Bill Clement

With the super competitive playoff races in both conferences, the NHL season heads towards a tremendous finish. Here’s a look at my top six players who should have the most impact on determining how things shake out between now and the final day of the regular season.

Sergei Fedorov
Capitals
I’m anxious to see which Sergei Fedorov will show up with the Capitals after the trade-deadline deal that sent the six-time All-Star to Washington from Columbus in exchange for Ted Ruth. Will it be the Fedorov who still has the potential to be an extremely valuable on-ice force to a team striving to make the playoffs or will it be the Fedorov who at times becomes invisible. Simply put, the Capitals are taking a risk in bringing aboard an enigmatic player. To make the postseason, they need Fedorov at his best, not at his worst.

For most of this season, Fedorov has been a good player for Columbus. There are a couple of reasons that lead me to believe the Capitals will gain from the addition of Fedorov. First of all, he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season so he’ll be playing for a new contract from the Capitals or some other team, and that’s always a motivating factor. Second, he’ll likely see time on a line with Viktor Kozlov, no stranger to Fedorov since both have played together on multiple Russian national teams.

Fedorov’s responsibility with the Capitals is to not only produce on the ice, but also to serve as a team leader and a mentor to rising young superstar Alexander Ovechkin. If Fedorov embraces all that is being asked of him in Washington, and if wants another NHL contract, he should prove thoroughly terrific for the Capitals. But one way or the other his play will determine whether the Capitals make the playoffs.

Daniel Briere
Flyers
After being signed as an unrestricted free agent by Philadelphia last July, the All-Star center has not succeeded with his new team at the level he expected. There are many reasons for that but perhaps none as crucial as left winger Simon Gagne missing significant time due to dizziness and a concussion. Gagne is done for the season. Early in the season Briere and Gagne had good chemistry and were putting up impressive numbers.

Briere is also likely feeling pressure to live up to expectations created by the huge contract he signed. He has not seen the puck go into the net off his stick on as frequent a basis as at other times in his career and that has frustrated him.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

A day before the trade deadline, the Flyers obtained Vaclav Prospal from Tampa Bay. Briere should play on the same line with Prospal and he really fits well with Briere’s style of play. Briere is a darter and a down-low water bug and when play gets inside the faceoff dots in the offensive zone that’s when his talents can really become a factor. Among Briere’s top weapons are his maneuverability in tight places and his ability to stop and start so quickly. Prospal is a good passer and his marching orders will be to make Briere a greater force on offense.

Sidney Crosby
Penguins
A high ankle sprain sidelined Crosby on January 19th, but once he returns he’ll have so much positive energy to give to his team. Pittsburgh pulled off a deadline-day deal to acquire Marian Hossa, who will play on Crosby’s line. Once Crosby has a chance to get on the ice with Hossa he will take the Penguins to another level and they’ll land the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins’ medical staff won’t make the mistake of rushing Crosby back. He has to be 100 percent before returning. In essence once Crosby is suiting up again, the Penguins elevate their status in the conference. I can see them pulling away from the pack since it should surprise no one how much of an impact Crosby will have once he’s healthy again.