Hockey is a unique game.
Much of the physical requirements and athletic traits are the same as every other professional sport, but those in the NHL play on a comparatively tiny surface, confided by plexiglass and unforgiving boards.
The pace of the game is unprecedented, and the physicality falls under the same category.
In saying all this, the best players - the ones you can consistently build a winning team around - are the smartest. No one makes it to the NHL without, as those in the game like to call call it, "Hockey IQ," and below is a list of three players who exemplify what it takes to understand the game better than anybody else.
Sidney Crosby
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 29 | Exp: 11 years
This was a given. No one else sees the game the way Crosby does, as the Penguins captain has an uncanny ability to recognize opportunities before they happen.
Crosby's remarkable vision and skill make him one best of the most prolific point producers in NHL history, and his list of accomplishments reflects that rather accordingly.
Related: 3 smartest minds in the NBA
Erik Karlsson
Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 26 | Exp: 7 years
Karlsson is the engine that drives the Senators, and his ability to create and suppress offense is what makes him elite.
His passing in all three zones is an invaluable weapon, as evidenced by his league-leading 66 assists last season. Karlsson was the lone defeneseman in the top-10 in scoring in 2015-16, and has already earned two Norris trophies.
Patrice Bergeron
Team: Boston Bruins
Age: 31 | Exp: 12 years
Bergeron possesses perhaps the most well-rounded game in the NHL, and it's the perception of his on-ice surroundings that allows him to thrive in all game situations.
The Bruins' top pivot is the prototypical two-way forward, producing eight 50-plus point seasons, to go along with three Selke awards, and a career faceoff percentage of 58.3.
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