I'm sure many of your correctly figured that after my last poll, where I asked you to pick the five players most overrated in fantasy, I'd pull a 180 this month and focus on the NHLers who don't get their proper due. And yes indeed, it is now time for you to select the most underrated players in fantasy.

Just as it was difficult to encapsulate what exactly makes a player overrated, it's not easy to land on underrated factors either. What did I look for in assembling the list? I started with players whose name value is farthest below their actual fantasy value. I also honed in on those who either are quite consistent but also unremarkable, plus those who might be shortchanged by virtue of playing in a smaller market. Here too there are litmus test guys, who, when you see or hear their name, one of the first things that invariably pops into your head is that they're underrated in fantasy, plain and simple.

What follows are – in my opinion – the 20 most underrated players in today's NHL when it comes to fantasy. I'll say this – maybe it's the fantasy hype machine, which tends to go into overdrive if a player has even a few great games, but it actually proved a lot harder than I thought it would be to land on 20 players who I felt were truly underrated versus overrated. Still, I did get to 20 and your job is to pick the five who you feel are most underrated. Remember that you're to judge them based on right now and on points only leagues, not multicat. The link for you to cast your votes appears at the end of the column.

Jesper Bratt

Put him in a bigger market and he'd be a fantasy and press darling. But in New Jersey, Bratt's two seasons of nearly point per game scoring go largely unnoticed by many.

Pavel Buchnevich

Pop quiz – how many forwards have a higher cumulative scoring rate over the past two seasons than Buchnevich? Would you believe only 19? And how about this – Buchnevich is on pace to see his scoring rate increase for an amazing seventh season in a row! But is he a fantasy darling? Not even close.

Jake DeBrusk

Is he doing well to try and up his UFA value for next summer? Maybe; however, for too many poolies DeBrusk is still seen at as fantasy disappointment, when he's proven this season that he can achieve sustained success. At only age 26, he still might have another gear, especially if he does leave as a UFA to play for a team that gives him top line and PP1 treatment.

Vince Dunn

Sure – maybe he's benefitting from being on the right team at the right time. But let's not forget that Dunn had 35 points at age 21. This season he's within the top ten in rearguard scoring, yet poolies still seem to be waiting for a market correction. I've got news for you – Dunn looks every bit the real deal, and deserves a higher fantasy profile.

Kevin Fiala

Inconsistent and then overshadowed in Minnesota, Fiala has shined in LA; however, he's not such a high scorer as to be considered a top tier fantasy talent, even though given his SOG rate and improved PPPts he's every bit as good as others who get a lot more fantasy love.

Jake Guentzel

Another season, another instance of Guentzel being on a 0.9 point per game or better pace. This would mark the fifth season in a row of him accomplishing the feat. How many other wingers are on pace to do so? Try six, and they're all major stars in the minds of poolies, from Mitch Marner, to Artemi Panarin, Brad Marchand, Mikko Rantanen, Alex Ovechkin, to David Pastrnak. Is Guentzel considered their equal? Not by a long shot, which shows how criminally underrated he is.

Dougie Hamilton

Yes, he's failed to put together two superb seasons in a row; however, the fact remains Hamilton is a fantasy monster, with scoring, shooting and even decent multicat outputs, the latter marking a change from his early career. Because of his inability to do this year in, year out, poolies remain skeptical and don't give him the credit he deserves.

Roope Hintz

On pace for a second point per game season in just his fifth campaign, Hintz is producing similar to if not better than Sebastian Aho, Dylan Larkin and Mika Zibanejad, each of whom is given far more fantasy love than Hintz. Maybe it's being overshadowed by Jason Robertson; however, Hintz deserves to be rated more highly than he is now, for certain.

Nico Hischier

First, he didn't live up to his number one overall draft slot, then he was overshadowed by Jack Hughes. Now, Hischier has become a reliably productive player, plus his PP scoring and SOG rates are much higher than in past seasons, making it so he deserves more adoration in fantasy.

Jordan Kyrou

Placing aside his gag-inducing +/-, Kyrou is again quietly putting up solid numbers for he Blues. What's more, with the exodus of some forwards he's now seeing time on PP1 and is producing well. Still only 24 and just past his breakout threshold, Kyrou could even have more to show.

Charlie McAvoy

On pace to see his scoring rate increase by nine+ points for the third straight season, McAvoy is now showing he can score in addition to being a #1 d-man. Do poolies put him in the same echelon as Victor Hedman, Morgan Rielly, or Aaron Ekblad? No, and that's wrong given where he is now and projects to be as he reaches his prime.

Brock Nelson

Thought by some – myself included – to just be a Barry Trotz success story, Nelson is proving he is a top-six center who was held back early on. Yet poolies still seem to be stuck with a vision of Nelson that predates him having more than adequately proven his fantasy prowess.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Even if what we're witnessing from RNH is unsustainable, the fact is he's become dialed into one of the most potent power plays in the entire NHL, such that his even strength deployment is very much a secondary consideration at this point. Not even turning 30 for a couple of weeks, it's very plausible that RNH will be able to continue to produce at or near this level for the near term future. Will his reputation adjust upward though?

William Nylander

Overshadowed doesn't even begin to describe Nylander, who's played every season with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Don't look now, but Nylander is on pace to see his scoring rise for the second straight season and, in doing so, to make it so there's a trio of Leaf threats, not just a duo. The question is will he get the level of respect he deserves in the process.

Nick Schmaltz

Schmaltz is quietly – REALLY quietly – set to produce at a pace of 75+ for the second straight season. If he played anywhere else and didn't get hurt like clockwork, then perhaps he'd be viewed as more of the talent he's become.

Chandler Stephenson

Thought by some initially to be just the lucky, right place right time center of Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, Stephenson has since become a steady and solid contributor, with ice times both overall and on the PP rising in each of his past four seasons. Alas, what seemingly has yet to change is the view of poolies, who have failed to latch onto his success.

Brady Tkachuk

I know what you're thinking. How can Tkachuk, the darling of multi-cat leagues be underrated? Easy – he's now excelling in all formats, including points only, where it was thought he might someday become solid, but has shown for 2022-23 that he's perhaps poised to one day rise to the level of his brother. Speaking of which…..

Matthew Tkachuk

Last season poolies figured that Tkachuk, who'd always been solid but unspectacular, was the beneficiary of playing alongside Johnny Gaudreau. But fast forward to now and Tkachuk has heaps more points than Johnny Hockey and looks to be a premier power forward not just now but for the foreseeable future. Yet still some likely are unconvinced, thinking he's just doing this well because he's on the high octane Panthers.

Tyler Toffoli

Despite having been on four teams in as many seasons, Toffoli is no journeyman. Instead, he bided his time with the offensively-challenged Kings for many season and since then has shown he's a shooter and scorer. But many still view him through a past lens.

Carter Verhaeghe

Despite barely sniffing the ice on the man advantage, Verhaeghe has played well enough to seemingly nab himself a permanent home in the Florida top six. He's not just a passenger, as he shoots a good amount and finds his way onto the score sheet. But to poolies he's still seen as a spare part, rather than a true fantasy asset.

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As with last month, your job is to vote – using whatever factors you consider relevant – for the five players who you consider to be the most underrated among this list of 20. Remember, it's points only, and underrated is a relative term, as a better player can still be more underrated than one who puts up fewer points. Click here to cast your votes.

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Questions for Mailbag Column

My monthly mailbag column runs next week and I have room to answer more questions. To get yours to me, you can either private message “rizzeedizzee” via the DobberHockey Forums or, instead, send an email to [email protected] with “Roos Mailbag” as the subject line.