The "Glue Guy" is the ingredient, which helps hold the team together. For the Oilers, it's the man who keeps everyone energized and levelheaded through the ups and downs of a series.
Hendricks is lauded for his ability to keep the energy up in the room and the mood around the team positive, be they up in the series, down, or coming off a win or loss. He evens things out and keeps his guys focused.
"He keeps it light, but he's a guy who lets you know if you need to do things a certain way or if you need wake-up calls or he tells you what you're doing well," said Kassian. "He's really there as a motivator. He pretty much does everything except play as of right now. He's definitely a Glue Guy on this team."
Kassian says Hendricks is someone who players have requested nearby, no matter what names are on the lineup card.
"The players ask him, if he's not playing, to still be in the room for us," he said. "That right there shows what type of person he is and what type of influence he has on this team."
It's a wonder that someone can have so much impact on his peers from a distance.
"I'm not surprised," said Nurse. "I've been around him for a few years and went to a couple camps with him before I made the team. He's been the same way every year and hasn't changed one bit.
"He brings a work ethic I've never seen before. Any time you have a guy that brings that combination, he's definitely one of those Glue Guys who keeps the team upright."
Leadership and influence come from all sorts of people. For the Oilers, they have and will continue to draw it from a consummate professional.
"He's someone I look up to and have since I came to Edmonton," said McDavid. "He's such a great guy in the room, a great leader and person. We're lucky to have him for sure."
