Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

The All-Underrated Team: Atlantic Division

August 17, 2010, 5:27 PM ET [ Comments]
Travis Yost
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
After running a five day feature in which I made the argument for each team in the Northeast to win the division, many of you responded in a positive manner and suggested I try out another feature(s). With the dog days of summer fully upon us, I've decided to do just that, and will now take an in-depth look at each of the six National Hockey League divisions and their respective players. My goal? To create one team from each division, highlighting six players who are vastly underrated to the average fan.

One thing I'd like you to particularly note is that all of this is relative. Some players on the list might be decent, and others might be spectacular. It's the deviation in perspective to true talent that I'm concerned with, and not necessarily assembling the best roster.

Tuesday: Atlantic Division
Wednesday: Northeast Division
Thursday: Off (Point/Counterpoint with Aaron Musick)
Friday: Southeast Division
Saturday: Central Division
Monday: Northwest Division
Tuesday: Pacific Division


The All-Underrated Team


LW - Matt Moulson, New York Islanders

The hardcore hockey fan is well aware of the dynamic that Matt Moulson brings to the game on a nightly basis, but many across North America still aren't familiar with the Ontario native. In his first full season, Matty Moulson threw up an impressive 48 point campaign, highlighted by thirty goals on a rather pedestrian New York Islanders team. Playing for a struggling franchise and being the proverbial second fiddle to John Tavares made Moulson a "quiet" force, but the New York Islanders are aware that he could become one of the better LW's in the NHL if groomed properly.

C - Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins

While Jordan Staal does command a ton of respect around the NHL, he's still going to be overshadowed by stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for a long, long time. Fans and analysts commend the Penguins for having the best centerman depth in the league, but few realize just how talented Jordan Staal really is. A third line center who scored 49 points in 82 games is "solid", but imagine if Staal saw added time on one of the top two lines with unquestionably more talent around him? The sky's the limit for this youngster.

RW - Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers

Callahan's growth in Broadway has made him a valuable asset to the Rangers brass, but it's his work ethic and leave-it-all-on-the-ice mentality that's turned Cally from a fourth-round project into a top six talent. His work on the penalty kill all season long kept the New York Rangers in contention, and a true hunger for the game has many lifting Cally's ceiling just a little bit higher. Determination can only take you so far, but if any player is capable of improving his game solely on working his ass off, it's Ryan Callahan.

D - Kimmo Timmonen, Philadelphia Flyers

Perhaps the easiest selection for this entire roster, Timmonen has made a career out of being Philadelphia's best kept secret. When it comes to solid play without much flash or fanfare, Timmonen has to rank among the league leaders - rarely, if ever, will Timmonen's name pop up in a broadcast, and that's because he's nearly perfect at what he does. Few play positional hockey better than Timmonen, and he's more capable of a 40-point season on the offensive end.

D - Anton Volchenkov, New Jersey Devils

While Volchenkov has exactly zero games logged for the boys from Newark, his contributions to the defensive end will have an absolutely stunning effect on the aging Martin Brodeur. Volchenkov has never been a guy that can fill it up on the offensive side of the ice, but in his own zone, few are better at blocking shots, clogging up lanes, and putting a body on a body. For years, Volchenkov made Ottawa a contender by simply playing outstanding defensive alongside Chris Phillips, and he's been paid accordingly by New Jersey. Some Devils fans might grow weary after Volchenkov posts another pedestrian point total, but you can rest assured that Martin Brodeur's numbers will again be on the rise, a scary thought indeed.

G - Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

"Without him, they'd be one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League." Time and time again, we hear this phrase muttered about the Buffalo Sabres, yet it's also undeniably true for the men on Broadway. An argument can be made that Henrik Lundqvist, numbers aside, faces the most difficult assortment of shots on a nightly basis, and plays behind one of the most lackluster defenses assembled in the Eastern Conference. After Marc Staal, the defensive units leave something serious to be desired, yet he still posted a save percentage of .921, all while battling nagging injuries for much of the year. Many regard Lundqvist as one of the premier goalies in the Eastern Conference, but there's reason to believe he's arguably the best in the NHL.

--
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Travis Yost
» Wrapping Things Up
» Enforcer
» Random Thoughts
» Shot Coordinate Fun
» Any Room?