To quote Brian Gionta, “You don’t stray from what you are, the person you are, the character you are… it evolves from there.”

Character has indeed been Gionta’s career hallmark over the span of his 15 NHL seasons. That defining quality has been an asset alongside his skill in over 1,000 games in the league, which has included seven seasons of captaincy.

With the video above, NHLPA.com pays tribute to Gionta's 1,000th NHL game, which takes place March 27 at First Niagara Center in a matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Florida Panthers.