Max Pacioretty
â—¾ Forward | Montreal Canadiens
There’s nothing quite like the bitter hatred spewing from battles between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, two Original Six teams. A New Englander captaining the Habs requires a special kind of verve. In his role, Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn.) can drive fans of the Black and Gold wild, and that in and of itself is influence. The former Taft School star was the top-scoring New Englander in the NHL last season with 67 points.
Charlie Coyle
â—¾ Forward | Minnesota Wild
In many ways, Coyle’s tale is the dream for a Boston-area kid: Shine in prep school (Thayer Academy), the college ranks (Boston University), for Team USA at world juniors then in the NHL (Minnesota Wild). You can toss in there Coyle’s title flurry in the QMJHL (Saint John’s Sea Dogs), too. The Weymouth, Mass., native hits all the marks, having left his stamp on every avenue of elite hockey.
Nick Bonino
â—¾ Forward | Nashville Predators
Two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, an NCAA title in 2009 at Boston University and now a journey down to Nashville, where the land of country music transformed the 2017 NHL playoffs. The Unionville, Conn., native, whether it’s through clutch goals or his staunch locker room presence, simply gets it done.
Noah Hanifin
â—¾ Defenseman | Carolina Hurricanes
Talk about a rapid progression for this Boston-area kid with a dream. The blueliner from Norwood, Mass., has gone from being a crown jewel of the U.S. National Team Development Program, to a one-year flurry at Boston College to a bonafide star for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes — all before his 21st birthday.
Cam Atkinson
â—¾ Forward | Columbus Blue Jackets
Hockey is trending toward a smaller, faster game, and this speed demon out of Greenwich, Conn., is a beacon of hope. He first made a name for himself at Avon Old Farms, then did much of the same at Boston College and now with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Put simply, the winger gives little guys hope that they, too, can make it in this rough-and-tumble game. Atkinson’s 35 goals were tied with Max Pacioretty for most by a native New Englander last season.
Jimmy Vesey
â—¾ Forward | New York Rangers
When college seniors debate taking the free agency route — much like this Harvard product from North Reading, Mass., did in ditching his status as a Nashville Predators draft pick — it’s layman’s talk to say they’re "pulling a Vesey." On the ice he’s thrived, too, winning the 2016 Hobey Baker Award and now suiting up for the New York Rangers in the Big Apple.
Keith Yandle
â—¾ Defenseman | Florida Panthers
Shipping up to the QMJHL has become increasingly common, and youth players have this Milton, Mass., defenseman to thank for that. After starring at Cushing Academy, he joined the Moncton Wildcats and made an immediate jump into the pro ranks, quickly earning an All-Star nod. Yandle isn’t the flashiest of players, but he’s an undoubted trailblazer.
