Every team has them. Some teams have more than one. That player who has either exceeded expectations, has fallen short of those goals or seems on the verge of something but you're just not sure how it will turn out.

So who are these players? And how important will they be to their teams going forward? Well, that depends upon the player, the team and their current situation.

Here's a look at a key player to watch for every team and the potential impact they could have on their clubs.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another -- taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule -- and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the most recent edition, published Jan. 27. Points percentages are through Thursday's games.

Previous ranking: 1 Points percentage: 81.37% Next seven days: vs. WSH (Feb. 11), @ DAL (Feb. 14), @ NSH (Feb. 16)

Jake DeBrusk. We know David Pastrnak is going to score more than 100 points in his contract year, while Linus Ullmark is the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy. That said, DeBrusk was having the strongest season of his career before sustaining a lower-body injury during the Winter Classic. DeBrusk should be back in the next week or so, and when he returns he'll give the already dangerous Bruins another weapon, a forward who is averaging 0.83 points per game this season.

Previous ranking: 2 Points percentage: 74.51% Next seven days: vs. NYR (Feb. 11), @ WSH (Feb. 14), vs. MTL (Feb. 16)

Jordan Martinook. He entered the first week after the All-Star break with 11 goals. If he scores five more goals, he'll have a career high. Even if Martinook scores two more goals, he'll have more goals this season than he had in his past three seasons ... combined. Oh, and he also needs one more point to set a career high in that department. He's also second among all forwards in short-handed ice time, which further underscores how valuable he has been.

Previous ranking: 3 Points percentage: 70.59% Next seven days: @ MIN (Feb. 11), @ CBJ (Feb. 14), @ STL (Feb. 16)

Luke Hughes. First-round picks who go the collegiate route are starting to leave school after their sophomore seasons. Defensemen such as Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Charlie McAvoy, Owen Power and Zach Werenski, among others, have followed that path. So what's stopping Luke Hughes from doing the same once the University of Michigan concludes its season? Hughes has 32 points in 28 games for the Wolverines. His potential arrival could give the Devils another puck-moving option who also projects as a top-four defenseman ... just in time for the playoffs.

Previous ranking: 4 Points percentage: 67.31% Next seven days: @ CBJ (Feb. 10), vs. CBJ (Feb. 11), vs. CHI (Feb. 15)

Conor Timmins. He's played a fraction of the games, yet is already fifth among Leafs defensemen in points. Timmins has given the Leafs another puck-moving option who has 12 points in 18 games since coming over in a trade with the Coyotes earlier this season. Timmins gives the Leafs depth. But he also gives them another contributor on a team-friendly deal. He was a pending RFA, but the Leafs announced Thursday they had signed Timmins, a second-round pick in 2017, to a two-year deal worth $1.1 million in each season.

Previous ranking: 6 Points percentage: 66.04% Next seven days: vs. TB (Feb. 11), vs. BOS (Feb. 14)

Jason Robertson. Picking Robertson? How groundbreaking. But here's why his season continues to matter. Sure, he has a legit shot at 50 goals and 50 assists. But he's also projected to finish with 106 points. Let's say those projections hold. It would amount to Robertson having one of the best seasons in franchise history. No, really. That's not hyperbole. He'd be the fifth player in North Stars/Stars history to score 50 and be the first player in Dallas Stars history with 100 points in a season.

Previous ranking: 5 Points percentage: 66.67% Next seven days: @ DAL (Feb. 11), @ COL (Feb. 14), @ ARI (Feb. 15)

Brandon Hagel. And in the latest chapter of "The Lightning Are A Cheat Code" comes the season Hagel is having. He's projected to have 31 goals and 67 points, which both would be career highs. But it's the context around those numbers that potentially make what he could do even more notable. Hagel had 68 career points coming into this season, yet he could score nearly that many in an 82-game campaign. And the Lightning have him under contract for one more year at $1.5 million.