I don't think he is underrated here, but in general I think that Pekka Rinne is the most underrated / underappreciated athlete in all of sports right now.
He gets a lot of flak because his defensive game is so amazingly poor.
I think it's more because of how ridiculously hyped he is early in the season when all the leafs fans think he's going to be the #1 scorer and they're going to be a top seed in the playoffs. I keep thinking the next year they'll have learned their lesson, but alas...
I'd say most of the Kessel hate is backlash over that. He's still a great player though.
He gets a lot of flak because his defensive game is so amazingly poor.
Meh, It would be a bigger knock if he was a center but wingers can get away with being mediocre defensively, especially wingers who produce like Kessel.
Andy McDonald has 8 goals in 13 games since coming back from a major concussion, and a thread on him can't get more than ten replies. His current stats projects for 50+ goals in a full season, once the season is over it probably won't be as good, but still a very underrated performance.
Martin Erat is another one who keeps being good without being mentioned in threads like these. Radim Vrbata as well, althoug he has started to get some recognition lately.
Neal flourishing with his new team, Seguin barely 20 leading his team in points, Michalek finally healthy and performing under a new coaching system. From what I hear not too many people are praising these players dont know how theyre overrated. Your underrated list is good though.
No way Jamie Benn is overrated. It's like the same thing with Eriksson - nobody paid attention to him because he played on a ****** team in a non-traditional market. The fact that Benn made the all-star team probably exposed him a bit more to other teams' fans. Speaking of the stars, Ryder is also really underrated.
Eberle, regardless of his success, is still underrated. Like Benn, he plays on a ****** team, and doesn't have the "first overall" allure around him that Hall and RNH have. O'Reilly in Colorado is also really underrated - as he is constantly behind the more profiled centres in Duchene and Stastny.
No way Jamie Benn is overrated. It's like the same thing with Eriksson - nobody paid attention to him because he played on a ****** team in a non-traditional market. The fact that Benn made the all-star team probably exposed him a bit more to other teams' fans.
This I never heard of the guy till the All-Star break.
I think it's more because of how ridiculously hyped he is early in the season when all the leafs fans think he's going to be the #1 scorer and they're going to be a top seed in the playoffs. I keep thinking the next year they'll have learned their lesson, but alas...
I'd say most of the Kessel hate is backlash over that. He's still a great player though.
Stop generalizing Leaf nation. Not every fan thinks they are going to win the league after a solid start.. majority of us on the Leaf board expected us to fall back down to around 8th by this time of the year.
Underrated: Pavelec. Way better the his record says
Mikey Ryder: always been a fan. Def. Does not get enough praise.
Over rated: Pavel Datsyuk. He's never scored over a hundred points. Come close. But never got there. If you even mention his name around here...and everyone gasps with reverence like he's gods gift to hockey. I don't get it.
underrated
Kronwall-he'stied for 2nd in goals with Weber. Plus minus isn't that great.
Vrbata-Quietest 30 goal scorer in the league probably. He is a 20 and has 55 points.
Overrated -
The goalie tandem in St.louis. They're stats look nice but they don't play as many games as some of these other goalies. Who plays in the playoffs? Do you go with Elliot, the all-star or the goalie who has proved his worth in the playoffs already? Can Halak recapture his playoff form of a few years ago? It was the last great bit of goaltending along with last years from Thomas that I hadn't seen in a while.
Underrated: Pavelec. Way better the his record says
Mikey Ryder: always been a fan. Def. Does not get enough praise.
Over rated: Pavel Datsyuk. He's never scored over a hundred points. Come close. But never got there. If you even mention his name around here...and everyone gasps with reverence like he's gods gift to hockey. I don't get it.
You have obviously never watched Datsyuk play. No forward in the NHL offers the package of offensive instincts and defensive awareness he does. Not to mention hes a god in shootouts. No chance in hell Datsyuk is over rated.
Underrated: Kovalchuk. The guy has 64 points. Last year it was "OMG KOVALCHUK'S ALBATROSS CONTRACT HE'S NOT EVEN PPG" Now, you can hear a pin drop whenever his name comes up.
Overrated: Lundqvist. He's been the best goalie in the League, but now that he has a great team in front of him everyone is clamouring around him saying how amazing he is. Last year with Thomas "IT'S THE SYSTEM LOOK AT THOMAS' STYLE HE SUCKS."
I just want to give Jason Arnott a bit of props for the under-rated list.
He's putting up a solid enough offensive season(could hit 20 goals and 40 points) and has really been a major leader for the Blues off the ice. The Blues aren't where they are without Arnott.
