Why the underrated NHL players 2025 season deserves more attention

The NHL has always been a league where superstars dominate headlines, but lurking beneath the surface of Connor McDavid highlights and Auston Matthews goal compilations exists an entire tier of talent that rarely receives its due recognition. As the 2025 season unfolds, identifying these underrated players has become more than just an academic exercise—it’s essential to understanding the true landscape of hockey excellence in today’s game.

When NHL.com recently conducted its annual player poll asking who among their peers flies most under the radar, the results revealed something fascinating: even professional hockey players struggle to pinpoint who’s truly underrated. With over 1,000 players appearing in at least one NHL game every season and the spotlight firmly fixed on marquee names, exceptional talents continue to operate in relative obscurity, delivering elite performances night after night without the fanfare their production warrants.

Sebastian Aho leads the underrated NHL players 2025 season conversation

When 27 NHL players were polled about the most underrated talent in the league, Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho emerged as the clear frontrunner with three votes. This recognition from his peers speaks volumes about a player who has quietly established himself as one of the game’s premier two-way centers.

The 28-year-old Finn has been the Hurricanes’ best player for nearly a decade, leading the team in scoring in all but one season since 2017-18. Yet somehow, despite averaging 76 points per 82-game season and posting a career-high 89 points in 2023-24, Aho remains overshadowed by flashier names in bigger markets. His 631 points in 677 career NHL regular-season games place him third in franchise history, while his playoff resume includes 85 points in 89 postseason games and three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner captured the paradox perfectly when he noted, “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 Carolina market, while passionate, doesn’t provide the same amplification as Toronto, New York, or Montreal would offer a player of Aho’s caliber.

Advanced statistics reveal the full picture of Aho’s dominance. Last season at 5-on-5, when Aho was on the ice, the Hurricanes controlled possession 60.1% of the time, outshot opponents by 102 shots on goal, and out-chanced them by 186 scoring opportunities. These numbers demonstrate that Aho doesn’t just put up points—he fundamentally tilts the ice in his team’s favor every time he steps over the boards.

With Aleksander Barkov sidelined for the 2025-26 season due to a knee injury, Aho may finally step out of the shadows as Finland’s most important forward heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sometimes it takes an unfortunate circumstance for the spotlight to find players who have deserved it all along.

Gustav Forsling’s defensive mastery defines underrated NHL players 2025 season success

While Aho garnered the most votes in the player poll, Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling claimed second place with two votes—a remarkable achievement for a player whose contributions have been essential to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships yet still don’t generate widespread recognition beyond Florida.

Forsling’s role as the defensive conscience of the Panthers’ top pairing alongside Aaron Ekblad cannot be overstated. Game after game, the duo draws the assignment of shutting down opponents’ most dangerous forwards, a task they’ve executed with remarkable consistency. During the Stanley Cup Finals against Edmonton, Forsling was tasked with neutralizing Connor McDavid, widely considered the best player in hockey, and succeeded in limiting the Oilers’ captain’s impact.

“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,” Panthers forward Sam Reinhart explained. “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.”

The numbers support Reinhart’s assessment. Among all 62 defensive pairings with 500 or more minutes played together last season, Forsling and Ekblad ranked seventh in Corsi for percentage (55.9%), eighth in scoring chances (55.7%), and ninth in percentage of shots on goal (55.9%). These statistics reveal how dramatically the Panthers control play when Forsling is on the ice—a testament to his positioning, gap control, and decision-making.

Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark didn’t hesitate when naming his choice for most underrated player, citing Forsling’s work against elite competition. “He’s been part of a team that has won the Stanley Cup twice and there is still not a lot of talk about [him] being a top 50 player in the NHL after shutting down the best hockey player in the whole wide world and [he] always play against the very best,” Ullmark observed.

Beyond his defensive prowess, Forsling has posted four consecutive 30-point seasons, making him the Panthers’ highest-scoring defenseman dating back to 2021-22. The combination of offensive production and defensive reliability should place him in conversations about the league’s elite defensemen, yet he remains conspicuously absent from those discussions.

