NHL's Top 10 Quiet Goal Scorers

With the exception of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, most offensive stars in the NHL are able to go about their business quietly.

The annual NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas has helped to shed some light on the unsung heroes, but there are still plenty of players who produce at an alarming pace while getting seemingly no recognition.

Whether it is the general lack of attention hockey receives in America or the quiet nature of some of hockey's biggest stars, NHL stars fail to get attention.

Let's take a look at the top 10 quiet goal scorers in the NHL.

Eric Staal

Playing in a relatively weak hockey market, Eric Staal doesn't get the credit he deserves. Staal has had 70 or more points in each of his six seasons since the lockout.

Furthermore, he continues to be a strong leader for a Carolina team that contends for the playoffs more often than not. Eric Staal manages to do all of this while maintaining a low profile across the league.

Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne is a prolific scorer and has been since he entered the league more than 20 years ago.

Injuries have always been an issue, and his age is starting to catch up with him, but Selanne is still a point per game player.

Many people think that since Selanne is nearing the end of his career that he is no longer the scorer that he has always been. That notion is far from the truth.

Playing behind the best line in the NHL keeps Teemu from getting his respect.

Thomas Vanek

Buffalo has been a pretty subpar offensive team over the past few seasons. That has caused Thomas Vanek's production to go a bit unrecognized. Vanek had a down year in 2009-2010 but bounced back with 73 points a year ago.

Vanek has always been good for 60 points and is starting to prove that he can carry the offensive load for the Sabres when given some help.

Jarome Iginla

People are starting to write off Jarome Iginla as if he is on his final legs. Considering the 86 points he scored a season ago, Iginla is not done.

If the Calgary Flames trade Jarome Iginla to a contender this season, they will be missing out on the three to four 70-point seasons Iginla has left in the tank. Iginla would certainly get his recognition if he got back into the playoffs.

Patrick Sharp

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane get all of the attention in Chicago. There aren't too many Patrick Sharp jerseys floating around, but after that last season, perhaps there should be.

Sharp had 71 points during the 2010-2011 season, in which he played in only 74 games. Last season was the third 60-point year Sharp has had. Unfortunately, he flies under the radar in Chi Town.

Bobby Ryan

Bobby Ryan gets pegged as the third wheel on the incredible Getzlaf, Ryan and Perry trio. However, Ryan is big part of the three Ducks' success. He scored over 70 points last season and came up huge when Getzlaf was out of the lineup.

Ryan certainly benefits from playing with two all-stars, but his talent is undeniable. Ryan is not quiet on Twitter, though, and his followers are all happy about that.

Phil Kessel

Some may scoff at the idea of any Toronto Maple Leaf being able to fly under the radar, but Phil Kessel has done so since his arrival.

For starters, Kessel has been a consistent player with 55 and 64 points in his two seasons in Toronto. Considering the talent around him, that is an impressive output. 

Add to that the fact that the consensus is the Bruins ripped off the Maple Leafs in that trade, and Phil Kessel is vastly underrated.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash does not put up staggering numbers, but that doesn't mean that the Blue Jackets captain is not an elite scorer in the NHL.

Nash is a power forward, which is a style of play that does not lend itself to a tremendous amount of offensive production in most instances.

So, the fact that Nash consistently puts up 60 points is impressive. Not to mention, Nash plays in Columbus and has surrounded by lackluster players his entire career.

Now that Nash has a legitimate linemate, expect his point totals to soar. And he won't say a word about it.

Martin St. Louis

Martin St. Louis has never gotten the credit he deserves. Whether he is playing second fiddle to Steven Stamkos or Vinny Lecavalier, or getting knocked for his lack of size, St. Louis always seems to fly under the radar.

Meanwhile, St. Louis has had five consecutive seasons with at least 80 points. While everyone else is busy getting recognition, St. Louis has been quietly producing.

Pavel Datsyuk

Pavel Datsyuk has a legion of supporters who consider him the best player in the NHL. However, in the grand scheme of things, Datsyuk's production and impact are often overlooked.

Datsyuk is supremely talented as both a playmaker and a scorer. Injuries derailed his 2010-2011 campaign, but you can bank on Datsyuk being back among the league leaders again this upcoming season.