Did you know that magnificent Mario Lemieux has been the NHL's Player of the Week 24 times during his career? He won (again) for the week ending on Oct. 20.
Did you know that if Lemieux wins the league's weekly honors in each of the next 20 weeks, he'll tie Wayne Gretzky for the most career POTW accolades. Yeah, Gretzky was named the league's weekly best 44 times.
I bring this up to point out that the league's best players get the lion's share of the attention from fans, media and even the league office. There is no question they deserve every minute of our attention, but there are a number of good players that get very little recognition. They are players who do nothing but help their teams win. They are, quite simply, underrated.
So, in honor of Lemieux's 24th player-of-the-week honor, here is my list of 10 of the league's more underrated players. If I miss anyone, I'm sure you'll let me know.
Mattias Norstrom, D, Los Angeles Kings
The Kings' captain isn't fancy. He doesn't make many cute passes or score many goals. What he does do is anchor an equally underrated Kings' blue line. Night after night, coach Andy Murray calls on Norstrom to shut down an opponent's top forwards. And, on most nights, he succeeds. The Kings stole Norstrom from the Rangers in a 1996 trade deadline package. Boy, wouldn't the Rangers love to have that one back.
Sergei Brylin, F, New Jersey Devils
When you think of the Devils, you never think of Brylin. The undersized Russian goes unnoticed everywhere but on the ice. In recent years, Brylin has been a valuable and versatile forward for a string of Devils coaches, dating back to Jacques Lemaire. They've all just plugged Brylin into any of the team's four lines and watched him quietly do his thing. During his tenure in New Jersey, Brylin has continued to improve his all-around game. Unfortunately, a bad knee has bothered him during the past few seasons. To his credit, he's been willing to play through the pain.
Eric Messier, F, Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are loaded with superstars. Sakic. Forsberg. Roy. The list goes on. But in the playoffs, when the games get tough, the "Other Messier" can often be found battling along the wall or in front of the net -- the two most dangerous areas on the ice. And, as a member of the club's penalty-killing unit, Messier doesn't hesitate to throw his body in front of the hardest shot. Any team wanting to win a Stanley Cup could use a player like Eric Messier.
Martin St. Louis, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
Pronounced correctly, the former University of Vermont standout has one of the best hockey names of all time. St. Louis is very generously listed as 5-foot-9 in the league's official guide and record book. But, as anyone who has seen him with his skates off can tell you, he isn't much over 5-6. Still, given a chance in Tampa after failing to make the cut in Calgary, St. Louis led the Bolts in scoring before breaking his leg last January, and he's making believers out of those who felt he was too small for the NHL. The latest crackdown on obstruction should make life a little easier for St. Louis, who has great speed and some serious skill.
Craig Conroy, C, Calgary Flames
Previously known as a defensive center, Conroy enjoyed a breakout season alongside Jarome Iginla last year. While many figure that Iginla made Conroy, there are those in the Flames' organization that feel Conroy's presence helped Iginla. Either way, the guy can play. A hard-working, two-way player, Conroy was snubbed for both the U.S. Olympic team as well as last year's All-Star game. Recently named sole captain of the Flames, Conroy was pilfered from the Blues, who'd certainly like a mulligan on that deal.
Adrian Aucoin, D, New York Islanders
When Aucoin arrived on the Island from Tampa Bay last season, first-year coach Peter Laviolette wasn't quite sure what to do with him. It was simple, really -- just keep putting him on the ice. By season's end, Aucoin was averaging almost 30 minutes per game, leading the league in that category. He finished the season with a career-best plus-23 rating and emerged as a team leader. This year, in the Isles' second game, Aucoin played a ridiculous 40:51 against the Capitals. After bouncing from Vancouver to Tampa, Aucoin has found a home on Long Island.
Jere Lehtinen, F, Dallas Stars
During Ken Hitchcock's tenure in Dallas, the chatty coach could never offer enough praise for his quiet winger. Hitchcock would often speak about Lehtinen's uncanny hockey sense, adding the winger was rarely -- if ever -- out of position. Often, if a player was in a slump, Hitchcock would give that player a few shifts with Lehtinen to straighten him out. A total team player and a two-time Selke Trophy winner, Lehtinen quietly remains among the best two-way players in the game.
Jay McKee, D, Buffalo Sabres
Like Norstrom, McKee doesn't do too many tricks with the puck (although, he has mastered a number of card tricks and juggling). Rather, he's a meat-and-potatoes defender who's tough to deal with around the net and in the corners. If you don't believe me, just ask any of the top forwards in the Eastern Conference.
Andrew Brunette, F, Minnesota Wild
After failing to find a spot with the Capitals, Brunette became Mr. Expansion. He was an original Predator and Thrasher before signing with the Wild in 2001. In each place, without much help, Brunette managed to produce offensively and has been particularly effective on the power play. Last season, he totaled a career-best 69 points. Yeah, there are limitations to his game. But, he's worked hard to play to his strengths.
Kimmo Timonen, D, Nashville Predators
Playing in Nashville, Timonen is a well-kept secret. But ask any NHL general manager if they'd want Timonen and they'd be quick to say yes. He's become a durable performer during his time in Music City. Last season, on a club that allowed 34 more goals then it scored, Timonen finished with a plus-2 rating.
E.J. Hradek writes hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.
