HockeyBuzz Hotstove: The Hotstove: Underrated Players?

I'm not really factoring contracts, just general perception.

Martin Erat
Patrik Elias
Radim Vrbata
Kimmo Timonen
Pascal Dupis

I also think Jordan Staal has what it takes to be a #1 center in the NHL and Jason Garrison doesn't get enough credit for his very good play in Florida over the last couple of seasons, people act like Brian Campbell is Paul Coffey.

I'm not really factoring contracts, just general perception.

Martin Erat
Patrik Elias
Radim Vrbata
Kimmo Timonen
Pascal Dupis

I also think Jordan Staal has what it takes to be a #1 center in the NHL and Jason Garrison doesn't get enough credit for his very good play in Florida over the last couple of seasons, people act like Brian Campbell is Paul Coffey.
- Nucker101

I didn't factor it heavily, either. Just noting it.

I actually agree -- heavily -- w/ Erat and Elias.

I didn't factor it heavily, either. Just noting it.

I actually agree -- heavily -- w/ Erat and Elias.
- Travis Yost

Totally agree on Elias.

Would have written Patrice Bergeron even though he's getting more and more recognition for his great play.

I'll throw 2 other names out there:

Tomas Plekanec and Dennis Seidenberg.

Totally agree on Elias.

Would have written Patrice Bergeron even though he's getting more and more recognition for his great play.

I'll throw 2 other names out there:

Tomas Plekanec and Dennis Seidenberg.
- Scabeh

Bergie is finally getting some recognition, so I agree, I will leave him out (my favourite player in the NHL). Plekanec and Seids are great picks for being underrated.

My picks would be:

Curtis Glencross
Ryan O'Reilly
Max Pacioretty
Michael Ryder
David Clarkson
Colin White
DAN GIRARDI!!!
Mikko Koivu
Paul Gaustad
Ryane Clowe

Bergie is finally getting some recognition, so I agree, I will leave him out (my favourite player in the NHL). Plekanec and Seids are great picks for being underrated.

My picks would be:

Curtis Glencross
Ryan O'Reilly
Max Pacioretty
Michael Ryder
David Clarkson
Colin White
DAN GIRARDI!!!
Mikko Koivu
Paul Gaustad
Ryane Clowe
- dirklance

That's a pretty good list, especially O'Reilly and Girardi... I honestly felt O'Reilly was going to get a Selke nomination. He was neck and neck with all of the other nominees or better in all major statistical categories except plus minus.

I don't really agree with Clowe because he got fairly hyped up and fell off pretty hard last year. I'm not sure he will consistently score at the pace he has in previous seasons moving forward. So yeah.. I think hes a bit under appreciated in certain areas but at the same time expectations for him are a bit high as well, at least offensively IMO.

I still feel like Kopitar is a bit underrated myself, of the guys in the SI list hes the one I agree with the most.

Pietrangelo, could be one of the best Dman in the entire league.
O'reilly, he just is
Hossa, he is one of the quieter stars of the league
Couture.

A lot of good names listed above, especially Petro

I would like to add:

Ray Whitney - played in pretty obscure markets
Kunitz - does most of the dirty work and is overshadowed by Crosby, Malkin, Neal
Moulson - I don't think Tavares puts up as many points without his finishing touch
Kessel - simply due to blind hatred towards the Leafs
Boyle - turns out blue line points like a machine

After Pavelski, another name I agree w/ on that list is Jordan Staal.

The return for him was quite steep -- pretty obvious what his true value is around the league. [I just don't think fans value him accordingly outside of PGH]. Easy top-six center, great penalty killer, great possession player.

Pittsburgh was spoiled w/ him. Carolina will be too.

He's in that Pavelski/Ladd already-called-good-but-probably-is-great category.

Pietrangelo, could be one of the best Dman in the entire league.
- Meeqsb

Yup.

elias

Don't know how Parise, Suter, Datsyuk and Giroux can be on that list, as stated they're all world class talent. Could argue Kopitar in there too.

Mikko Koivu is my pick, and I know there's some bias here but Ladislav Smid is underrated IMO. Really solid shutdown DMan, good leader and one of those guys willing to do anything to win.

Seidenberg
Clowe
Steen
Peverley
Bolland

I don't even think its debatable: the most underrated player is Patrick Elias.


I just want to point out to my many detractors that I said the same think about Hemsky in concern to Eberle recently and got blasted for it. Combined with his unsubstainable shooting percentage, I maintain he is the most overrated player in the league. Especially when you consider people have said hes better than Ryan Hopkins. He's not and he never will be.


The second most underrated player in the NHL is Phil Kessel. Now, most of this comes from a fanbase that is ridiculous and thinks that thinks trading picks for a 21 year old whose already "made it" is in anyway a bad move. Yeah it sucks it turned out that Seguin ++ was the actual trade, but I still think Kessel is and always will be the better player. Of course I'm biased, but I at least today its not even a debate. Since his own home town doesnt give him the credit he deserves, its hard to get league wide recognition but the guy turned Lupul into a ppg player; he has proved he doesn't need Marc Savard or any kind of centre to thrive and most of all he's consistant. But the biggest reason he is underrated is because what he has done for the last three seasons he has done with no secondary scoring on his team and while playing against the toughest players and game plans/strategies designed soley to upend his game. If not for the trade that brought him to TO he would be rightly viewed as a top ten player in the league.

I also think that Kovalchuck is wierdly under appreciated if not underrated.


Tyler Bozak is another guy who deserves more credit. Centering the first line in TO? Not ideal but hes been alright. ALso, he's versitile, moves up and down the lineup, has leadership, is great on halloween and is a mad bones penalty killer.

