The Stanley Cup Playoffs can provide the platform for stars to be born. Just last year, it was defenseman who put everyone on notice that wasnt aware yet that he was one of the games most talented defensemen. He had already been in the league six years by that point and had one 50-plus point season under his belt. Thats the stage the playoffs provide, though. Hedman didnt get a lot of national exposure playing in Tampa, especially in the years where they struggled and he was still finding his game. But then there he was helping lead the Bolts to the Stanley Cup Final and going toe-to-toe with in a pair of breathtaking postseason performances by No. 1 defensemen. So who will it be this year that catches the eye of the nation? Here are 10 candidates who can make an even bigger name for themselves in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Aleksander Barkov is a player who should shine in these playoffs. (USATSI) 1. , : While and nabbed most of the headlines for the Florida Panthers, it was Barkov who was one of the primary driving forces behind the teams succe s as the team claimed the Atlantic Division title. While centering the top line with Jagr and , Barkov put up a career-best 59 points despite playing in 66 games due to various injuries. Hes also extremely reliable defensively and can play in all situations for the Panthers. There were some raised eyebrows in 2013 Jeff Heath Jersey when the Panthers took Barkov second overall over and , but hes become the franchises most important forward and was rewarded earlier this season with a six-year, $35.4 million extension. Barkov doesnt always play a style that jumps off the screen, but he does po se s some serious skill and will be looked at to lead this Florida team to what they hope is a deep postseason run. Jagr and Luongo are the name brands on the team, but Barkov has a chance to better introduce himself to the national audience this postseason. 2. , Washington Capitals: After leading the Capitals in scoring and finishing in the top 10 of the league, Kuznetsov isnt coming into the playoffs under the radar. That said, if he plays a big role in getting the Capitals over the postseason hump, hell be mentioned more in the same sentence with established teammates and . Kuznetsov was actually great last postseason with five goals in 14 games. Washington might be a little bit better positioned this time around to go Tony Jones Jr. Jersey on a run and Kuznetsov should be one of the players right at the forefront of taking them there. 3. , : How could a 40-goal scorer po sibly need a boost? Lets just call him a representative of the Blues as a whole. This is a team desperate for a postseason breakout and Tarasenko is the best fit to carry them to it. Hes been their best player in each of their last two all-too-brief postseason runs, scoring 10 goals over 12 games in back-to-back first-round exits. Its been 15 years since the team last advanced past the second round. They need everyone to rise to the postseason level Tarasenko has been at to prove they're a top team and to give their biggest star the big stage he's earned. 4. , : Unle s you dont follow the NHL all that closely, you probably already have heard Panarins name a whole bunch this season. The 24-year-old Ru sian is the leading candidate to win the Calder as the NHLs rookie of the year after finishing top-10 in scoring in the NHL with 77 points. Panarin played alongside , which no doubt helped his total, but he also seemed to make Kane better as the Blackhawks star captured the league's scoring title. That duo also accounts for such a large portion of Chicagos offense. Their playoff opponents will be doing anything they can to shut the duo down. If Panarin can continue his regular-season performance into the postseason, Chicagos chances at repeating as champion shoot up. This is going to be a new experience for the skilled winger, though. Hes never Lamar Miller Jersey had an opportunity like this even though hes played for a KHL title. How he handles this rough-and-tumble series with the Blues is going to go a long way in determining the level of succe s he has in the postseason, but as we saw this year, this is a pretty special offensive talent. 5. , : At one point, Stars GM Jim Nill said that Klingberg could become the Dallas version of two-time Norris Trophy winner . That brought about some snickers at the time, but in Klingbergs second season with the Stars, it doesnt seem so outlandish. Klingberg may never dazzle or dominate offensively like Karl son does (perhaps no current defenseman can), but hes got potential to join the upper-tier of puck-moving defensemen in the NHL if he's not there already. This postseason is going to be a great opportunity for Klingberg to display his immense skillset and ability to control the game while contributing to the Stars exceptional offensive attack. The 23-year-old defenseman had 58 points in 76 games, finishing fifth among all blueliners in the NHL. After two incredibly strong seasons, this is a player you should be getting to know better. Shayne Gostisbehere has captured Philadelphia's heart in his first season. (USATSI) 6. , : If the Flyers have any hope of getting past the in the opening round, theyre going to need their dynamic young defenseman to contribute. Despite being in just his first year in the NHL, the Calder Trophy candidate has helped revitalize a Flyers offense that needed a big a sist from the blue line. Gostisbehere, or more simply Ghost James Hurst Jersey , had 46 points in 64 games. Flyers fans have already fallen in love with him, but a big performance against the Caps could help the Florida native make a name for himself on the national stage. 7. Jonathan Drouin, Tamp Bay Lightning: After all that drama with unsucce sfully trying to force the Lightning to trade him this year, then swallowing his pride and returning to the teams AHL affiliate, Drouin is getting another chance. With the Lightning losing perhaps for the entirety of the postseason, the team needed offensive help. They had no choice but to recall Drouin and hes responded by playing extremely well. Drouin scored in each of the first two games he played in after being recalled, but before that, he was on fire in the American Hockey League with nine goals over his last 10 games. He ended his AHL stint on a five-game scoring streak, which then continued into the NHL. After barely playing in the playoffs last year, having not yet earned the trust of Jon Cooper, Drouin may have to play a substantial role if the Lightning are going to have any hope of replacing at least a portion of the goals lost with Stamkos out. Maybe this chip on Drouins shoulder will be beneficial to the Lightning. 8. , : Though hes already appeared in 20 playoff games over the last two years, Rakell is better positioned this year to really take off in the postseason after the year he just had. The 22-year-old finished fourth on the Ducks with 43 points including his first 20-goal season in just his second full-time season in the NHL. The former first-round draft pick is just getting over a bout with appendicitis, but is expected to play in the first round. Rakell has some serious skills and always has the potential to fill the highlight reels, but he does a lot of detail work well. If youre not familiar with him yet, you probably will be if Anaheim can go on a long run. 9. , : You know Tomas Hertl from his viral highlight goal from his rookie season in 2013-14, but after being claimed by a sophomore slump, hes faded from memory a little bit. However, hes been playing on San Joses top line with and and hit 21 goals and 46 points this season in a bounce-back from that underwhelming second season. Hertl has helped change the dynamic of that top line and make it even more deadly, allowing Thornton to put together one of his most dominant seasons to date and Pavelski to continue scoring at will. If the Sharks get past the , it will likely be thanks to their top line carrying them. Hertl has to be a part of that. 10. , : It took the former first-round pick a while to figure out his game, but Miller really broke out in the regular season with 22 goals and 43 points. After putting up eight points in 19 games last postseason, he could be ready for another step forward. The native of East Dylan Mabin Jersey Palestine, Ohio, will be playing near home as the Rangers take on the once again. He only managed one a sist in that series, but with a bigger role and more confidence this year, he could be a major player in the first round this time around.