In this edition of the hotstove we share our picks for the NHL's most overrated forward.
Todd Cordell
I'll go with Jordan Staal here.
His defensive game is excellent and he's very good in possession but a lot of people think of him as one of the NHL's best two-way forwards and he's lacking a little on the offensive side of the puck.
Of 301 forwards who have played more than 1,500 5 v 5 minutes since 2013 Staal ranks 265th in points per 60 with just 1.08.
That puts him behind noted weapons Brandon Prust, Tuomo Ruutu, Casey Cizikas, Max Talbot and R.J. Umberger, among many others.
His counting totals have been respectable - he averages ~.5 points per game - but that's because he's spoon fed a ton of minutes more than anything else.
James Tanner It has to be Antoine Vermette. 45% possession, one ES goal.
For perspective, Max Domi has 9 goals and 19 points at ES. Anthony Duclair has 9 goals and 17 points at ES.
Vermette gets the same or more ice time. He has a -44 scoring chance differential.
I suspect that if you made an ice-time vs usefulness chart of all the forwards in the NHL, he would be the worst.
Recent posts: Most overrated defenseman in the NHL?