Hidden gems among the underrated NHL players 2025 season breakout candidates

While Aho and Forsling received multiple votes in the player poll, 22 other players earned individual mentions, revealing just how deep the pool of underappreciated talent runs throughout the league. These names represent different stages of career development, from established veterans flying under the radar to young players on the cusp of stardom.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen continues to operate in relative anonymity despite consistently elite performance. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger made the case for his teammate, stating, “I think if he was in New York or a Canadian market, he would be in the top three for the Norris every year. People don’t see what I get to see every night. I think if he was in a different market he would get talked about in the same sentence as guys like Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox.”;

Thomas Harley, Heiskanen’s defensive partner in Dallas, earned recognition after a late addition to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off turned into a tournament championship. The 24-year-old averaged over 20 minutes per game and showcased the complete skill set that makes him dangerous. “I think he always seems to make the right play, and he’s a good skater, and he’s got a good offensive touch,” Islanders forward Mathew Barzal noted. “He’s got a bit of everything. I think he’s a stud.”

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier represents the frustrating reality of market dynamics in professional sports. Despite bringing a well-rounded, responsible style of play that the Devils depend upon nightly, Hischier averaged 20:23 of ice time in all situations last season while posting 35 goals in 75 games—a career high. Yet NHL Network ranked him just 40th in their list of best current players, and Sportsnet excluded him from their Top 50 entirely. His 55.5% faceoff percentage and ability to excel in all situations make him invaluable, but the recognition doesn’t match the production.

Logan Cooley of the Utah Mammoth caught the attention of Devils forward Jack Hughes, who predicted big things ahead. “I think Logan Cooley’s probably pretty underrated,” Hughes said. “Maybe not the most underrated, but a guy I like watching and I think is going to be a really good player. He’s probably going to get a lot of love in the next few years.” After posting 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists) in 75 games during just his second season, Cooley’s offensive creativity and playmaking ability suggest Hughes might be onto something.

Young defensive stars shaping the underrated NHL players 2025 season narrative

Defense tends to be the position where talented players most easily slip through the cracks of mainstream recognition, and the 2025 season features several young blueliners who deserve far more attention than they’re receiving.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson quickly established himself as the team’s go-to defender on the back end, shouldering major responsibilities with minimal fanfare. At just 23 years old, Sanderson offers everything a franchise could want from its number-one defenseman—offensive ability, transition skills, penalty-killing prowess, and defensive reliability. His career-best 11 goals and 57 points in 80 games last season demonstrated his growing offensive confidence, while his ability to play big minutes against top competition showed his maturity.

Sanderson excels at driving offensive rushes, transitioning smoothly from zone to zone whether via crisp passes or carrying the puck himself. His defensive positioning keeps opposing forwards at bay, and he’s proven capable of handling the pressure that comes with being a team’s most-relied-upon defender. As he continues developing, expect his name to surface more frequently in conversations about the league’s elite young defensemen.

The emergence of players like Sanderson highlights an important reality about identifying underrated talent: sometimes the best players are those doing the thankless work that doesn’t generate highlight-reel moments. Blocked shots, perfect gap control, smart chip-outs under pressure—these elements of defensive excellence rarely trend on social media but form the foundation of winning hockey.

Fantasy sleepers and underrated NHL players 2025 season value propositions

The overlap between underrated NHL players and fantasy hockey sleepers provides another lens through which to identify overlooked talent. Players who consistently produce without widespread recognition often represent tremendous value in fantasy leagues, where savvy managers can exploit market inefficiencies.

Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks epitomizes this category. Despite being one of the NHL’s most consistent goal scorers, Boeser operates without fanfare, quietly delivering production year after year. His elite shot, hockey sense, and ability to find open spaces make him a constant threat on the power play and at even strength. Fantasy managers who overlook Boeser in favor of trendier names often regret it when he posts another 30-35 goal season.

Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild represents another player whose steady excellence deserves more attention. His combination of size, skill, and hockey IQ allows him to contribute in multiple ways, making him both a reliable fantasy option and an underrated player in the broader hockey landscape. Players like Boldy demonstrate that “underrated” doesn’t always mean unknown—sometimes it simply means undervalued relative to actual impact.

Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets offers intriguing upside for those willing to invest in a young player still establishing his role. His playmaking vision and offensive instincts suggest higher production levels are coming as he gains experience and potentially earns increased ice time. Similarly, Zachary Bolduc’s impressive rookie campaign with 19 goals positions him as a potential breakout candidate if given opportunity alongside Montreal’s young, talented forward group.