Someone give Jimmy a cookie

Someone give Jimmy a cookie
- robin_steele264

You add nothing to the conversation and have never expressed an opinion or made an argument. You are whats wrong with the internet.

You add nothing to the conversation and have never expressed an opinion or made an argument. You are whats wrong with the internet.
- Jimmy_Tea

there ya go fella.

I don't even think its debatable: the most underrated player is Patrick Elias.


I just want to point out to my many detractors that I said the same think about Hemsky in concern to Eberle recently and got blasted for it. Combined with his unsubstainable shooting percentage, I maintain he is the most overrated player in the league. Especially when you consider people have said hes better than Ryan Hopkins. He's not and he never will be.


The second most underrated player in the NHL is Phil Kessel. Now, most of this comes from a fanbase that is ridiculous and thinks that thinks trading picks for a 21 year old whose already "made it" is in anyway a bad move. Yeah it sucks it turned out that Seguin ++ was the actual trade, but I still think Kessel is and always will be the better player. Of course I'm biased, but I at least today its not even a debate. Since his own home town doesnt give him the credit he deserves, its hard to get league wide recognition but the guy turned Lupul into a ppg player; he has proved he doesn't need Marc Savard or any kind of centre to thrive and most of all he's consistant. But the biggest reason he is underrated is because what he has done for the last three seasons he has done with no secondary scoring on his team and while playing against the toughest players and game plans/strategies designed soley to upend his game. If not for the trade that brought him to TO he would be rightly viewed as a top ten player in the league.
- Jimmy_Tea

Completely agree about Elias. Watching him for so many years, he seems to be on another level of underrted than everyone else. How many players would be top 10 in scoring while playing with Sykora and Zubrus?

Interesting list one that changes quite often. I remember hearing about how if Kopitar was in the East he'd be in the talks for one of the top 5 centers in the game.

I think it's only a matter of time before Benn and Erickson are off that list as people will start to notice them.

I do think there is one guy that gets poop on that deserves to be poop on at times, but his on ice play goes underappreciated. Ilya Kovalchuk, maybe he isn't the 50 goal scorer he once was, but putting up 80 points and now playing a two-way game is making Kovalchuk one of those guys that will last a lot longer in the NHL even when his offense is gone.

Pomminville is another that you rarely hear about. Guy will find a way to quietly get 60 points year in and year out.

And my final guy is a much hated player. Scott Hartnell. Look at his stats line, look at his play and it's hard not to want this guy on your team. With all the other stars there somehow Hartnell isn't the one that is talked about unless it's about his hair or him being a jerk off.

A homer pick from me would be Chris higgins. He was one of if not our best most consistant players last year. At both ends of the ice.

I don't even think its debatable: the most underrated player is Patrick Elias.


I just want to point out to my many detractors that I said the same think about Hemsky in concern to Eberle recently and got blasted for it. Combined with his unsubstainable shooting percentage, I maintain he is the most overrated player in the league. Especially when you consider people have said hes better than Ryan Hopkins. He's not and he never will be.


The second most underrated player in the NHL is Phil Kessel. Now, most of this comes from a fanbase that is ridiculous and thinks that thinks trading picks for a 21 year old whose already "made it" is in anyway a bad move. Yeah it sucks it turned out that Seguin ++ was the actual trade, but I still think Kessel is and always will be the better player. Of course I'm biased, but I at least today its not even a debate. Since his own home town doesnt give him the credit he deserves, its hard to get league wide recognition but the guy turned Lupul into a ppg player; he has proved he doesn't need Marc Savard or any kind of centre to thrive and most of all he's consistant. But the biggest reason he is underrated is because what he has done for the last three seasons he has done with no secondary scoring on his team and while playing against the toughest players and game plans/strategies designed soley to upend his game. If not for the trade that brought him to TO he would be rightly viewed as a top ten player in the league.
- Jimmy_Tea

Eberle 78 gp 34g 42a 76 points +4 Avg TOI/G: 17:35 Avg PP TOI/G: 3:00
Kessel 82gp 37g 45a 82 points -10 Avg TOI/G: 20:03 Avg PP TOI/G: 3:20

You realize 2 way play is important in a player right? When a player consistently causes more goals against than he scores, is he really helping the team? I know it isn't the best stat, but even Lupul was a +1 this year. Hard to ignore the fact that Kessel has been -38 in his last 3 seasons especially given that the other players on his line are plus players


I realize you are just trolling but just a heads up, Eberle is better than Hopkins. Maybe not down the road, but right now. And this is from someone who actually watches all their games.

I believe Scott Hartnell deserves to be on that list. He has the numbers over the past few years. Each time the Flyers have assembled a top line he has been the one constant to that line.

offensively mark striet
frans nielsen
rob scuderi

Eberle 78 gp 34g 42a 76 points +4 Avg TOI/G: 17:35 Avg PP TOI/G: 3:00
Kessel 82gp 37g 45a 82 points -10 Avg TOI/G: 20:03 Avg PP TOI/G: 3:20

You realize 2 way play is important in a player right? When a player consistently causes more goals against than he scores, is he really helping the team? I know it isn't the best stat, but even Lupul was a +1 this year. Hard to ignore the fact that Kessel has been -38 in his last 3 seasons especially given that the other players on his line are plus players


I realize you are just trolling but just a heads up, Eberle is better than Hopkins. Maybe not down the road, but right now. And this is from someone who actually watches all their games.
- gretzky

Check out Kessel's plus/minus stats when he was with Boston, and realize that plus/minus is a meaningless stat.