Star NHL players often make the headlines in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Tony Ferrari found five skaters putting up underrated performances so far.
The NHL playoffs are when legends are made. It’s also the time of year when players who are usually secondary pieces make their mark and show their worth. This season is no different.
The big-name stars are at the top of the scoring lists, but it’s often the unsung heroes or the depth player that comes up big in key moments to become the most intriguing stories in the NHL playoffs. We’ve seen players like Joel Ward, Colton Sissons and Ondrej Palat make careers on their performances once the regular season ends, elevating themselves to more than just depth pieces in the eyes of so many.
The 2023 playoffs have already given some players the opportunity to show their worth, doing the dirty work, scoring timely goals or making sure their team isn’t making an early exit. Let’s look at a few that stood out so far.
Gustav Forsling, D, Florida Panthers
There hasn’t been a Panther on the ice more than Gustav Forsling. He sits third across the NHL in total ice time and 11th in average time on ice per game, playing virtually no time on the power play and eating big minutes against the opposing team’s best players. Forsling has shown an advanced understanding of how to read off of his teammates and jump into the play when the opportunity arises. He’s also found the scoresheet in key games – in the four playoff matches Forsling recorded a point this year, three of them were wins.
The Panthers have relied on Forsling to play with Aaron Ekblad, keeping their former No. 1 pick afloat in a trying season while finding offensive contributions of his own. Forsling can make the small plays, the little chips to forwards in the neutral zone on breakouts, the keeps at the offensive blueline, and alluding a forecheck with his skating ability. Brandon Montour and Ekbald get most of the headlines on the Panthers’ back end, but Forsling is the straw that stirs the drink.
Brett Kulak, D, Edmonton
Kulak has the best 5-on-5 expected goals percentage among defensemen with at least five games in this post-season, according to naturalstattrick.com. The Oilers' defender has been a steadying force on the back end. Edmonton has lacked defenders who actually defend competently, and by bringing in Kulak late last season and re-signing him in the off-season, along with bringing in Mattias Ekholm at the trade deadline this year, they’ve done just that.
While Ekholm is getting the bulk of the love for the defensive improvements and Evan Bouchard is getting praise for his offensive output in the playoffs, it’s Kulak that has been the key ingredient on the back end. The Oilers should win matchups when Ekholm and Bouchard are on the ice, especially when Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl are on the ice with them, but Kulak has helped win the matchup when the stars aren’t on the ice. He’s done an excellent job of limiting high-danger chances, which has helped the Oilers find success.
Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars
The most underrated rookie this season is unsurprisingly having one of the most underrated post-seasons of any player in the NHL.
The Stars’ third-line center has been one of their most effective forwards. He has been on the ice for the second-most scoring chances at 5-on-5 among Stars forwards, and he sits fourth in goals-for percentage. Johnston has been a menace for the Minnesota Wild in the first round and Seattle Kraken to start the second round.
Johnston is tenacious along the boards, winning puck battles and using his skating to be the first player on loose pucks. He attacks the middle of the ice with regularity despite being a 19-year-old who still has some maturing to do physically. If the Stars continue to advance in the playoffs, Johnston will likely play a big role as he starts to cash in on the plethora of chances he’s creating.
Luke Schenn, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are always in the headlines for both good and bad reasons. It’s hard for a player to truly be under the radar in the “center of the hockey universe,” and while Luke Schenn certainly gets love from the fan base for nostalgia purposes, he’s truly been a difference-maker. He leads the Leafs in 5-on-5 goals-for percentage and leads Toronto defenders in expected goals percentage, according to naturalstattrick.com.
His defensive mindset has given Morgan Rielly the freedom to impact the game offensively at a level we haven’t seen from the attacking blueliner all season. Schenn throws his weight around and punishes opponents with big hits routinely. He has been a major factor in Toronto showing some physical pushback in the playoffs this season, going toe-to-toe with Patrick Maroon, Tanner Jeannot and Corey Perry in Round 1 against Tampa Bay. In Round 2 against Florida thus far, he has thrown notable hits on Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, among others. He’s been a leader for the franchise that drafted him back in 2008.
Seth Jarvis, RW, Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes were missing a lot of their offensive punch with Max Pacioretty and Andrei Svechnikov heading into the playoffs, and they lost Teuvo Teravainen in Game 2 of the first round. Thankfully, the Canes had high-octane forward Seth Jarvis ready to take a step up in the playoffs.
His regular-season success matched his solid rookie season, but Jarvis didn’t quite take the step he was expected to. With all of the absences up front to the playoff roster, Jarvis has been more heavily relied upon and has put up six points in eight games. With his speed, skill and penchant for getting to the middle of the ice, Jarvis will need to continue being a difference-maker for the Canes to go on a deep run.