biggest reason has been the play of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Few headlines were made when the Jackets acquired Bobrovsky from the Flyers last summer, but the 23-year-old Russian has played very well. The Blue Jackets are 25th in the league in goals scored but are still in nearly every game they play because of the fine play of the man they call "Bob."

Bobrovsky's statistics are impressive. He has a 2.01 GAA and a .931 save percentage. The Blue Jackets are 15-10-6 with Bobrovsky in the lineup and 3-6-1 without him.

11. Nicklas Backstrom

While all the headlines in Washington, D.C., tend to focus on Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom is the man who truly makes the Capitals go.

Without Backstrom in the lineup, Ovechkin tends to be just good. When the 25-year-old Swedish center is healthy and productive, Ovechkin becomes "The Great Eight."

Right now, Backstrom is third in the league with 37 assists in 41 games.

The Capitals are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games, and it's not a coincidence that Backstrom has three goals and 18 points during that stretch. He has points in 11 of the 12 games, including a four-assist contest on April 2 in a 5-3 win at Carolina.

10. Cam Ward

When Cam Ward was in the lineup, the Hurricanes were in the thick of the race for first place in the Southeast Division. Since Ward was lost to injury, Carolina has fallen out of contention and will almost certainly miss the postseason this year.

Ward led the 'Canes to their only Stanley Cup title in 2006.

This year, Ward was 9-6-1 on the season before spraining his MCL on March 4. The Hurricanes' other goalies are a combined 7-16-1.

If Ward returns to the lineup next fall, the Hurricanes should be in the thick of the playoff fight again in 2014.

9. Zdeno Chara

Zdeno Chara may not have eye-popping statistics this season, but the NHL's tallest player remains a big reason why the Bruins are considered Stanley Cup contenders.

Chara wears the "C" and provides veteran leadership for a team that is still young despite having won a Stanley Cup in 2011.

Chara is a plus-15 on the season and is a key part of Boston's penalty-kill and power-play units.

The 6'9" Slovak also uses his size, hockey smarts and skill to keep opposing players away from the Boston goal.

At 36, Chara may be a bit past his prime athletically, but he remains an integral part of the Bruins' success.

8. Pavel Datsyuk

When Nicklas Lidstrom retired last spring, the Red Wings knew they would have a hard time replacing the minutes he played on the ice and his leadership both on and off of it.

Detroit has struggled to find adequate replacements on the blue line, but Pavel Datsyuk has helped lend a veteran presence in the locker room while continuing to play at a high level.

The 34-year-old Russian plays a strong all-around game and still makes highlight-reel plays. In addition, Datsyuk has 39 points in 40 games and leads the Red Wings in both goals and points.

7. Andrei Markov

Last year, the Canadiens finished dead last in the Eastern Conference standings. This year, they are fighting for the Northeast Division lead and the second seed.

One of the biggest differences for the Habs has been that defenseman Andrei Markov is back in the lineup and healthy.

The 34-year-old Russian defenseman is fourth on the team with 26 points; 22 of those have come on the power play. Without Markov in the lineup, Montreal's power play was mediocre at best. With him on top of his game, the Habs are dangerous with the extra man.

Markov played only 20 games total in the previous two seasons. This year, he has already played 40, and his return helps make the Canadiens a dangerous team as they prepare to start the postseason.

6. John Tavares

The Islanders have suddenly become playoff contenders this season. John Tavares is a big reason why.

The former first overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft has improved his game each season. Tavares is not a loud, boisterous leader, but he leads by example. Few people work as hard or take the game as seriously as Tavares.

When the 22-year-old Oakville, Ontario native came into the league, critics questioned his lack of strength, his skating ability and his play in his own zone. Tavares has improved in each of those areas since his rookie season.

Tavares is presently tied for third in the league with 24 goals in 41 games. He is a big reason for the Islanders' turnaround this season.

5. Carey Price

The Montreal Canadiens are in a dogfight for first place in the Northeast Division; one of the biggest reasons for that is the continued fine play of goalie Carey Price.

One of the first moves new Habs GM Marc Bergevin made this past summer was signing Price to a long-term extension—and the deal has paid off.

Price's consistently strong play gives his teammates confidence that they can get away with the occasional mistake without it ending up in the back of their own net. He also keeps them in almost every game and helps them win most of them.

This season, the 25-year-old Vancouver native is 19-8-4 with a 2.28 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

4. Henrik Lundqvist

The New York Rangers have struggled to score goals all season, but the biggest reason they are still in contention for a playoff berth this year is the stellar play of goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"King Henrik" got off to a slow start after the lockout; the Rangers did the same in part because of the their goalie's uneven effort.

The Swedish goalie picked up his game and now has a 2.12 GAA and .926 save percentage.

The amazing thing is that he does all this with little margin for error as the Rangers have been at or near the bottom of the league in goals scored all season.

Without Lundqvist, the Rangers are a below-average team this season. With him, they have the ability to get hot in the spring and perhaps make another long run in the playoffs.

3. Jonathan Quick

Jonathan Quick's stellar play helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup last spring and won him a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Unless Quick plays that well again, the Kings have little chance of repeating. While backup Jonathan Bernier has played well, it will be Quick who the defending champions turn to to make another deep run into the playoffs.

This year, the Kings' goalscoring is up, but their team defense is not as strong as it was a year ago. But come playoff time when the checking is tighter and scoring chances are harder to come by, the Kings will count on Quick to once again lead them to the promised land.

2. Evgeni Malkin

Sidney Crosby gets most of the media attention, but the one player the Pens can't do without long-term is Evgeni Malkin.

The team has won consistently when Crosby has gone down with injuries, but if the big Russian center gets hurt, the Penguins just aren't the same team.

Last year, Malkin led the league in scoring and won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. This season, he is still averaging a better than a point-per-game despite missing more than 10 games due to injury.

Crosby may put up gaudier numbers, but Malkin is the engine that makes the Penguins go.

1. Jonathan Toews

Jonathan Toews is the most valuable player on the best team in the NHL this season, the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hawks went through the first half of this abbreviated season without a regulation loss (21-0-3), and Toews is a big reason for his team's success.

His nickname is "Captain Serious" and he makes sure his teammates are ready to play and prepared for any situation.

This season, Toews has 20 goals and 41 points in 40 games, which places him second on the team. Toews scores in all situations: even-strength, on the power play, shorthanded and in the clutch. He is second on the club with four game-winning goals.

The Blackhawks are good without Toews, but with him they are special and have a chance to win another Stanley Cup.