Super 16: Under-the-radar players who could make playoff impact

What does it take to win the Stanley Cup?

Health and durability? Obviously.

Elite goaltending? Without question.

The best players being the best players? Yes.

Smart coaching adjustments from series to series? Indeed.

All of that will give you a chance, but when you need that push over the top, it typically comes from the unexpected sources like the third line that wins you a game per series or the shutdown defenseman that goes unnoticed until his impact becomes so obvious it's impossible to ignore.

Depth. Every team that wins the Stanley Cup will talk about its depth and how it came through.

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs getting under way soon, the final Super 16 of the regular season tackles what's ahead and who could be that under the radar player that helps the stars, the goalie and the coach carry a team all the way.

As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16, the 14 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the final edition of the Super 16 this season, complete with our selections for the under-the-radar player who could make a big difference in the playoffs:

1. Winnipeg Jets (56-22-4)

Total points: 222
Last week: No. 1

"Alex Iafallo impacts every area of the Jets' game. He's Winnipeg's only forward who averages more than 1:00 per game on the power play (1:22) and on the penalty kill (1:46), and his plus-21 even-strength goal differential leads Jets forwards. He has 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 82 games playing mostly in a bottom-six role, but has shown to be versatile enough to play up and down the lineup. He has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past 10 games while seeing time on the top line with Gabriel Vilardi out because of an upper-body injury. There's a reason the Jets signed Iafallo to a three-year contract Wednesday." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

2. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10)

Total points: 194
Last week: No. 4

"When you think of Vegas, you might not think of Pavel Dorofeyev. But the 24-year-old forward led the Golden Knights with 35 goals this season, outscoring big names like Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl. The challenge now is for Dorofeyev to do it in the playoffs. He has played only one playoff game in his NHL career. Another under-the-radar player? Brett Howden. The 27-year-old forward led the Golden Knights with 22 even-strength goals, one more than Eichel, Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

3. Washington Capitals (51-21-9)

Total points: 191
Last week: No. 2

"Nic Dowd has played a pivotal role for the Capitals all season centering their fourth line, which is often matched against one of the opponent's top two lines, taking key defensive-zone face-offs and killing penalties. That role will be even more important in the playoffs and Dowd has the potential to chip in offensively as well. The 34-year-old set an NHL career-high with 14 goals this season, helping to earn him the two-year, $6 million contract he signed Wednesday. Getting those kinds of depth contributions are essential for any team to go far in the playoffs." -- Tom Gulitti, senior writer

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (51-26-4)

Total points: 171
Last week: No. 6

"Brandon Carlo's name won't pop up among the Maple Leafs scoring leaders. Nor will he appear on many highlight reels featuring end-to-end rushes. In 19 games since being acquired from the Boston Bruins last month, he has three assists. No matter. Since his arrival, the 28-year-old has brought to the table qualities the Maple Leafs have desperately needed, and they will especially need during the playoffs: a defenseman whose top priority is defending, who gets pucks out of his own zone quickly and efficiently, who can help smother the other team's top shooters, who can use his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame to play a physical game, who can play the down-and-dirty style that disrupts the other team's cycle game, and who has proven to be a comfortable partner for Morgan Rielly, something the Leafs have been searching for for a while. In the end, Carlo's value cuts far deeper than what you'll ever see on a stats sheet." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

5. Dallas Stars (50-26-6)

Total points: 166
Last week: No. 3

"I'm going with Thomas Harley as my under-the-radar player for Dallas in the postseason. Some of the Stars' top forwards will be getting a bulk of the attention, and for good reason. But full marks to the defenseman Harley, who has taken on a heavier workload in the absence of Miro Heiskanen, who's been out since Jan. 28 with a left knee injury. Harley, 23, is averaging 23:23 of ice time, highest among the healthy Stars (Heiskanen was averaging 25:10 before he was hurt). Harley has played in 38 playoff games over the past two seasons. He knows what to expect this time of year and he's going to elevate his game." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

