The NHL's 5 most blue collar players

The unsung heroes of hockey are the players willing to battle in the corners and hit everything that moves. They take hits to make plays and aren't afraid to put themselves in harm's way if it means their team leaves the ice with the victory.

These players aren't usually the most talented on their team. They don't tend to have big contracts and even bigger endorsement deals or a regular spot on the nightly highlight reel. Instead, they bring the workmanlike mentality of self-sacrifice necessary to succeed in a game filled with hard hits and hard luck.

Here are the NHL's five most blue collar players:

Shane Doan

Shane Doan has never led the NHL in points, but he probably leads the league in loyalty.

Doan has played for one organization for his entire 19-season career. He was drafted by the original Winnipeg Jets franchise and followed them to Phoenix, where he became captain of the now-Arizona Coyotes.

In more than 1,300 games with the franchise, Doan has seen everything from last-place finishes to Western Conference Final action, setting a strong example for his teammates by playing hard on every shift along the way.

Doan's declining production suggests he is in the twilight of his career, but he still averages close to 19 minutes of ice time at 38 years old on a young Arizona team.

Radko Gudas

It didn't take Radko Gudas long to become one of the most feared blue-liners in the NHL.

Gudas has yet to play two full seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but opponents take note when he is on the ice. The Czech import has a reputation for hitting anything that moves and is tough enough to back it up when challenged.

Gudas finished tied for third in hits last season and is adding to that total with 85 this season, along with 50 blocked shots through 24 games. The 24-year-old sacrifices his body every game to help Tampa Bay maintain its hold on the Atlantic Division.

Gudas is also firing two shots on goal per game this season, hinting at some untapped offensive potential.

Andrew Ladd

Andrew Ladd won Stanley Cups in a supporting role with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Chicago Blackhawks, but his true potential wasn't realized until he joined the Winnipeg Jets.

Ladd was named captain in his first season with the Jets - then the Atlanta Thrashers - in 2010 and recorded career highs in goals (29) and points (59) that season. He has been one of Winnipeg's most consistent players at both ends of the ice, leading by example for a Jets team that is surprising people by challenging for a playoff spot this season.

Ladd will likely never be the highest-paid player on a team, but that doesn't stop him from often being the most valuable player on the ice for Winnipeg, which his 15 game-winning goals over the last four seasons will attest.

Nick Foligno

Nick Foligno sometimes shows flashes of high-end scoring talent, but the Columbus Blue Jackets forward is more known for what he does when he doesn't have the puck.

Foligno made a name for himself grinding out minutes for the Ottawa Senators, where his punishing hits often drew crowds and goaltenders learned to loathe his presence in front of the net. He carried those qualities to Columbus, recording 210 hits with the Blue Jackets last season.

Foligno is enjoying the most productive campaign of his career this season, averaging close to a point per game, but he hasn't forsaken the blue-collar roots of his playing style. He leads Columbus with 73 hits. 

Justin Abdelkader

When Justin Abdelkader gets to share the ice with Detroit Red Wings scoring stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, it's not because he's expected to light up the scoreboard.

Abdelkader is getting top-line minutes in his sixth season with the Red Wings because of his relentless hustle and fearless forechecking. The 27-year-old has recorded 837 hits in 347 contests since the start of the 2009-10 season.

The sandpaper Abdelkader provides is an important complement to the skill of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Abdelkader's forechecking pressure will often force opponents into making bad passes a linemate can intercept, while his hits wear opponents down and create more open ice for Datsyukian dekes.

Abdelkader is in the penultimate season of a contract paying him an average annual value of $1.8 million, and he's worth every penny. He's even on pace to eclipse career bests in goals (10) and points (28) this season.