Every NHL Team's Biggest Overachiever of 2011-12

Every year there are many NHL players who surprise us all by playing better than we thought they would, thus making them overachievers.

This year is no different, and while some of these players are just improving their skills and becoming better, many of them are playing way above their normal level of performance. One reason these guys could be overachieving is because they are in contract years and are looking to get paid.

Let's look at one player from each team that has overachieved this season.

Anaheim Ducks: Teemu Selanne

Despite battling injuries and being 41 years old, it's surprising to see Teemu Selanne lead the Anaheim Ducks in points when the team has young stars like Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry still developing and improving.

Boston Bruins: Zdeno Chara

There aren't many players overachieving on the Bruins.  In fact, there are several Boston players underachieving right now.

Zdeno Chara, however, is on pace to have one of the best offensive seasons of his career. If he continues at his current pace, he'll end up with 50 points, which would be the second-most of his career, and he's 34 years old.

Buffalo Sabres: Jason Pominville

Jason Pominville isn't overachieving by much, and to be honest there aren't really any overachievers on the Buffalo Sabres right now.  But their captain is on pace for 74 points, which would be the second-highest total of his career.

He's only racked up more than 70 points just once in his career (2007-08).

Calgary Flames: Olli Jokinen

Olli Jokinen has led the Calgary Flames in scoring for much of the season and is on pace to achieve 60 points for the first time since 2008.

He is an unrestricted free agent and is certainly motivated to perform well so he can earn a nice contract in the summer.

Carolina Hurricanes: Juri Tlusty

Juri Tlusty has never scored more than 16 points in his brief NHL career, but this season he has racked up 31 without a ton of talent around him with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Chicago Blackhawks: Ray Emery

Ray Emery is 15-9 with a 2.66 GAA this season as a backup goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks. Those are some pretty solid numbers for a 29-year-old goalie who hasn't played more than 30 NHL games since the 2007-08 season.

Colorado Avalanche: Ryan O'Reilly

At 21 years old, Ryan O'Reilly is leading the Colorado Avalanche in points with 51, and is on pace to score twice as many points as his career high.

Avalanche fans expected O'Reilly to improve this season, but I'm not sure they thought he would perform this well.

Columbus Blue Jackets: No One

The Columbus Blue Jackets have no one overachieving. Many of their top players such as Rick Nash, RJ Umberger and Vinny Prospal are underachieving and not playing to the level they should be.

The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the NHL and it's because very few of their player are performing at a normal pace.

Dallas Stars: Michael Ryder

MIchael Ryder never scored 30 goals with the Boston Bruins and only racked up 50 or more points once, but with the Dallas Stars this season, he already has scored 30 goals and has 53 points.

He's playing fantastic this season and probably a bit better than many expected him to with the Stars.

Detroit Red Wings: Valtteri Filppula

Detroit Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula has 57 points this season, which is only two behind team leader Pavel Datsyuk.

Filppula's career high in points was 40 until this season, and it's safe to say he's been a nice surprise for Detroit this season. His offense has been quite important given the injuries to several of the team's better forwards.

Edmonton Oilers: Jordan Eberle

Jordan Eberle is one of the better young players in the NHL, but I'm not sure that Edmonton Oilers fans expected him to be at a point-per-game pace in just his second full season at the pro level.

With 30 goals and 35 assists in 64 games, Eberle is ahead of schedule in his development and is quickly becoming a legitimate star.

Florida Panthers: Tomas Fleischmann

Tomas Fleischmann scored 51 points last year for the Washington Capitals and is on pace to break that mark this season with less talent around him on the Florida Panthers.

Fleischmann already has 49 points in 68 games for the Panthers, who are in the middle of a playoff race right now.

Los Angeles Kings: No One

The Los Angeles Kings don't really have anyone overachieving right now.  In fact, many of their players are performing worse than they should be this season. Dustin Penner is certainly one of those players.

Although goaltender Jonathan Quick is having a fantastic season, I wouldn't say he's overachieving since he's a talented young goaltender.

Montreal Canadiens: David Desharnais

David Desharnais is playing very well in his first full season with the Montreal Canadiens. He is second on the team in points with 52 and is well on his way for 45 or more assists.

Desharnais is a good young player but he wasn't expected to be in the top three in points for Montreal this season.

