The data vs
the experts.
618 NHL players' impact over the last two seasons, against where ESPN, The Hockey News, TSN and NHL Network ranked them this fall. The biggest gap wins.
Every team's most underrated
From each team's six highest-impact skaters (players carried by a star linemate removed), the one the experts rank furthest below the data.
Data rank vs expert rank
Top 150 by impact. Expert rank = average across the four lists; not on a list = list length + 20.
How the model works
V1 · Points
Points per game, compared within position (forwards vs forwards, defencemen vs defencemen).
V2 · Chances
Adds individual expected goals and game score.
V3 · On the ice
Adds 5-on-5 expected-goal differential with the player on the ice vs on the bench, plus the "McDavid test": players whose numbers collapse away from a star linemate are removed.
V4 · Defence
Adds chances against with him on vs off the ice. 2025-26 counts double; 35+ games last season to qualify. Goalies are not included.
Carried by a linemate
These players' on-ice numbers fell apart away from their most common linemate, while the linemate held up without them: