Ranking the Most Underachieving NHL Players so Far in 2015-16
Underachievers are everywhere in the NHL. But in order to be classified as an underachiever, things must be expected from a player in the first place.
Whether it's a big-name player who isn't playing up to his potential, a high-earning free agent who is far from earning his dollars or a breakthrough player having a setback, these underachievers are playing below expectations during the 2015-16 season.
Some of those types of players find themselves out of the league—guys like Alexander Semin (pictured above) of the Montreal Canadiens and Cody Hodgson of the Nashville Predators—after terrible starts. They're not on the list. These spots are reserved for those still toiling and trying to make up for their poor performances so far.
Read on to see how the NHL's most disappointing players so far this season rank.
10. Justin Schultz, Pittsburgh Penguins
1 of 10
By the numbers: 45 games played, three goals, seven assists, 10 points, 59 shots, 5.1 shooting percentage
Contract: $3.9 million cap hit; one-year deal
Analysis
Justin Schultz was given a one-year prove-it deal in the offseason, and he proved undeserving of any more of the Edmonton Oilers' development time. The 25-year-old managed just 10 points in 45 games with the Oilers before being shipped off to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline.
After a pair of 30-plus-point seasons during which he earned almost half his points on the power play, Schultz has been held to a half dozen points on the man advantage and is on pace for fewer than 20 points total. Schultz is an unrestricted free agent next summer, so a team will be buying low.
9. Radim Vrbata, Vancouver Canucks
2 of 10
By the numbers: 57 games played, 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points, 183 shots, 6.6 shooting percentage
Contract: $5 million cap hit; final year of two-year deal
Analysis
Playing with the Sedin twins Henrik and Daniel last season, Radim Vrbata had a stellar year with the Vancouver Canucks after signing on as a free agent in the summer. He hit the 30-goal mark for the second time in his career, and his 63 points were the most of his 14 NHL seasons. The expectation was that the 34-year-old would pick up where he left off this year.
Instead, Vrbata has found himself on a line with kids Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi for most of the season and his production has suffered significantly. He's on pace for just 32 points, which would be his lowest full-season total since 2004.
8. Jiri Hudler, Florida Panthers
3 of 10
By the numbers: 55 games played, 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points, 82 shots, 12.5 shooting percentage
Contract: $4 million cap hit; final year of four-year deal
Analysis
Jiri Hudler had one of those unforgettable seasons last year. He found instant chemistry with linemates Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau and hit the 30-goal mark for the first time while accumulating 71 points in 76 games for the Calgary Flames. He won the Lady Byng Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player and looked like a lock to cash in big as a free agent this summer.
That future paycheck is looking like it will be much smaller than expected. Hudler is now a member of the Florida Panthers and is on pace to finish with fewer than 50 points and 13 goals—less than half the total tallies he netted last season.
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7. Evander Kane, Buffalo Sabres
4 of 10
By the numbers: 55 games played, 18 goals, 10 assists, 28 points, 228 shots, 7.9 shooting percentage
Contract: $5.25 million cap hit; fourth year of six-year deal
Analysis
It looks like things haven't changed much for Evander Kane, who is equal parts one of the most talented power forwards in the NHL and one of its most frustrating players. With a fresh start coming courtesy of a trade from the Winnipeg Jets to the Buffalo Sabres, the hope was Kane would excel with the rebuilding club and find his way back to the 30-goal mark.
Instead, Kane seems to have picked up where he left off with the Jets, breaking team rules and putting up mediocre numbers for his talents.
6. Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings
5 of 10
By the numbers: 64 games played, 15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points, 128 shots, 11.7 shooting percentage
Contract: $4.75 million cap hit; first year of four-year deal
Analysis
Gustav Nyquist showed steady progression for two seasons, scoring 28 goals in just 57 games in 2013-14 and then 27 tallies in his first full season a year ago, leading to a new four-year deal in the offseason. He was expected to power the Detroit Red Wings' secondary offense behind veterans Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
Things haven't been as easy for Nyquist this season. He is on pace to fall short of 20 goals and 45 points and is struggling to produce without Datsyuk or Zetterberg on his line. The team anticipated he'd be more of a driving force, but he's regressed.