Minnesota Wild: Kyle Brodziak

Kyle Brodziak is fourth on the MInnesota Wild in points with 34 and is on pace to go well beyond his career high of 37 points.

With injuries to key forwards such as Mikko Koivu and Devin Setoguchi, the Wild should be thankful that Brodziak is overachieving this season.

Nashville Predators: Martin Erat

Very few players on the Nashville Predators are playing at a level beyond what they are capable of.  But if you want to nit-pick, Martin Erat is already at 49 points, which is right at his yearly average the last several seasons.

The Predators are certainly hoping Erat can continue his fine offensive play in the postseason.

New Jersey Devils: Johan Hedberg

When Martin Brodeur was struggling earlier this season, Johan Hedberg was able to give the Devils some solid performances.

He's 15-7 thus far and has a better save percentage and GAA than Brodeur. 

New York Islanders: PA Parenteau

PA Parenteau isn't overachieving that much, but in his second full NHL season he has 61 points in 69 games for the New York Islanders.

Parenteau is a fabulous young player, but I don't think Islanders fans thought he would be near a point-per-game pace this season.

New York Rangers: Martin Biron

With many of the New York Rangers players finally playing to the level that they are capable of, the team doesn't have many overachievers. 

However, backup goaltender Martin Biron has overachieved a bit this season with an 11-4-2 record. The Rangers aren't complaining though because for years Henrik Lundqvist hasn't had a capable backup.

Ottawa Senators: Milan Michalek

In 66 games last season, Milan Michalek score 18 goals and has 33 points. In 65 games this season, he has 32 goals and 51 points. 

The Ottawa Senators are thankful for his offensive outburst, but Michalek is certainly overachieving this year.

Philadelphia Flyers: Scott Hartnell

In 68 games this season, Scott Hartnell has scored a career-high 32 goals and has tied his career-high in points with 60.

The Philadelphia Flyers forward is a solid player, but he wasn't expected to dominate offensively like he has this season.

Phoenix Coyotes: Radim Vrbata

Radim Vrbata had never scored 30 goals in a season until this year, and is one of the primary reasons the Phoenix Coyotes are contending for a playoff spot this season. 

Vrbata has been one of the most consistent NHL forwards this season and is on pace to crush his career high.

Pittsburgh Penguins: James Neal

James Neal is a young player who was expected to improve this season, but I don't think anyone thought he would have over 30 goals and 30 assists through 68 games. 

It will be interesting to see if Neal can keep up his offensive production when Crosby returns.

San Jose Sharks: No One

The San Jose Sharks don't have many people playing beyond their talents right now, and injuries are playing a part in them not being as high in the standings as they would like.

If the Sharks can get healthy before the playoffs, they could make a deep run.

St. Louis Blues: Brian Elliott

Brian Elliott has been one of the biggest overachievers this season and is one of the major reasons the St. Louis Blues have the best record in the NHL right now.

His save percentage this year is more than 40 points better than last season, and his GAA is more than a point and a half better than last year.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Teddy Purcell

Through 67 games this season, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Teddy Purcell already has a career-high in points. 

With career highs in goals and assists this season, Purcell could shatter his career-highs by the time the season ends.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Joffrey Lupul

Before he was injured against the Boston Bruins recently, Joffrey Lupul was on a point-per-game pace with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His 67 points thus far are 14 more than he's ever had in an entire season.

Lupul was certainly going to improve this season, but I don't think Maple Leafs fans expected him to be as good as he's been this season.

Vancouver Canucks: Alexander Edler

Alexander Edler is greatly overachieving, but he is contributing more offensively than many Vancouver Canucks fans thought he would this season.

Edler already has set a career high in points through 69 games this year.

Washington Capitals: Dennis Wideman

Dennis Wideman was an All-Star this season, which many people did not predict would happen before the season.

Wideman has 43 points already and has been one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL this year. Wideman was expected to contribute a good number of points to the Capitals this season, but thus far he's exceeded expectations.

Winnipeg Jets: Blake Wheeler

Blake Wheeler has already broken his career high by 11 points this season and currently leads the Winnipeg Jets in scoring.

Wheeler has certainly overachieved this season, but the Jets will take it as they're in the middle of a playoff race right now.