The Code to Become Irresistible

Ever thought of yourself as a CEO? Yep, in the wild world of hockey, you're not just a player—you're the boss of your own career.
Your mission? To make yourself too good to ignore. Level up so that every team out there wants a piece of what you’re bringing to the ice.
So, what special skills can you add to your game to make every team want you? What's your standout features?
In today’s game, being a complete player is valuable, but it’s often not what gets you recruited or moves you up levels. Coaches build teams based on roles, and the players who fill those roles best are the ones who get opportunities. If you have a standout trait—whether it’s being nearly unbeatable on faceoffs, rarely getting scored on, or being a power-play specialist—you become an asset that teams need.
The game is too role-dependent now for players to rely solely on being well-rounded. It doesn't mean you should not be a complete player. But if you can do one or two things at a level that nobody else can, your chances of advancing skyrocket. Teams will find ways to maximize your unique skillset because what you bring is both valuable and difficult to replace.

Some NHL players stay in the league not because they are the fastest or strongest, but because they are supremely reliable—making the right plays 9 out of 10 times. Others may not be the best skaters or have elite fitness, but they possess an irreplaceable skill, like an out-of-this-world shot, which makes them indispensable.
The more rare and elite your useful skill is, the higher the demand for it. At the highest levels, teams are looking for specialists. If you can dominate one area of the game, while being capable of holding your own on the other areas, you give yourself an undeniable reason to be on a roster.
Think about what skills you can develop that no one else can do at such a level. Maybe it’s hockey iq, lethality in scoring, faceoffs and defensive ability, versatility, playmaking offensive pressure with size, supreme consistency in something or combinations of them.

How can you use your best qualities to stand out and become a player that teams can’t pass up?
Pin down what makes you special. Better yet, figure out what will make coaches and scouts go, “We need this player!”
This is the intentionality and focus I missed when I was younger. A key concept I wish I could have capatlized on.
THE CEO
Craft your skill, your unique mark,
Shine like a beacon in the dark.
What makes you rare? Seek and find,
The skills that leave the crowd behind.