Boston Bruins: Chris Kelly and the 5 Most Underrated Players on the Team

The Boston Bruins have a deep roster of talent, but there are a number of guys whose contributions often go unnoticed.

Chris Kelly is just one of the veteran leaders on the Bruins who is so important to the team on and off the ice.

Let's look at the Bruins' five most underrated players who are vital to the team's success.

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Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.

Gregory Campbell

Gregory Campbell is a player every Stanley Cup team needs—a player who is physical, great defensively and can contribute some offense as well.

Campbell came to the Bruins before last season in the trade that also brought forward Nathan Horton from the Florida Panthers.

Campbell has been a fixture on the fourth line for the Bruins and never gives up on a play. He's also been a tremendous penalty killer for Boston.

Rich Peverley

Rich Peverley was a huge addition to the Bruins last year when he arrived in a trade from the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets).

Peverley is a speedy forward with great moves and can score goals with consistency.

He is often overlooked among the Bruins' best offensive players, but he is as dependable as they come.

When he filled in for Nathan Horton during Game 4 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks after Horton suffered a concussion, Peverley scored twice in a crucial 4-0 Bruins win.

Joe Corvo

Joe Corvo was brought in over the summer in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the defenseman has played well in his first month and a half in Boston.

Corvo is fourth on the Bruins with eight assists, which ranks ahead of players such as David Krejci, Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic.

Corvo has given the Bruins a veteran presence on defense and his offensive awareness has helped improve the power play.

He is quietly having a solid season thus far.

Johnny Boychuk

Johnny Boychuk is a very good defenseman who is having a solid season for the Bruins so far. He has five points on the year, tied for third on the team among defensemen.

Boychuk's offensive ability and physical play make him an important part of the defensive corps.

He is a free agent at the end of the season; the Bruins would be smart to extend his contract and keep him in Boston for the future.

Boychuk is second behind Zdeno Chara on the Bruins among defensemen with a 7 plus-minus rating.

Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly was a leader on the Ottawa Senators, and when the Bruins traded for him last season he was immediately a leader and a respected voice on the team.

During the Bruins' Stanley Cup run last season, Kelly scored some massive goals in the playoffs, especially in the first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Kelly is always well-positioned and excels as a defensive forward. His offense is also underrated, and he's not afraid to battle in front of the net for tough goals.

Kelly is sharing the second alternate captain role with Andrew Ference this season, and he is more than deserving of the "A" on his sweater.