With over 1,000 players appearing in at least one NHL game every season, it's easy for guys to fly under the radar as the superstars get recognition. But NHL.com has conducted its annual player poll, revealing which skaters are considered the most underrated by their fellow athletes.
Only two players got multiple votes from the poll of 27 NHLers, and those guys are getting a moment in the sun with this latest informal survey.
Sebastian Aho, Gustav Forsling ranked most underrated by player poll
The only skaters to receive more than one response from the poll were Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho with three votes, and Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling with two votes.
Aho has long been the best player on the Hurricanes, leading the team in scoring in every season but one dating all the way back to 2017-18. He generates an average of 76 points per 82-game season, with a career best of 89 points in 2023-24, and sits third in franchise history with 631 points in 677 total games played.
Take it from Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner who sung high praise for the Finnish forward, telling NHL.com that "Aho’s not new to the scene but I think people are really starting to realize who he is and how good he is. He’s been good for a long time but, maybe being in that market, maybe he’s not as well-known as he should be."
The advanced stats help paint the picture of what Aho contributes to Carolina beyond the scoresheet. When Aho was on the ice at 5-on-5 last season, the Hurricanes controlled possession of the puck 60.1% of the time, outshot the opponents by 102 SOG, and out-chanced them by 186.
Although, when the Hurricanes met the Panthers in the playoffs, the Canes' top line including Aho were effectively shut down thanks in part to stalwart defenseman Gustav Forsling -- the other most underrated player according to NHL.com's poll.
As a member of Florida's top pairing alongside Aaron Ekblad, the duo was consistently relied upon to thwart the offense of the top forwards in the league, including the likes of Connor McDavid during the Stanley Cup Final.
Turning again to advanced numbers reveals just how effective the top pairing was for the Panthers. Among all 62 defensive pairings with 500 or more minutes played together, Forsling and Ekblad ranked seventh in Corsi for (55.9%), eighth in scoring chances (55.7%), and ninth in percentage of shots on goal (55.9%). That just demonstrates how much the Panthers control the puck when Forsling is on the ice -- and that's not to mention his four straight 30-point seasons, or the fact that he's the highest scoring Panthers D-man dating back to 2021-22.
"Gustav Forsling has gotten a lot of credit and recognition over the last couple of years, but I still don't think people fully understand what he's capable of," teammate Sam Reinhart said. "To be able to share the ice with him, he masks so many problems that come up in a game. I still don't think people realize how good he is."
Puck Prose's picks for unsung heroes: Nico Hischier and Jake Sanderson
There are other skaters whose names did not come up in the player poll, but they nevertheless deserve a well-earned shoutout for their contributions.
The NHL is starting to pay attention to Nico Hischier and his accomplishments as the captain of the New Jersey Devils, but he still remains someone who deserves more recognition than he typically receives. For reference, NHL Network placed Hischier at the No. 40 spot in its list of the best NHL players right now, whereas Sportsnet left him off their Top 50 list entirely.
But Hischier brings a well-rounded and responsible style of game that the Devils depend upon night in and night out for his ability to create offense in addition to his highly-skilled defensive play. He averaged 20:23 TOI per game last season, which includes play in all situations, and an impressive faceoff percentage of 55.5% to boot. He quietly scored 35 goals in 75 games this past year, setting a new career high in that category.
On the back end, Ottawa Senators defender Jake Sanderson quickly established himself as their go-to guy on the blue line and has done so with little fanfare. But his breakout season last year should have turned more heads.
Sanderson, at age 23, offers everything a team could look for in their No. 1 defenseman. He is capable of chipping in on the scoresheet, driving an offensive rush, and effectively transitioning from one zone to the next whether it be via passes or taking the puck up himself. But more importantly, he plays big minutes including on the PK and knows how to keep opposing puck carriers at bay in the defensive zone.
With a personal best of 11 goals and 57 points in 80 games played last year, Sanderson has proven in just three seasons that he is capable of carrying a high degree of responsibility. As he continues to grow and develop, you can expect to hear his name more often.
It's easy to overlook the players who do the right thing behind the scenes on a nightly basis, but these four skaters have earned the right to be in the "most underrated NHLers" conversation.