You're going to hear about Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin quite a bit during the NHL playoffs (probably more than you care to hear about them) but they are far from the only players in the NHL that could make an impact in the race for the Stanley Cup. Here are four under-the-radar players that could play big roles for their teams this postseason.
Kris Letang, Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins: A third-round pick by the Penguins in 2005, Kris Letang is the type of dynamic, electrifying skater that every team in the NHL is looking for on its blue line. He set a career-high with 10 goals and 23 assists this season, and while the 21-year-old still has some room to improve in his own end, he has shown the ability to be a game-breaker jumping into the play and providing a spark offensively.
Going back to the beginning of March, Letang has 14 points in 19 games to lead all Penguins defensemen in scoring.
Antoine Vermette, Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets: For the first time in franchise history the Columbus Blue Jackets were buyers at the NHL trade deadline, acquiring forward Antoine Vermette from the Ottawa Senators for goaltender Pascal Leclaire.
Vermette has always been loaded with talent and potential, but never seemed to put it all together in Ottawa. In his 17 games with the Blue Jackets, the 26-year-old has scored seven goals and registered six assists while winning over 56 percent of his faceoffs. A speedy, two-way forward, Vermette is a capable penalty killer (he averages over three minutes of ice-time per game in shorthanded situations) and one of the best faceoff men in the NHL -- a skill that will be vital in the opening round against a puck possession team like the Detroit Red Wings.
Brooks Laich, Forward, Washington Capitals: When you play the Washington Capitals you know the type of damage Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin can cause on the ice. If you're looking for the always-important secondary scoring, Brooks Laich is your man, as the 25-year-old forward set a career-high this season with 23 goals and 53 points.
By comparison, Rangers forward Chris Drury put up identical numbers this season (22 goals and 56 points) while playing nearly three more minutes per game. He's also quite the bargain as Laich cost the Capitals $1.7 million this season in salary, while Drury hauled in over $7 million with New York.
Jiri Hudler, Forward, Detroit Red Wings: Playing on a team with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa and Nicklas Lidstrom, it's easy for 5-foot-9 Jiri Hudler to be overlooked. Hudler has seen his production improve each year he's been in the league, setting new career-highs with 23 goals and 34 assists in 2008-09.
During the Western Conference playoffs a year ago, Hudler recorded 13 points in Detroit's first 16 games. While his scoring fell off in the Red Wings' six-game victory over the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, Hudler did score the deciding goal in Detroit's 2-1 win in game 4.
