#26 Martin St. Louis

So smart.

Watch this toe drag before he shoots. He picks up the puck on the outside, moves inwards and simultaneously drags, converting a 12 in block from the opposing defenseman into a 12 in separation. Then he shoots and scores. All in a moment. Simple and brilliant.

Or watch this goal. There is no room for him to beat the defender or to cut inside for a shot. But he absolutely needs to get inside, past the defender to shoot. So he just puts the puck under the defenders stick and shoots from underneath. That "triangle" between the defender's stick and the ground is a weak spot. When he shoots, his shot automatically lifts the defender's stick converting defense into no defense!

This guy is 5'6", probably the shortest player in the NHL, and an assistant captain of his team. When you play other guys like Datsyuk for example, it's like they're messing with your mind. They outwait you, out maneuver you, or just surprise you. Playing against St. Louis though, is like being outsmarted. He found the geometric or physical exploitation of your position before you could calculate out all the possibilities. It's like a puzzle, and he solved it. And he moves so fast you don't have time to sit there and think either.