Who is the most underrated player in NHL history?

Question

I say Ron Francis, no question. The man is a legend and no one knows who he is.

Answer 1

Nick Lidstrom

Answer 2

The most underrated player in NHL history? I will agree with you on Ron Francis, but how about this one: Mike Vernon.

Vernon played in an era where is consistency was well-known, but overshadowed by the likes of Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour, Grant Fuhr, and to a lesser extent, Andy Moog, Kelly Hrudey, and Glenn Healy. The man helped two teams to Stanley Cup finals (Calgary in 1986 and winning it all in 1989; Detroit in 1995 and winning it all in 1997). He won a Conn Smythe trophy for his efforts in 1997. Not only that, he was finally recognized by the Flames this season when is #30 was retired.

Another underrated performer to consider? Joe Nieuwendyk, who won three Cups with three different teams (Calgary, Dallas, and New Jersey), was a Calder winner, a Conn Smythe winner, a 1,000 point scorer, and a leader in every sense of the word.

Answer 3

I completely agree with you.

Just for fun, check out somebody's top 50 or top 100 all-time players lists. I always see these players listed as "better" than Francis: Marcel Dionne, Gil Perreault, and Paul Coffey.

Well maybe that's correct, I mean these players were in the top 10 all time scorers and Francis was not.

Whoops, that's not true.

Oh, but you do have to count Stanley Cups won. I mean Dionne and Perreault won....oh none. Zilch. Zero.

Yeah, but it's not always about points scored, defense counts too. And when you look at Selke trophies....

Oh, wait a minute.

I've always wondered how the "experts" making these lists have come up with this.

Answer 4

I will never get this "Ron Francis was underrated" business so long as I live. People have been saying that about him for so long that it simply is not true anymore. He played in the all-star game four times. Won the Lady Byng Trophy 3 times. Won the Selke Trophy once. Two Stanley Cups. He is in the top 10 all-time scorers list. He is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. No one is underrating this guy anymore. He hasn't been underrated by anyone in 15 years.

That said, I think the all-time most under-rated player is Guy Carbonneau. A three-time Selke winner who played in the league for 19 years... and he rarely even gets a sniff for the Hall, despite being out of the league for seven years. I think defensive players are highly underrated in the league in general, and this guy is the epitome of that trend. Bob Gainey made the Hall of Fame, back when this kind of player was valued. Why isn't Carbonneau, who is only one Selke trophy short and had better offensive numbers than Gainey?

Answer 5

I will agree with you on this one, and others on some other guys. However, taking a look at the top scorers of all-time, I see a name that nobody really, Stan Mikita, sitting at number 13 with 1,467 points from 1958 to 1980, 22 years. This guy spent his entire career in Chicago, and won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks the last time they did so in 1960, and won 4 scoring titles while never recording a 100 point season. To add it, he was only 5'9" and 169 pounds back in a day when the NHL was a much tougher league than it is today, which really puts into perspective just what this guy did, being such a small guy and yet still being able to put up points consistently every year. Sounds quite like a smaller version of Mats Sundin if you just look at the stats (of course you cannot because Mats actually uses his size). So my vote goes to Stan Mikita. Also, see Adam Oates at number 15 with 1,420 points for honourable mention here.

Answer 6

Dino Ciccerelli. Big goal totals, a unique man, and still no hall for Dino. Ron Francis is underrated, but anyone who knows hockey knows who Ronnie is. I can still picture him in the green Whalers sweater. The coolest player ever was Al Iafrate.

Answer 7

Malone, Denneny, and Ratelle are all contained in the Hockey hall of recognition. that isn't any longer a demonstration of being underrated. One call i'd throw out is one which exhibits up on television regularly. Ray Sheppard become not in any respect between the large names contained in the NHL nor become he a large movie star. yet a mild participant who toiled in anonymity generating better than his share of issues.

Answer 8

Thomas Holmstrom.Definitely not GRETSKY i think he is given too much credit.Holmstrom gets beat up every game but never falters and scores.There are many , many others but he's one I can think of off hand. SCOTT STEVENS,CICCARELLI,PROBERT, There are so many that don't get the credit they deserve

Answer 9

this is my underated all star team :ron francis,gary roberts,rod brindamour, yanic perrault,joe niewendyk,mark recchi,dave adreychuk,doug gilmour,tom barrasso,mike vernon,kris draper,mike fisher,larry murphy,matheiu schenider,tomas kaberle

Answer 10

Wayne Gretzky aka God