The NHL's All-Value Team: Most team-friendly deal for all 32 - ESPN

Value. It's a loaded, variable term. Especially in the sports sphere. We've seen it all before: a struggling player cut from one team goes on to thrive somewhere else. Right place, right time, right fit. It all adds up to that ultimate, intrinsic individual value.

WIth that in mind, we're anointing the NHL's All-Value Team for 2023-24. In this instance, it's the guy on a (relatively) team-friendly contract who is capably outperforming it with all he's adding to the lineup.

And no, skaters on entry-level deals were not eligible to be chosen (sorry, Connor Bedard).

Without further ado, let's peel back the curtain on some of those hidden (or not-so-hidden) gems making the most of their opportunities while taking up a small percentage of their team's salary cap space.

Note: All stats are through the games of Jan. 23.

Stats: 42 GP | 7 G | 22 A
Cap hit: $1,000,000

The No. 2 pick from 2007 has still got it — and he's bringing it every night for the Bruins without breaking the bank. The veteran winger is working on a $1 million deal, and has already matched his point total from last season (29). He provides the Bruins with excellent net-front presence on the power play and remains a versatile forward to deploy anywhere in the lineup. He has been an ideal signing for Boston.

Stats: 44 GP | 9 G | 7 A
Cap hit: $2,500,000

Okposo is more than just Buffalo's captain. He's the club's glue-guy inside and outside the dressing room, and he uses his veteran experience to be of help in every type of scenario for the Sabres. Buffalo shelling out $2.5 million for Okposo is a wise allocation of resources, considering the breadth of what he gives back by way of offense (16 points in 44 games), versatility (most recently enlivening the Sabres'