6. Colorado Avalanche (49-29-4)

Total points: 162
Last week: No. 5

"The bulk of the attention will land on the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar (and rightfully so), but keep on your eyes on Artturi Lehkonen when the playoffs get underway. The veteran forward had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games last season and was a fantastic two-way player this regular season for the Avalanche; he had 45 points (27 goals, 18 assists) in 69 games, was a team-best plus-36 and averaged 20:23 of ice time. Twenty-five of his 27 goals were scored at even-strength." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

7. Los Angeles Kings (48-24-9)

Total points: 142
Last week: No. 8

"Andrei Kuzmenko has played for three teams this season, but looks to have found his footing with the Kings. He had 15 points in 37 games with the Calgary Flames, and five points in seven games with the Philadelphia Flyers. Since his trade to the Kings on March 7, Kuzmenko has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 21 games and is plus-10. Although he has been playing on the top line, his production has been a surprise, and he's never played in the playoffs. Look for him to have a big series against the Edmonton Oilers." -- David Satriano, staff writer

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (47-26-8)

Total points: 141
Last week: No. 7

"I don't quite know if defenseman Ryan McDonagh qualifies as "under the radar," but what he's provided to the Lightning this season has been invaluable. Returning to the team where he spent five seasons, winning the Stanley Cup twice, has been a huge boost to both McDonagh and the Lightning, with the tough, gritty minutes he plays and the leadership he provides. Plus-minus certainly has its limitations as a statistic, but McDonagh leads the NHL with a plus-44 this season to go along with the 31 points (four goals, 27 assists) he has put up while playing every single game for Tampa Bay. He could come up huge in these playoffs." -- Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

9. Carolina Hurricanes (47-29-5)

Total points: 110
Last week: No. 9

"Jalen Chatfield may not be a household name outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, but I expect him to be on the minds of almost every New Jersey Devils fan during the first round of the playoffs. He is a force on the backend for the Hurricanes and I expect him to make life very hard for the Devils forwards. Yes, the Hurricanes have top scorers in forwards Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov, and have a familiar face -- and playoff beard -- in Brent Burns, but this will be the postseason the hard-hitting defenseman enters the Chat-field." -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

10. Florida Panthers (47-31-4)

Total points: 92
Last week: No. 10

"Everyone always forgets about Evan Rodrigues when it comes to the Panthers. Then the playoffs arrive and they remember. Rodrigues had 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) this season, which is a little below average for him. But, never fear; like so many Panthers, he is made for the playoffs. He is versatile, smart and he'll take a hit to make a play. He had 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in the run to the championship last season and has 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists in 40 career playoff games. He'll come to play. He always does." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

11. Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5)

Total points: 88
Last week: No. 12

"Jeff Skinner will be playing in the playoffs for the first time since he entered the League in 2010-11. In his eight seasons with the Hurricanes and six with the Buffalo Sabres, Skinner never participated in a playoff game. He signed with the Oilers as a free agent this season hoping to experience the postseason and will with Edmonton facing Los Angeles in the Western Conference First Round. Skinner has had an up and down season and it took him a while to earn the trust of coach Kris Knoblauch. He started to find his game in the second half of the season and displayed the offensive talent that made him a six-time 30-goal scorer and one-time 40-goal scorer. If his confidence continues to grow in the playoffs, the 32-year-old could become a key offensive contributor for the Oilers." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

12. St. Louis Blues (44-30-8)

Total points: 63
Last week: No. 11

"Zack Bolduc scored his first two goals of the season in coach Jim Montgomery's first game with the Blues on Nov. 25, a 5-2 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Prior to that game, during the Blues morning skate, Montgomery was seen on the ice having a long conversation with Bolduc. Clearly, whatever he said struck a chord with the now 22-year-old rookie, because Bolduc has been an impact player with the Blues ever since. He scored all 19 of his goals and had 31 of his 36 points in 56 games after Montgomery took over. Bolduc has become an impact player on the third line and will need to be against the Jets in the first round. His nearly 13 minutes of ice time per game are filled with energy and drive, exactly what is required in the playoffs." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

13. Ottawa Senators (44-30-7)

Total points: 56
Last week: No. 13

"Shane Pinto centers Ottawa's third line. He has 20 goals and 36 points this season. He plays on the power play. He plays on the penalty kill. He takes the most combined defensive zone and neutral zone face-offs on the team. Pinto touches every part of the Senators game playing 17:34 per game. He is a centerpiece of their game plan even though he's not a top-nine forward. We all know the importance of third-line success in the playoffs. Pinto drives that for the Senators. Ottawa's chances of upsetting Toronto in the Battle of Ontario series in the first round could hinge on how Pinto handles his role in that series." -- Rosen

