NHL teams
Katie Strang, ESPN.com 10y

Five guys who can make a difference

NHL, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars

1. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning -- The loss of Steven Stamkos could've been a death knell for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the plucky squad persevered even after their superstar center went down with a broken tibia in November. Another costly blow was dealt to the Bolts on the cusp of the postseason when starting goaltender Ben Bishop was sidelined with an injury and didn't play in the first round of the playoffs. Now, both are back and healthy with training camps underway and it's fair to assume that Stamkos is keen for making up on lost time. The former No. 1 pick was cruising along at an impressive clip before he went down -- 14 goals and 23 points in a 17-game span -- and has to be a top candidate for the Rocket Richard trophy, assuming he can stay healthy this season. With Stamkos' anticipated production and a few smart offseason signings by general manager Steve Yzerman, the Bolts have emerged as one of the sexier dark horse picks to battle for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

2. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings -- You could hear the collective groan from Los Angeles Kings fans when it was revealed that Drew Doughty would miss the start of training camp with an upper-body injury, reportedly suffered during offseason training. The good news for the defending Stanley Cup champions is that the stud defenseman is not expected to miss much time. Though he was elbowed out for the Conn Smythe Trophy in the spring by teammate and clutch playoff performer Justin Williams, Doughty is the catalyst for a Kings squad that is one of the few teams mentioned during talk of modern-era dynasties. Doughty moves the puck with sublime skill, activating the Kings' offense from the opposite end and providing such a dangerous dynamic to the team's attack. Two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and this guy is only 24 years old. It's hard to imagine what the ceiling is for Doughty, but it's quite easy to see a weakened L.A. team without him anchoring the defense. The Kings are champs for a reason. They have size, depth, great goaltending, and they beat the hell out of opponents. But Doughty is arguably the MVP of that squad and this season will be no different.

3. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks -- Veteran center Joe Thornton will be front and center in the ongoing saga out West, otherwise known as the San Jose Sharks. While the Sharks might dispute the semantics of how it went down, Thornton was stripped of the captaincy this summer after the team's disastrous exit from the playoffs. Both Thornton and alternate captain Patrick Marleau were singled out after the team blew a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Kings, as both GM Doug Wilson and coach Todd McLellan seemed ready to jettison the team's leadership group and begin anew. How Thornton handles this sticky spat will be key to whether the Sharks play to their potential or become the type of train wreck many are expecting. Relations between him and Wilson can't be good -- the Sharks reportedly shopped him last season, but Thornton has a no-trade clause -- but the Sharks can't afford to have a gaping, festering wound if their season is to go on smoothly. Thornton had a tremendous 76-point season last year, finishing second in the league with a whopping 65 assists. The Sharks will not only count on his production, but his leadership as well. Sounds absurd, but whether he wears the "C" or not means little to his importance inside that locker room. He needs to remain a strong voice for the Sharks, possibly putting pride aside to help guide younger players Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski, if they are indeed anointed as the new leadership group by the powers that be.

4. Cory Schneider, New Jersey Devils -- The Martin Brodeur Era is officially over in New Jersey. With the future first-ballot Hall of Famer sitting patiently as an unsigned unrestricted free agent, the torch has been officially passed to Cory Schneider. The 28-year-old, who seems to have finally shed the years of goaltending controversy that followed him to start his NHL career, had an impressive first season in New Jersey. Although the number in the wins column (16) did not properly reflect his steadiness, Schneider still posted solid numbers with a .921 save percentage and a 1.97 goals-against average. With no daily drama to endure this season regarding who will get the nod each night, Schneider (not to mention head coach Peter DeBoer) can lock in and focus on helping the Devils get back to the playoffs after missing the postseason last season. The team addressed its most immediate need this summer, adding offensive firepower by signing free agent Mike Cammalleri, but there remains concern whether the Devils can keep pace with some of the top teams in the East (and let's face it, that 0-for-13 shootout record still looms large). But, strong puck possession and strong goaltending will be the Devils' key to success this season and another sound campaign from Schneider is needed.

5. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars -- One of the most interesting things to come out of the player media tour in New York City in August was learning just how much respect Dallas' Jamie Benn commands among his peers. Benn's name was one of the most popular when ESPN.com's Craig Custance polled some of the NHL's elite, asking them which three players they'd build a team around. I recently relayed this information to Stars GM Jim Nill, who was not one bit surprised: "He's incredible." It really provided perspective on just how underrated the 25-year-old Benn is, despite serving as such a crucial cog to the Stars' offense. Benn forged undeniable chemistry with summer 2013 marquee trade acquisition Tyler Seguin, and the two players had quite a bit of success playing on the same line, posting 79- and 84-point seasons, respectively. The tandem helped lead the Stars back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and though they were eliminated by theĀ Anaheim DucksĀ in the first round, they were again one of the most aggressive teams this offseason, adding Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky. With a bona fide No. 2 center who will fortify the team down the middle and an added scoring touch on the wing, the Stars appear primed for another strong season ahead. Benn will likely be leading the charge.

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