who was/is the most underrated NHL player ever? you can name more than one if you want.
2007-03-11 16:41:38 · 15 answers · asked by Joe B 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
I agree with Ron Francis, he never will get his full credit for an incredibly productive career.
Mike Gartner - 700+ career goals would be another.
With the creation of the Frank Selke trophy, many of those 3rd line defensive specialists are now being given their due so fewer slip through the cracks.
Henri Richard - 11 cups was he good or lucky? Everybody talks about the Rocket but this guy was a solid contributor for years.
Borje Salming - no cups, no awards, tough, hard working and dedicated. A stand out on those horrible Ballard Leaf teams.
2007-03-12 06:31:35 · answer #1 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's easy - Ron Francis.
Not underrated in the sense that he will not make the Hall of fame, or he wasn't recognized or true hockey fans didn't know who he was....BUT
Just for fun look at a book, article or Internet web site that ranks the top 100 players of all time.
And sure, Francis will be on the list. Not the problem.
The "underrated" part comes when you see WHERE these people that supposedly know Hockey rank him.
Always, always, ALWAYS below players like Coffey, Dionne, and Gil Perreault.
Which makes no sense because:
1. These players are celebrated for their offense, but Francis had almost as many points or more.
2. Perreault and Dionne NEVER won a Stanley Cup.
3. Francis was outstanding defensively, those 3, well let's just say they "weren't as good".
4. Coffey was on like 10 different teams. Sure, that in itself means nothing, but those teams didn't get better once they acquired him. Not so when Carolina acquired Francis.
Sometimes I just don't get these "experts".
2007-03-12 00:27:10 · answer #2 · answered by clueless_nerd 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hell's Kitchen's own, Joe Mullen.
The NHL did recognize his achievements with a HOF nod, but Mullen largely flew under the radar, never getting much public or media acclaim.
He was one of the NHL's truest 'pure' goal scorers in the mold of a Mike Bossy. Always a gamer and a terrific, low-key guy who never ruffled anything other than the back of the twine.
Oh, and by the way, he put up 500 goals, 1000 points, 1000 games and 3 cups.
2007-03-12 01:12:57 · answer #3 · answered by zapcity29 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can't really think of any from the past because if they were good enough then at some point they got alot of recognition. As for the "is"- maybe someone that is great defensively (guys like Gainey, Carboneau got their press in the day) I would say like Madden from NJ or maybe Perreault just because he is the best face-off man in the NHL and couldn't even get a deal at the start of the year.
2007-03-12 00:04:14 · answer #4 · answered by Bob Loblaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of the past is Ron Francis. I think current player is probably Mark Recchi.
To the one saying about Brodeur anyone who knows the NHL puts him up as one of the top Goalies. He ISN'T underrated.
2007-03-12 07:53:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone who ever played center on the 3rd line. These are the guys good enough to hold onto the job but not quite good enough to light the lamp consistantly. Few goals = little recognition.
These guys always have speed and energy, you never see the third line take a night off. They kill the penalties and block shots. That said, who is one of the best 3rd line centers?
Kris Draper!!!
2007-03-12 08:53:08 · answer #6 · answered by Pooky Bear the Sensitive 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sergei Brylin. "Sarge" was a key component of all three Stanley Cups won in '95, '00, amd '03. The guy is a great player who rarely gets any credit. He's versatile playing C. LW, RW. He's unselfish and brings endless work ethic. He's the kind of player Lou Lamoriello dreams about, he's a winner in every sense of the word
2007-03-12 11:35:58 · answer #7 · answered by StanleyCupNJ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well the most underrated player i believe would be ever in the NHL would have to be Ron Francis. Francis stands second all-time in career assists behind Wayne Gretzky with 1,249, fourth in career points (1,798), third in games played (1,731), and twenty-first in career goals (549).
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
2007-03-12 02:38:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats easy. Mike Gartner. C'mon, the guy scored every year and every place he played. What more would you like from the guy? Its not like the Caps had another decent players to key on, you would think they would have been on Gartner like "white on rice". But he still managed to score..and score...and score.
2007-03-12 17:01:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anthony D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul Stasny in the begining of the season
2007-03-12 22:34:08 · answer #10 · answered by Meghan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