14. Minnesota Wild (45-30-7)

Total points: 49
Last week: No. 16

"Jake Middleton is the exact type of hulking, minute-munching, shutdown defenseman that no one talks about in the playoffs until a team is about halfway to the Stanley Cup Final and all of a sudden you realize he's stitched together 12-13 Grade A games in a row. If the Wild go on a run, look for those stories on Middleton late in the second round or in advance of the Western Conference Final. That's when there will be talk about how he's the same playing with Brock Faber or Jared Spurgeon. That's when you'll hear about his size (6-foot-3, 219 pounds) and how he quietly shuts down half of the ice for the Wild. That's when you'll hear from goalie Filip Gustavsson (or Marc-Andre Fleury) about how valuable Middleton is to their success. You'll hear coach John Hynes talk glowingly about Middleton, wondering why the national media that is already following the Wild took so long to notice how important he is. You'll hear about his physicality and his shot blocks. Of course, to go on this run, the Wild first have to upset the Golden Knights in the first round. If they do, yes, Middleton will play a big role." -- Rosen

15. New Jersey Devils (42-33-7)

Total points: 37
Last week: No. 14

"Stefan Noesen (6-1, 205 pounds) could be New Jersey's under-the-radar player in their Eastern Conference First Round series against the Hurricanes. He's tough in puck battles along the walls and a fixture in front of the net on the power play. He's familiar with the opponent, having played with the Hurricanes in three previous seasons, so there's also going to be a lot of emotion on every shift. The 32-year-old has career-highs in goals (22) and points (41), ranks second on the team with 11 power-play goals and is third with 152 hits." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

16. Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11)

Total points: 12
Last week: No. 15

"Calling Ivan Demidov a sleeper might be tricky. Demidov was in the spotlight for his NHL debut on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was not afraid of the big stage getting a goal and an assist. Now that the Canadiens have finally clinched a playoff berth with Wednesday's 4-2 win against the Hurricanes, Demidov could play a huge role despite the fact that he played only two games at the NHL level. At 19 years old, the No. 5 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft finished with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 65 games for SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League." -- Jean-Francois Chaumont, journalist principal LNH.com

Others receiving points: Calgary Flames 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

Dropped out from last week: None

Enterprise Team of the Week: This one is split between the Maple Leafs and Kings. They've both won four games in a row with one to play. Toronto's winning streak allowed it to lock up first place in the Atlantic Division, giving them home ice an Eastern Conference First Round matchup against the Senators, the first "Battle of Ontario" since 2004. The Kings' winning streak clinched second place in the Pacific Division, giving them home ice against the Oilers, the fourth straight year Los Angeles and Edmonton are meeting in the Western Conference First Round. The Maple Leafs and Kings are two of the hottest teams entering the playoffs. -- Rosen

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Montreal Canadiens; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. New Jersey Devils

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Carolina Hurricanes; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. St. Louis Blues; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Montreal Canadiens

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. St. Louis Blues; 11. Carolina Hurricanes; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Montreal Canadiens

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. St. Louis Blues; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. New Jersey Devils

TOM GULITTI

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Los Angeles Kings; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. St. Louis Blues; 16. Calgary Flames

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. St. Louis Blues; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Los Angeles Kings; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. St. Louis Blues; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Montreal Canadiens

TRACEY MYERS

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. St. Louis Blues; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Montreal Canadiens

BILL PRICE

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. St. Louis Blues; 16. Montreal Canadiens

SHAWN P. ROARKE

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Dallas Stars; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Los Angeles Kings; 9. Washington Capitals; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. St. Louis Blues; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

DAN ROSEN

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Los Angeles Kings; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. St. Louis Blues; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. St. Louis Blues; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Montreal Canadiens

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Los Angeles Kings; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. St. Louis Blues; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Montreal Canadiens

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Vegas Golden Knights; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Florida Panthers; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. St. Louis Blues; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Minnesota Wild