3 NHL stars on a mission this season

"Do or do not. There is no try."

Motivation is a powerful tool, and it's one players and coaches use to their advantage whenever possible.

Players often practice self-motivation, and their inspiration can range from real, difficult circumstances to perceived slights and manufactured rivalries.

Here are three NHL stars on a mission in 2016-17:

Patrik Laine

Laine had a built-in narrative leading up to June's draft, when Auston Matthews was considered the consensus choice to be selected first overall.

The Finnish sensation insisted he, not Matthews should be chosen first, but the American star was taken by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the top pick, dropping Laine into the collective lap of the Winnipeg Jets.

Since then, much has been written about the Laine-Matthews debate and supposed rivalry.

Laine's case gained some steam when he capped off a hat trick with the overtime winner in his first meeting with Matthews and the Leafs in October.

He ranks third in the NHL and leads all rookies with 17 goals, leads the rookie class with 25 points, and tops all rookie forwards in average time on ice. Matthews has a respectable 13 goals and 22 points in 28 games after authoring a historic four-goal debut.

Both players will undoubtedly be great for years to come, but Laine's production at a younger age shows he's fully embraced playing with a proverbial chip on his shoulder, even if he still has some learning to do.

Shea Weber

Weber came into the season with plenty to prove after many considered him the inferior end of the summer's most stunning transaction when it was consummated between the Montreal Canadiens and the Nashville Predators.

He's played like a man on a mission early on, ranking in the top ten in the league in points among defensemen while logging his customary hefty workload of more than 25 minutes per game.

Weber may not be the better player in the long run (or have the more favorable contract), but he's been far from disappointing as he continues to adjust to his new role on the Canadiens' blue line.

The 31-year-old is currently mired in a seven-game pointless streak, but he's being relied upon heavily on Montreal's back end and has proven he's up to the challenge so far.

P.K. Subban

The other player involved in of the blockbuster trade has plenty of motivation in his own right.

Subban put up with plenty of unfounded criticism of his game and character before and after the trade that shipped him from Montreal to Nashville.

The 2013 Norris Trophy winner's production has never been questioned, but he's no doubt playing with something to prove as he continues to make an impression down south.

Subban has one fewer point than Weber with a game in hand, and he trails him in average ice time by less than 45 seconds.

More importantly, he appears to be having fun again, even while he sets out to prove Montreal's management made a mistake.