Hendricks said as much last summer before catching on with the Winnipeg Jets. After 214 games with the Oilers over parts of four seasons, Hendricks saw the writing on the wall in Edmonton. No beefs. No regrets. He said so during an interview before he even knew where, or if, he was going to play again. Honesty, be it in approach to the game or understanding and accepting a role, is one of the common traits of players on this Unsung Heroes list. It’s what makes them what they are. Team-first guys like Hendricks.

Simply put, Hendricks emptied the tank during his time with the Oilers. He gave the team what he could and what it needed during his tenure. On the ice, that meant hustle and effective work on the penalty kill and in the face-off circles and standing up for teammates when he got a chance to play. Off the ice, Hendricks provided a professional approach to preparation and an experienced voice in the room. He was an example and a conscience that demanded his teammates answer to each other. Honesty.

It turned out, of course, that Hendricks caught on in Winnipeg. It should surprise no one he has provided the Jets with the same kind of moxie he showed with the Oilers. “For me, he has already made the players around him better,” Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said during pre-season. “He has completely embraced the role of the bottom-six forward guy, that role player. So he practiced differently than some of our young, bottom-six guys who still practice like they did when they were on their No. 1 line in junior or on their college teams. They do everything as hard as they can and practice is where they drive the pace.”