In hockey, as in life, there are archetypes built on hyperbole and buzzwords that are designed to fit every player into a predefined box. Scouts and evaluators often fall prey to lazily characterizing young prospects in this way: the power forward, the two-way center, the one-dimensional scorer, the stay-at-home defenseman. But sometimes, just sometimes, there’s a player who is so different from everyone else in approach or ability that he is able to distinguish himself through his uniqueness. These players have turned one skill into the body of their game and highlight all of the different ways hockey can be played at the highest levels. “The Gifted” is a 10-part series that examines, through video, the NHL’s most fascinating prospects and the unique skill sets that define them. By popular demand, “The Gifted” is back for a fourth year at The Athletic. It runs every Wednesday from April 8 to June 10.



The Gifted (2017 series): Part 1:...