Milt Schmidt, Boston Bruins

Keeping up with longtime Bruins leader Eddie Shore in the late 1930s was a huge challenge for Schmidt, a native of Kitchener, Ontario, but the tough center did it and more. At center, he was most responsible for “The Kraut Line,” where “Uncle Miltie,” Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer were NHL threats.

“There’s no question Milt was the guy who made the team work,” said Bruins promoter and Boston Globe writer Herb Ralby. “He was very competitive and very tough.”

Schmidt — a self-confessed “tough player” — led the NHL in scoring in 1939-40. After returning from World War II, he proved he was better than ever, scoring a career-high 27 goals in 1945-46, and continued to star even after the Kraut Line disbanded.

“Milt was one of the best players in Bruins history,” defenseman Bobby Orr said.

There was no debate about this.