Jesper Boqvist

Jesper Boqvist has the skill set to become one of those quiet contributors that makes a real difference in the New Jersey Devils' depth game. He's not going to put up highlight-reel numbers, but the kind of work he does on the ice - the positioning, the effort, the versatility - is exactly what separates good teams from great ones. If the Devils can unlock his potential in a bottom-six role, they might have found a gem that other teams overlooked.

Matthew Tkachuk took time to publicly celebrate the bond he shares with former teammates Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, and the message carries real weight. These kinds of public endorsements from star players tell you something about the character of the guys involved and the relationships that transcend team changes. It's a reminder that the hockey community is tighter than most people realize, even when guys are scattered across different rosters.

Jesper Boqvist has spent enough time on the margins of NHL rosters to understand what it takes to stick around, and the New Jersey Devils believe they've found something special in the Swedish forward that's been hiding in plain sight. The organization sees a player capable of filling a critical role in their bottom six - the kind of depth piece that separates contenders from pretenders come playoff time.