Here's a trio of active NHLers who're often underrated and overlooked in their exceptional skills
11-year NHL veteran left winger
Marco Sturm quietly excelled in San Jose and now Boston, a seven time 20+ goal scoring defensive-minded role player who's always IN the game
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Has excellent speed and puck-handling skills. Possesses great hockey sense and sees the ice very well. His speed makes him a special-teams weapon.
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http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/...player.cgi?137
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A notoriously strong skater, he is often referred to as "the fastest German on ice." His forays into the offensive zone are known as the "blitzkrieg". In the 1999 All-star game, Marco Sturm had the second best time to Peter Bondra in the fastest skater competition.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Sturm
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Speedy centre/right winger
Ian Laperriere is another great role player who languished in California for much of his 16-year NHL career, playing in 994 NHL games (to date), with 100+ PIM in 11 of his last 12 seasons (including this one); 6'1 200 lbs Lappy is well-liked by teammates and fans, is hard working and fast, an effective agitator
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ASSETS: Is a very hard worker and earns a lot of respect in standing up for his teammates. Has strong forechecking and penalty-killing skills. Tends to rattle his opponents with his in-your-face attitude.
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http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/...player.cgi?653
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Center
Daymond Langkow has 602 points in 939 NHL games (34 in 53 NHL playoff games) but that's misleading because he's been miscast as a top-line center when on a championship team he'd be an excellent third line center, not only does he do a lot of little things right, the aggressive, hard-working forward is clutch, raising his game when it matters most, having scored 42 NHL game-winning goals
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... an explosive scorer in junior who became a fine two-way player in the NHL... A reliable two-way player... his speed and anticipation helping Philly reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2000...
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http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/...p?player=10635
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ASSETS: Has the skill, speed and grit to compensate for a lack of size. Can produce great numbers in streaks.
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http://www.forecaster.ca/hockeynews/...layer.cgi?1151