Most Underrated Players

[GentlemanOfLeisure]

Mark Tinordi and Craig Ludwig. 2 great defensive defenseman.

 

[#2eddieshore]

I think Luc Robitaille, the highest scoring left winger of all time is underrated and agree that so is Milan Hejduk.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Andy Bathgate's a good one. His stats are on par with Frank Mahovlich and his teams weren't as strong.

This'll sound strange but I actually think Gordie Howe is a tad underrated. A lot of people my age (24) snicker at the notion that he was as good or better than Gretzky or Lemieux. I often hear him written off simply because he never scored 50 goals. Orr and Richard still carry some respect amongst younger hockey fans, possibly because they were quite flashy. But, IMO, Gordie Howe's 20 consecutive seasons in the top 5 of scoring ( ) is the most impressive accomplishment in all of pro sports.

I agree. Gordie Howe is clearly the second greatest player of all time behind Wayne Gretzky when you look at what he accomplished. He was truly amazing and so many people don't realize or forget.

 

[Know Your Enemy]

How can a player be underrated when everybody thinks he's underrated?

Ron Francis is not underrated!!!!!

 

[tinyzombies]

Mike Liut always seemed underrated to me. When he was on, he was unbeatable. Kinda like a standup Roberto Luongo.

 

[Ogopogo*]

Mike Liut always seemed underrated to me. When he was on, he was unbeatable. Kinda like a standup Roberto Luongo.

Agreed. Liut was very good.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

Agreed. Liut was very good.

i AGREE, Liut was a very good goaltender on some decent teams and some poor ones, but never a consistently good one.. As such, I think he is largely forgotten, as is the case with most good goaltenders from the offensive era known as the 1980's. Unless you were the goalie on a cup winning team, you don't often get much recognition . I hardly remember Don Edwards, but I know I saw him stand on his head a few times..

 

[Marcus-74]

Mike Liut always seemed underrated to me. When he was on, he was unbeatable.

I guess he wasn´t "on" in Canada Cup´81 final, eh?

Okay, that was a bit too easy. Judging by that one game, Gretzky and many others weren´t so great either.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Milan Hejduk

 

[Big Phil]

Mike Liut always seemed underrated to me. When he was on, he was unbeatable. Kinda like a standup Roberto Luongo.

He never quite got the props he deserved. Liut was always a solid goalie. Unfortuanately he never got forgiven for what happened in the 8-1 whitewashing of Canada Cup '81 vs. the Russians. The '81 were the best team the Russians ever sent IMO and it wasnt just him but the whole team that played poorly! I mean Guy Lafleur let Larionov (I think) walk in all alone on Liut short handed!

But like I said he was still a good goalie. He had 294 wins and was a first team all-star in '81 and second in '87. He actually won the Pearson Trophy over Gretzky in '81 if you can believe it. But sadly he's remembered for his "Bill Buckner" game in '81.

Wow I never knew that about Howe that he was top 5 in scoring for 20 years. I checked and its true as well. That is incredible. Even Gretzky only went 12 or so years like that. Hard to believe Howe was 40 and he got 103 points.

Another guy who is often forgotten is "nifty" Rick Middleton. Put up over 100 points twice. Played in three Cup finals. Could argue he is HOF material.

Marcel Dionne is often a guy I think about too. Look at his highest point totals. 137, 135, 130, 126, 122, 121, 117, 107. He had 100 points eight times! And 90 or more four other times. Incredible. But he only has one Art Ross and two Pearson Trophies to show for it. No Cups either. But what a career, holy macarol!

 

[AG9NK35DT8*]

I would say of the top f my head...

-Hejudk
-Tanguay
-Scatchard - very under-rated, probably one of the biggest if not the biggest underarated guys around.

 

[Malefic74]

Mike Liut always seemed underrated to me. When he was on, he was unbeatable. Kinda like a standup Roberto Luongo.

Got me thinking about my 80s brethren:

Pete Peeters, Murray Bannerman, Dan Bouchard, Kelly Hrudey, Richard Brodeur, Don Beaupre, Bob Mason and Allan Bester.

 

[Porn*]

Glen Anderson, Darcy Tucker, Scott Thornton

 

[Ogopogo*]

Got me thinking about my 80s brethren:

Pete Peeters, Murray Bannerman, Dan Bouchard, Kelly Hrudey, Richard Brodeur, Don Beaupre, Bob Mason and Allan Bester.

I would add Al Jensen and, despite being a HOFer, Grant Fuhr is very underrated too.

 

[ProctorSilex]

Darcy Tucker

Underrated how? I don't understand how someone can be underrated when they're a total jackass on and off the ice. Matter of fact he's gotten more attention than he ever should because of the BS he pulls.

