NHL's 5 Most Underrated Players

The NHL is so full of young talent, it is ridiculous. There are stars such as Crosby, Ovechkin and Richards that fill the NHL with some intense excitement. Then there are the players that do the same, but seem to be passed along with no recognition or praise from the fans or critics. Here are five underrated NHL players.

5. Brent Seabrook

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Brent Seabrook #7 of the Chicago Black Hawks waits for a faceoff in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen

Seabrook was part of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup run last year and saying just a "part" is an understatement. He was over shadowed by Duncan Keith, who is one the best defenseman in the league. He does not get recognition for his ability to kill powerplays and throw up the occasional point. I think Seabrook would be a great top 4 defenseman on any team and I'm sure all 30 teams in the league would love to have him. 

Also "Hockey News" named him most underrated player in the NHL.

4. Derek Roy

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BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 11: Derek Roy #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at HSBC Arena on December 11, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Pittsburgh won 5-2. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Derek Roy has been with the Sabres since the 2003-2004 season and has never been considered a top-six forward. Roy has always been overlooked by fans, players and coaches and it isn't hard when you have played with forwards like Maxim Afinogenov, Danny Briere, Chris Drury and Thomas Vanek in front of you.

He has put up 383 points in 469 games and is an impressive +46 in his career. I think Roy is a guy who will always never be considered a "house hold name" and will just make him play better when people underestimate him.

3. Johan Franzen

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OTTAWA, CANADA - FEBRUARY 02: Johan Franzen #93 of the Detroit Red Wings skates hard into the offensive zone in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on February 2, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Imag

Sure, people know who Franzen is because of his ridiculous outbursts of goals occasionally, but whenever he does it people act surprised. He started his breakout around the end of the 2008 season when he broke Gordie Howe's record for most game winning goals in a month with six in March.

Other Red Wings records he owns are most playoff goals in a series with nine, consecutive playoff games with a point at 12, playoff games in a row with a goal at five, most goals in a single playoff season with 13, most game winning goals in a playoff year with five and most points in a playoff game with six last year verse the Sharks. He also owns an NHL record with most goals in a four-game series with nine!

Franzen is a 40 goal scorer and people haven't come to terms with that as it seems that everyone is always surprised when he has a good year or game. He also has been in my opinion the best player in the playoffs since 2006. He should get on the radar one of these days.  

2. Bobby Ryan

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ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 07: Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Honda Center on January 7, 2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Bobby Ryan has been one of the best natural goal scorers in the league since he was drafted by the Ducks of Anaheim in 2008. Ryan also made the U.S Olympic Team last year and earned himself a silver medal. He has scored at least 30 goals in his first two season and has 27 right now and will most likely break the 30 goal mark. He is only two goals away from his 100th. Not bad for his third year. 

A lot of the reason I think Ryan doesn't get as much attention as he deserves is because he plays in California, so a lot of games start at 10 P.M for the mid-western and eastern states. So therefore he doesn't get a lot of exposure with most people going to bed after watching their Eastern Conference teams. Ryan will eventually step out of the shadows if the Ducks can make a playoff run or two in the next couple of years.

1. Dustin Brown

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 24: Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Boston Bruins at Staples Center on January 24, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Dustin Brown has the same problem as Bobby Ryan as I mentioned on the previous slide. He plays in California. Brown has put up 287 points in 487 games. It also never hurts when you are a young captain of your team. He has been a solid 20-25 goal scorer through his career and usually puts up around 55 points a year which most players would love to do. 

Also he does more for his team by just being the natural leader that he really has become. There is a reason the Kings coach Terry Murray named him captain at the beginning of the 2008-2009 season. Just like Ryan he played on the U.S Olympic Team and earned a silver medal as he was an alternate captain for the team. Brown will be a big name one day just not as of now.