Something Dave King once said about dressing-room chemistry and the “circles of leadership” struck me again last week in a detailed and fascinating conversation with Vegas Golden Knights’ centre Pierre-Édouard Bellemare. King, the long-time NHL and international coach, was making a point about how, from the outside looking in, you can never be sure who populates the inner core of a team’s leadership group. Sometimes, you think it might just be the big names – Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron or Connor McDavid – and in their respective cases, that would be true.



But, according to King, just about every successful team also includes far more anonymous players inside the leadership circle. It’s become clear that Matt Hendricks was that guy in Edmonton last season and became that guy in Winnipeg this season. Michael Frolik is like that in Calgary. Vern Fiddler was that throughout his career. Jay Beagle does that for the Capitals.