5. David Backes, St. Louis Blues
6 of 10
By the numbers: 66 games played, 16 goals, 19 assists, 35 points, 135 shots, 11.9 shooting percentage
Contract: $4.5 million cap hit; final year of five-year deal
Analysis
Excluding the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, it has been a while since St. Louis Blues captain David Backes had a point total under 50. He's on pace for just 43 this season, which would be his lowest 72-plus-game output since his sophomore year. Backes isn't a top-end point producer but can be counted on for about 25 goals and close to 60 points and won't get close to that this year without a killer finish.
Backes is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but he hasn't done anything to place himself at the top of the pack of available players July 1.
4. Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning
7 of 10
By the numbers: 51 games played, 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, 124 shots, 8.9 shooting percentage
Contract: $3.33 million cap hit; second year of three-year deal
Analysis
It isn't the diminutive Tyler Johnson's current contract that led to the great expectations placed upon the Tampa Bay Lightning center ahead of this season; it was the breakout 72-point season he enjoyed last year as part of one of the most potent scoring lines in the NHL. Alongside fellow Triplets Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat, Johnson nearly hit the 30-goal mark and averaged just under a point per game while helping the Bolts reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Fast-forward to this year, and Johnson is looking like a possible one-year wonder. He isn't nearly as effective at finding space as a smaller player (at 5'8" and 185 pounds), and the result has been more shots from outside the best scoring areas. His shooting percentage is way down and his effectiveness even on the power play has been neutralized. He set the bar high last year showing he can have a big impact.
3, Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators
8 of 10
By the numbers: 64 games played, 10 goals, 34 assists, 44 points, 154 shots, 6.6 shooting percentage
Contract: $4 million cap hit, second year of three-year deal
Analysis
Ryan Johansen's rise to stardom was rapid. He scored 33 goals in his first full NHL season two years ago and had 26 last season as part of a 71-point campaign. His fall this year has been almost as steep. Not only did he find himself benched during games as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets this season after new head coach John Tortorella took over, but he became trade bait.
His new start in Nashville as a member of the Predators has been disappointing as well. He's only managed a pace of 13 goals and 56 points. The 23-year-old former fourth overall draft pick is having some trouble with his shooting this season, firing well below his average shooting percentage.
2. Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
9 of 10
By the numbers: 64 games played, 20 goals, 22 assists, 42 points, 208 shots, 9.6 shooting percentage
Contract: $8 million cap hit; second year of eight-year deal
Analysis
After a down season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014-15, Phil Kessel was a can't-miss 40-goal candidate after his trade from the Leafs to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he would get the opportunity to snipe alongside centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
But things have not been stellar in the Steel City, and Kessel is on pace for fewer than 30 goals for the second year in a row after five straight non-lockout seasons with at least that total. He has found some chemistry with Malkin, but his lengthy stretches of goal slumps are a big reason why the Pens started the year so slowly and are still battling for a wild-card spot this late in the season.
1. Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers
10 of 10
By the numbers: 60 games played, 10 goals, 38 assists, 48 points, 177 shots, 5.6 shooting percentage
Contract: $4.25 million cap hit; final year of four-year deal
Analysis
Jakub Voracek has been a massive disappointment for the Philadelphia Flyers this season. He had a career year two seasons ago to jump into the elite group of NHL forwards with 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 82 games. Voracek parlayed that into a fat contract extension worth $66 million over eight years, starting next season.
But his play this year has plummeted, and maybe it was the pressure of the new contract taking its mental toll. The 26-year-old is on pace for 13 goals and 63 points thanks to a sluggish start that saw him go without a goal and earn just four assists through the first 16 games. He hasn't looked consistently like a point-per-game player worthy of an $8.25 million cap hit.
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