1.Alexander Ovechkin
This post season may be the most important of Ovechkin’s career. The captain hasn't had a positive +/- in the playoffs since the 09-10 season. Ovechkin has failed to make the Stanley Cup, so if he cannot lead this Capitals squad to the promised land, it will be a wonder if Ovechkin can ever lead a team to a Stanley Cup.
2.Vladimir Tarasenko
This could be the post season where Tarasenko goes from being a rising star into an elite player that is a household name. His numbers have been steadily increasing over the past three years as he managed to net 40 goals this season. Since the Blues are only the 15th best offense this year, they will need him to be the best player on the ice when they face off against division rivals Blackhawks and Stars. If Tarasenko can lead them past both teams, the Blues could be favorites to win the Cup.
3.John Tavares
The Islanders may be missing Jaroslav Halak, but that is not a deathblow to their chances on going on a long playoff run. Tavares will need to be the best player on the ice if that is to happen. Tavares got 33 goals and 70 points, which is good even by his standards, but he is going to need to play that a Hart Trophy finalist again if he wants a deep playoff run.
4.Filip Forsberg
For years, the Predators were looking for a true top line of forwards to put in front of the dynamic duo of Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne. They seem to have found just that in Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen. With the addition of Johansen, Forsberg has had to take over as team sniper a year after he was more of a playmaker. Forsberg will need to continue to prove he can light up the lamp in order for the Forsberg and Johansen connection to work.
5.Tyler Johnson
The good news about this postseason for Johnson is that he can only go uphill from the regular season. A year after being a key player on the best offense in the NHL, Johnson struggled with injuries and just plain old terrible play en rout to a 38 point finish, about half of his 72 points he scored just a season ago.
6.Niklas Hjalmarsson
With the loss of line mate Trevor Daley, Hjalmarsson has been asked to play close to top line minutes with 3rd pair talent. They need him to continue to produce like he did last season, even if his pair mate is not as good as Daley if the Blackhawks hope to hold their defense together.
7.Joe Pavelski
In order for the Sharks to go on a deep playoff run, they need to be able to out score their opponents. Pavelski is the only way they are going to do that, as the top liner is their top sniper. He has 37 or more goals in his last three seasons, and they will need him to play at that level in the post season.
8.Ryan Suter
Suter will likely again be leading the league in MPG this post season. He played 31:37 MPG in his first post season with the Wild in a first round series where the Wild were seriously out matched. The same is true this season, as the Wild are heavy underdogs against the Stars and their best-ranked offense.
9.Pekka Rinne
Rinne’s 90.8 SV% was a career low for one of the premier goaltenders in the league. Rinne can erase a sub par regular season by helping the Predators to a long post season run.
10.Claude Giroux
His 67 points was his lowest in a season since the 09-10 season, if you don't count the lock out season. However, everyone will quickly forget about that if Giroux has another one of his dynamic playoff performances, like the 11-12 season where he got 17 points in only 10 playoff games.