ESPN.com asked Barry Melrose to pick a player whose contribution is integral to his team's playoff success. No goalies allowed.

	Brett Hull was one of the Red Wings' four 30-goal scorers. But he'll have to contribute more in the playoffs.

Vancouver vs. Detroit
Red Wings: Brett Hull
Hull has proved he can score playoff goals, and the Red Wings need him to have a good playoffs. Everyone knows the Red Wings can play good defense and that they have a ton of talent. But the question is can Hull come up with the big goals when they are most needed?

Canucks: Todd Bertuzzi
Bertuzzi was the best player in the NHL during the final 30 games of the regular season. He's going to get a lot of attention from the Red Wings, but somehow he still has to find a way to score. He is a big reason the Canucks are in the playoffs -- if they want to get out of the first round, Bertuzzi will have to continue to step up.

Los Angeles vs. Colorado
Avalanche: Joe Sakic
It seems that Sakic was always in on the big plays during the Avalanche's previous playoff appearances -- so much so that it is now expected of him. Sakic is the quintessential go-to-guy, and the key to the Colorado Avalanche's success.

Kings: Jason Allison
The Kings know what they are going to get from Adam Deadmarsh, while Allison is more of a wild card. Allison will have to set Ziggy Palffy up, he'll have to run the power play, he'll have to be good in his own end. Allison will be seriously working for his money in this playoff matchup against Colorado.

	Selanne

Phoenix vs. San Jose
Sharks: Teemu Selanne
The reason Selanne is in San Jose is to score goals. He didn't get as many as they hoped he would during the regular season, but he can be the hero they hoped he'd be if he can light the lamp over and over again throughout the playoffs.

Coyotes: Claude Lemieux
Lemieux is a real veteran presence for the Coyotes. They have a lot of young guys who don't have much playoff experience -- they look up to Lemieux. If there is one thing Lemieux has, it is legit playoff experience -- he's won three Stanley Cups and was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 1995. That kind of knowledge is priceless.

	Tkachuk

Chicago vs. St. Louis
Blues: Keith Tkachuk
Tkachuk has been the Blues' best player all season long. Scoring will get tough come playoff time, but with their smaller forwards, the Blues will need a power forward like Tkachuk to remain physical and get lots of scoring chances.

Blackhawks: Tony Amonte
Amonte hasn't had a great year -- he came nowhere near achieving his potential. It has been Eric Daze who has been the Blackhawks' go-to guy. But everyone in Chicago knows that if they are to have any success against the Blues, it will be Amonte -- not Daze -- who must be the player everyone knows he can be.

Barry Melrose, a former NHL defenseman and coach, is a hockey analyst for ESPN.