The NHL’s Most Overrated Players in 2022

The NHL’s Most Overrated Players in 2022

Across all 32 teams in the National Hockey League, there are bound to be quite a few overrated players, right? Correct. Yesterday was my 21st birthday, and I’m feeling … honest. Truthful. Even bitchy, if you will. Here is a list (in no particular order) of who I think are some of the most overrated players currently in the NHL.

Drew Doughty, LA Kings

Yeah, he’s a good player, but in my opinion, he’s a little past his prime. I don’t think he’s old enough to retire but he’s unmotivated and unengaged. 93% of defensemen in the league put up better numbers than he did last season. Doughty plays a tough role on his team but he’s not worth the next six years at $11 million. He doesn’t create his own offense in the way he used to or in the way that younger defensemen are.

Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks

Jones lacks consistency. In his best games, his numbers show an elite top-pairing defenseman. His worst numbers show an average player capable of nothing more than taking shifts that are painfully too long. Chicago sucks and you can’t blame one singular player for the shortcomings of an entire franchise, but Jones is not going to be a solution to any defensive issues on the Blackhawks.

Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers

I’m sure most hockey fans can remember the hype surrounding Lafreniere when he was drafted in 2020. He regularly put-up triple digits on a season during his junior days which led to him being compared to Sydney Crosby. During his rookie NHL season, Lafreniere went from being a first-line center to being a third-line wing. Obviously, that’s not very ‘Sydney Crosby’ of him. He put up 21 points in 56 games during his first season with the Rangers. He’s still young and fresh in the league and has time to grow. This isn’t the first time in recent years that the first overall draft pick has had a less than stellar first season or two. I was wrong about Jack Hughes, maybe I’ll be wrong about this one too. But I really don’t think Lafreniere is worth the buzz he gets.

Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

Did you really think Emma wouldn’t put something blatantly biased on this list?

There’s only so much you can do when you’re drafted by an extremely mediocre team. But after Jack Eichel was traded to Vegas, he dragged them down the drain, too. You can’t help but wonder if it has something to do with Eichel himself. Thus far, his most productive NHL season was the 2018-19 season, recording only 82 points in 77 games. The second overall pick has yet to hit the triple-digit threshold. That’s not to as that at only 25 years old, he can’t rise to the occasion and play with skill worth $10 million. He just hasn’t lived up to expectations of being the second-ever Boston University freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award.

Evander Kane, Edmonton Oilers

Without even mentioning the DRAMA surrounding this man … he has never been a point-per-game player and has only been a plus-player three times in his career. Evander Kane is 30 years old. Obviously, he’s an issue off the ice and I cannot imagine he’s a joy to be around in the locker room. He’s a selfish player and as far as I know, he doesn’t put up the numbers to behave the way he does. Unfortunately, I’m not a general manager so I can’t do anything to end his NHL career like I wish I could.

Now, you’ve probably noticed that there are not any goalies on this list. A goalie can only be as good as the defense in front of him. However, honorable mention to Jordan Binnington. I literally cannot stand this man — he acts like a child. I’ve screamed about him before, and I will do so until I’m old and decrepit.

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Sincerest apologies to the Vendetta editing team for the last two years of my writing. You’ll all be thrilled to know that one of my business classes this semester has a chapter on spelling and grammar. So, stay tuned for improvements.