For fantasy managers and hockey observers alike, these players represent the sweet spot: established production without the premium price tag that comes with widespread recognition. Understanding player performance metrics can help identify which underrated players are positioned for increased roles and production.

The market effect on underrated NHL players 2025 season recognition

A recurring theme when discussing underrated players is the undeniable impact of market size on player recognition. Heiskanen in Dallas, Aho in Carolina, and Forsling in Florida—all three would command significantly more attention if they played in Toronto, New York, Montreal, or Chicago. This market bias creates a systematic undervaluation of talent that plays in smaller or non-traditional hockey markets.

The media landscape amplifies this disparity. Canadian networks provide wall-to-wall coverage of the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, and other Canadian franchises, while major American networks focus on large-market teams. A 30-goal season in Edmonton generates more headlines than a 35-goal season in Arizona. A defenseman making a great play in New York trends on social media, while the same play in Carolina goes largely unnoticed beyond local fans.

This reality doesn’t diminish the accomplishments of players in major markets—it simply means that equally talented players elsewhere must work harder for recognition. Quinn Hughes captured this philosophical dilemma perfectly when asked about underrated players at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour: “There’s so many good players. If you answer the guy’s underrated, then is he underrated?” His point speaks to the impossibility of the question—once you identify an underrated player and bring attention to them, have you not, by definition, begun to properly rate them?

Yet the exercise remains valuable because it forces hockey observers to look beyond the familiar narratives and examine who’s actually driving results across the league. The players mentioned in these discussions aren’t underrated because they lack skill—they’re underrated because the infrastructure of hockey media and fan attention creates blind spots that obscure talent in certain locations.

The Finnish contingency of underrated players—Aho, Barkov (when healthy), and to a lesser extent Heiskanen—also highlights potential cultural factors. Finnish players often eschew self-promotion and media attention, preferring to let their play speak for itself. In a social media age where personal branding increasingly matters, this cultural tendency toward quiet excellence can work against players seeking recognition.

What the underrated NHL players 2025 season trends mean for hockey’s future

As the 2025 season progresses, the conversation around underrated players serves a purpose beyond simply identifying overlooked talent. It reflects broader questions about how we evaluate hockey players, what types of contributions we value, and how market dynamics shape narratives around the sport.

The fact that defensive specialists like Forsling receive recognition from their peers but not from the broader public reveals a gap between insider knowledge and general perception. Players who watch tape, prepare game plans, and compete against each other nightly understand the value of shutdown defenders who make life miserable for opposing stars. Casual fans and even some media members focus primarily on offensive statistics, creating a systematic undervaluation of defensive excellence.

This disconnect matters because it influences everything from contract negotiations to awards voting to Hall of Fame consideration. Players operating in the “underrated” category often find themselves fighting for recognition that should come automatically based on their contributions. The ripple effects extend beyond individual players to affect team building strategies, as savvy general managers can exploit these market inefficiencies to acquire elite talent at below-market rates.

The 2025 season also demonstrates how quickly the underrated designation can shift. Players like Aho and Forsling are gaining recognition precisely because conversations like the NHL player poll bring attention to their excellence. As more people become aware of their impact, they may shed the “underrated” label entirely—a development that would represent success rather than failure for those advocating for proper recognition.

Looking forward, the NHL would benefit from finding ways to highlight two-way excellence and defensive contributions more effectively. Enhanced analytics, better broadcasting techniques that showcase off-puck play, and awards that recognize complete players rather than just point producers would help ensure that players like those discussed here receive their due while still in their primes rather than only in retrospect.

The underrated NHL players of the 2025 season represent both a fascinating study in talent evaluation and a reminder that excellence comes in many forms. From Aho’s all-around dominance to Forsling’s defensive mastery, from Heiskanen’s quiet brilliance to Sanderson’s emerging stardom, these players prove that the NHL’s depth of talent extends far beyond the handful of names that dominate highlight packages and award ballots. Recognizing their contributions enriches our understanding of the game and ensures that when we discuss hockey’s elite, we’re painting a complete picture rather than one limited by market size, media coverage, or the inherent biases that shape sports narratives. As this season unfolds, keep an eye on these underappreciated stars—they’re shaping outcomes even if they’re not always shaping headlines.