Each NHL team’s most important player entering the 2019-20 season

Arizona Coyotes – Phil Kessel

The Arizona Coyotes need Phil Kessel to be a star in order to make the postseason. Last season, the Yotes were one of the league’s least effective scoring teams. Granted, part of it was due to injuries. It’s hard to lose as many players as the Coyotes did and still make the playoffs.

However, it also had to do with their lack of game-breaking skill. Aside from Clayton Keller, the Coyotes didn’t have anyone who opponents had to worry too much about. Now teams have to worry about a very motivated Kessel.

Boston Bruins – David Krejci

It’s easy to say Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, or David Pastrnak here. But I’m going with David Krejci, who will be asked to once again lead the Bruins second forward line. The Bruins have had to trade for a second-line wing in each of the past two seasons, which tells you what kind of help they’ve been giving him to start each season – not that much.

Yes, Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak (along with Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug) are clearly better players than Krejci. But the Bruins are putting a lot of faith in their long-time center by asking him to once again lead their second line.

Buffalo Sabres – Rasmus Dahlin

All eyes are going to be on Rasmus Dahlin this season. He had a terrific first season in the NHL, ending last season as arguably the Sabres best defenseman. Buffalo has been looking for a franchise defenseman for years, and they finally have one in Dahlin.