Most underrated NHL player?

Question

I choose PJ Axelsson on the Bruins. He is probably the smartest player on the ice. Always makes the right decision. Never scores many points, but earns his keep well.

Answer 1

Henrick Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings. Close to a point a game player, sound defensively and should get serious consideration for the the Selke this year. He barely lost the Calder to Barret Jackman and has only improved since. He doesn't get a lot of press outside of Detroit and he very quietly goes about his business. The coaching staff thought enough of him to put an A on his sweater this year.

Answer 2

I do like P.J. Axelsson but I am going to have to go with his teamate Marc Savard. I think he is by far the best passer in the NHL and is a great setup man on the powerplay. He didnt make the All-star game because he isnt one of those flashy players like Ovechkin or Crosby. He should have made the All-star game in my opinion. If I had to choose someone from the Western Conference I would have to say Alexander Frolov of the LA Kings. This guy is a big winger who can really score goals. The only reason people dont talk about him is because he plays for the Kings. He could be a real force for a long time.

Answer 3

Derek Armstrong

Look at the King's plus/minus ratings, his looks like a misprint.

I'd like to know how on Earth a guy with all of 39 points on a team that has given up about 50 more Goals than it has scored, is in last place, and has by far the League's worst goaltending can be a +16.

Yes, that is correct.

By the way, the definition of an UNDERRATED player is someone who is not getting attention for his accomplishments.

Sidney Crosby and Sean Avery are not underrated.

Answer 4

Brian Rolston of the Minnesota Wild. The guy makes big plays everyday. When Gaborik was injured Rolston was the one person that kept the Wild in the hunt. He has also been a solid captain for the team, but for so many years has been hidden by the other players on his team. He is the best player for the Wild and hardly ever recognized. Also, look at the All-star game. He should have been MVP, but the NHL screwed up again and named a player from the losing team. Why, clearly Rolston is underrated.

Answer 5

Such a difficult question. Every team has one or two key players that are underrated. Certain teams, like the Devils (who continue to surprise me with their extremely low Goals For despite being number 2 in the East, and number 1 in the Atlantic) have more unnoticed players that contribute that are considered underrated because they are not visible. That being said, there are a few guys that I've thought have been underrated this season. Let me appologize now for the spelling. I'm not good with it unless I'm looking at the names in front of me.
For starters, I'll echo the sentiments of Ray Whitney, Mark Recchi, Henrik Zettenberg and Nik Lindstrom. All have been solid players that don't get notice for the most part. I'm also going to suggest Paul Karyia. He has never been a hallmark player, but he is a major factor for the Preds. He's contributed a team high 42 assists, in addition to contributing about 15 goals of his own. He doesn't get the big praise that everyone else does.
My brawling underrated player award goes to Matthew Barnaby, for havin 125 PM in 39 Games. Way to go. Some times you make more of an impact in the box than you do out of it. Consider that for the moment.

Just a few names to throw out. Have fun with it guys.

Answer 6

I would say Glen Murray of the Boston Bruins because he is a good player, probably the best on their team, behind Zedno Chara of course. He has 43 points this season, which puts him in 3rd most points for the Bruins.

Answer 7

It's hard to say really, because there is so many, and of course there is the fact that hockey is VERY underrated as a whole (but thats a different question/answer all together). Now I could start off with Martin Brodeur, and I would be fully justifed. Yes he is a 9-time all-star and leads the league in almost every goaltending category, including 34 wins and 10 shutouts with 20 plus games remaining. But he's doing all this and he's about to turn 35. He seems to be entering his prime and he's challenging Patrick Roy (the greatest goaltender of our time, and arguably ever) for every record he holds. But underrated leads people to believe he's unappreciated, and that he is not.

So my candidates would be Ray Whitney, who is an all-star type playmaker playing on a pretty good team in Carolina, but going unnoticed (68 points, 10th overall in the league).

Another guy is Craig Conroy, who doesn't have the numbers, but is an INCREDIBLE presence on the ice and especially in the locker room. He always was special on my Blues, and he was (in my opinion) responsible for the Calgary Flame's most recent Stanley Cup season (Iginla's numbers have not been the same without him). Now ownership has recognized this and he's headed back there after they requested a trade with LA to get his chemistry back on the team.

But with all that being said, Daniel Briere is the most underrated player in the league. He could've been a player on anyone's team. Phoenix gave up on him (and gave him away), thinking that his potential would never be realized. Buffalo was smart enough to pick up on this mistake and trade away a pick to get him. He has done nothing but produce for them since they gave him a jersey. And now, not only has he set career highs in points and assists this year, but he is top 10 in the league in points, elected to start in his first all-star game, and awarded "Captain" by his coaches and teammates. And as he was named the All-Star Game's MVP, he was too humble to say anything about himself, instead talking mainly about his teammates. And even with his 1 goal and 4 assists in the game, people wondered why he was given MVP honors over a few others (this equals = "underrated"). One day he'll receive the praise he's due.

Answer 8

Answers are usually better if you pick per team. It's tough to say who it is for the whole league. One of the Penguins unsungs here in Pittsburgh it Maxime Talbot. He creates many things that do not ever get onto the scoresheet. He happened to score a shorty tonight so that got him there but one that even the announcers failed to mention was that he caused problems 1 shift before the 4th line scored a goal.

But if you look at the other answers here they are all good answers.

Answer 9

Mark Recchi, he should clearly be considered a future Hall of Famer but how often do you hear that talk of him. He plays his role, and does a good job of that, but because his role ISN'T the Superstar or the Franchise player people tend to overlook him as far as being on that level. Maybe he isn't the MOST Underrated, he is clearly underrated and has been most of his career. Considering how long he has played I think that gives him a chance at the title.

Answer 10

PJ Axelsson on the Bruins is a very smart player, he sees the ice well, and is a well rounded player. I might agree with you on this one.