from Sean Fitz-Gerald of the Toronto Star,

Hockey has developed a rich lexicon of so-called intangibles. Players can have grit, heart and vision. They might have good hockey sense, show good character, or be respected as a dressing room leader. A celebrated few might be known for how they perform on a big stage, knighted with the designation of being “clutch.”

“To me, an intangible is something that can’t be quantified,” says TSN hockey analyst Ray Ferraro. “You can’t touch it, you can’t feel it, you can’t mark it on a grade of 1-to-10 with any accuracy — it’s all subjective.”

As such, it can also be difficult to define. Like hockey’s vast unwritten rulebook — known widely as The Code — the meaning behind certain intangible skills can vary depending on the speaker. What is grit, anyway? And is it even possible for a player to be clutch?

In the name of clarity and the public good, Toronto Star sports reporter Sean Fitz-Gerald surveys hockey people, from managers to scouts and former players, from the NHL down to junior, in an attempt to nail down some of the game’s most inscrutable terms.

GRIT

Active prototype: Chris Kelly, Boston Bruins

more, with a list and discussion on the intangibles...