Zach Parise

A late entrant in this category after signing with the Avalanche in January, just before the All-Star break, Parise could have walked away after not playing more than half the season, proud of a lengthy career that includes an Olympic silver medal in 2010.

Instead, he joined a contender that could again ride MVP front-runner Nathan MacKinnon and Norris Trophy candidate Cale Makar to a championship, which would be the franchise's second in three years. The 39-year-old Parise understands how big a challenge that is 12 years after his trip to the final with the Devils.

"There's a deeper appreciation for how hard it is," said Parise. "I always look back to my first few years in Jersey. We made it to the second round, I think, three years in a row. You're like, 'OK, natural progression, we'll get to third round.' And then, all of a sudden, you get bounced a couple of times the first round. It's hard."