Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/628545
T.J. OSHIE, Washington Capitals (Warroad): When you play high school hockey in Minnesota, consider yourself adopted. The shootout master has one of best shots in the NHL. MATT CULLEN, Pittsburgh Penguins (Moorhead): Not his natural position, but all teams need veteran leadership, and there's no better elder statesman than the 39-year-old "Cully." One of the best human beings I know. DeFense RYAN MCDONAGH, N.Y. Rangers (St. Paul): Parise calls the Rangers' captain and former Mr. Hockey the hardest defenseman to play in the game. That endorsement cinched "Mac" as our No. 1 D. JUSTIN FAULK, Carolina Hurricanes (South St. Paul): Through mid-December, the sharpshooter led all NHL blue- liners with 12 goals—all on the power play! DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN, Winnipeg Jets (Roseau): Versatile defenseman/winger is physically imposing and possesses an absolutely booming shot. PAUL MARTIN, San Jose Sharks (Elk River): Still one of the smoothest defensemen in the NHL at age 34. Parise demanded that Martin should be on the roster. ERIK JOHNSON, Colorado Avalanche (Bloomington): Since being traded to the Avalanche, he has developed into a top defenseman and go-to guy for Patrick Roy. MATT NISKANEN, Washington Capitals (Virginia): Found a home in Washington and just does everything well on a deep Capitals team. ALEX GOLIGOSKI, Dallas Stars (Grand Rapids): Solid offensive defenseman and power-play specialist. NICK LEDDY, N.Y. Islanders (Eden Prairie): Smooth-skating puck-mover who got the last laugh after being discarded by the Wild in the worst trade of the Chuck Fletcher era. Stanley Cup winner in Chicago and huge contract on Long Island, I mean … Brooklyn. GoAlie ALEX STALOCK, San Jose Sharks (South St. Paul): OK, goaltending is not Minnesota's strong suit at the NHL level, but thank good- ness for Stalock, who is one heck of a puck-handling goalie. There are, however, some very intriguing #oneofus goaltenders in the pipeline that we should keep our eyes on, like Stalock's cousin, Adam Wilcox (South St. Paul), and Charlie Lindgren (Lakeville), Alex Lyon (Baudette), Michael Bitzer (Moorhead) and Zane McIntyre (Thief River Falls). Don't agree with my picks? Tweet us at @russostrib and @mnhockeyjournal using the beloved hashtag #oneofus. Michael Russo covers the Wild and National Hockey League for the Star Tribune. He co-hosts a pod - cast on malepatternpodcasts.com, can be heard weekly on KFAN and seen on Fox Sports North. FEBRUARY.2016 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM 29 BROCK NELSON (left) AND ANDERS LEE (right) ERIK JOHNSON ALEX STALOCK JUSTIN FAULK