 

[Porn*]

Underrated how? I don't understand how someone can be underrated when they're a total jackass on and off the ice. Matter of fact he's gotten more attention than he ever should because of the BS he pulls.

how is he a jackass on and off the ice?

He plays hard every single game... he's a great role model off the ice as a father and as a player.

He plays with determination at both ends of the ice... he's gritty... has some offensive qualities and manages to get under the opponents skin. Yet, no one ever says anything good about him... always bad.

 

[ProctorSilex]

He's constantly losing his temper like an idiot, screaming at the refs and other players like he can actually back it up. He has minimal offensive skill, he's a liability defensively. Only thing he does is hit people from behind or low at the knees like a jerk.

Tampa Bay and Montreal wanted no part of him, so how does he become an underrated star in Toronto?

 

[Porn*]

He's constantly losing his temper like an idiot, screaming at the refs and other players like he can actually back it up. He has minimal offensive skill, he's a liability defensively. Only thing he does is hit people from behind or low at the knees like a jerk.

Tampa Bay and Montreal wanted no part of him, so how does he become an underrated star in Toronto?

Well... he doesn't constantly lose his temper. He doesn't usually scream at the refs... I think your anti-Toronto setiment is leaking a little too much.

Minimal offense...granted, but he isn't meant to play a huge offensive game. Considering he's played 3/4 line his entire stay in toronto... his numbers are great.

Year Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GW GT SOG Pct
2001 TOR 77 24 35 59 24 92 7 2 0 3 5 0 124 .194
2002 TOR 77 10 26 36 -7 119 4 4 1 0 2 0 108 .093
2003 TOR 64 21 11 32 4 68 8 4 1 0 2 0 146 .144


His defense is solid, hence he plays on our 2nd PK unit sometimes...

he's a player people hate to play vs. but wish they had...

 

[Coffey77]

Steve Larmer and Dirk Graham come to mind for me. Mike Ramsey was a pretty solid defensive defenseman too.

 

[ProctorSilex]

Well... he doesn't constantly lose his temper. He doesn't usually scream at the refs... I think your anti-Toronto setiment is leaking a little too much.

Minimal offense...granted, but he isn't meant to play a huge offensive game. Considering he's played 3/4 line his entire stay in toronto... his numbers are great.

Year Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG PPA SHG SHA GW GT SOG Pct
2001 TOR 77 24 35 59 24 92 7 2 0 3 5 0 124 .194
2002 TOR 77 10 26 36 -7 119 4 4 1 0 2 0 108 .093
2003 TOR 64 21 11 32 4 68 8 4 1 0 2 0 146 .144


His defense is solid, hence he plays on our 2nd PK unit sometimes...

he's a player people hate to play vs. but wish they had...

Why do all Leaf fans think it's always an anti-Toronto sentiment? I like a lot of Leaf players and don't have any built up jealousy if that's what you're thinking. Darcy Tucker is just a joke, and if you think he has no temper and makes himself look like a fool all the time, you need to watch more without the blue and white glasses on.

For a guy of such "defensive" skills, why are his plus minus ratings so low for the last 2 years? I wouldn't want him being a checking forward on my team, that's for damn sure.

 

[BM67]

I'd say all of the other Selke contenders from the "Gainey Era" are underrated. Ramsay and Luce were great on the PK. Buffalo had a better PK record than Montreal through the "Ramsay Era".

Gainey wasn't a unanimous Selke winner. He averaged just under 57% of unanimous. 77-78: 159/270= 58.9%; 78-79: 170/255=66.7%; 79-80: 184/315= 58.4%; 80-81: 142/315= 45.1% Ramsay received more Selke voting points from 81 through 85 than Gainey, 367 to 348.

 

[Porn*]

Why do all Leaf fans think it's always an anti-Toronto sentiment? I like a lot of Leaf players and don't have any built up jealousy if that's what you're thinking. Darcy Tucker is just a joke, and if you think he has no temper and makes himself look like a fool all the time, you need to watch more without the blue and white glasses on.

For a guy of such "defensive" skills, why are his plus minus ratings so low for the last 2 years? I wouldn't want him being a checking forward on my team, that's for damn sure.

your a waste of my time...

anyone care to explain why the +/- stat is meaningless?

 

[ProctorSilex]

Why don't you tell me why it's so meaningless considering it shows his defensive capabilities?

 

[Porn*]

Why don't you tell me why it's so meaningless considering it shows his defensive capabilities?

first off... it speaks of his line. Secondly... if he got on the ice a second prior to a goal being scored or being scored against... his +/- would fluctuate. The +/- statistic is very poor at guaging a players defensive ability.

As well, the +/- doesn't take into account time on the PP or PK, which would further show the coaches trust in his abilities.

 

[ProctorSilex]

Yes, his low +/- ratings are all due to the team and coach, and all those people with high ratings like Bobby Orr had are just lucky they jumped on the ice that split second...

Well put.