When we talk about the 2025-26 NHL season, the conversation naturally gravitates toward the superstars. Connor McDavid is doing Connor McDavid things, Macklin Celebrini is making his case for the Art Ross Trophy, and the elite goaltenders are battling it out for the Vezina. But for astute hockey fans and fantasy GMs, the real value lies in finding the players who are quietly putting up elite numbers without the fanfare.
This season has produced a fascinating crop of “under the radar” talent—players who have either taken a massive leap in development or are finally thriving in new roles. Here are four NHL players who aren’t getting nearly enough headlines for the seasons they are having.
Aliaksei Protas: The Capitals’ Even-Strength Monster
If you aren’t watching Washington Capitals games regularly, you might have missed the evolution of Aliaksei Protas from a bottom-six grinder to a legitimate offensive force. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds, Protas has always had the size, but this season he has put it all together.
Why He’s Flying Under the Radar
Protas doesn’t play a flashy game. He isn’t deking defenders out of their skates on the highlight reels. Instead, he dominates possession. Currently, Protas is among the league leaders in even-strength points, a statistic that is often a better predictor of long-term success than power-play production. He uses his massive frame to protect the puck and has developed superb chemistry with his linemates, driving play at a rate that rivals some of the league’s premier power forwards. While the media focuses on Alex Ovechkin’s goal chase, Protas is quietly becoming the engine of the Caps’ forward depth.
Pavel Dorofeyev: The Golden Knights’ New Sniper
The Vegas Golden Knights have always found ways to get the most out of their depth charts, and this season, Pavel Dorofeyev is the prime example. After showing flashes of potential last year, the Russian winger has exploded in 2025-26, becoming a fixture on the scoresheet.
A Power Play Weapon
Dorofeyev has carved out a specific and lethal niche: the right-circle one-timer. He has become the primary trigger man on the Knights’ second power-play unit, and his shooting percentage reflects a player who has found his confidence. What makes him “under the radar” is that he plays on a team loaded with stars like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone. Opposing defenses focus their shutdown efforts on the top line, leaving Dorofeyev with the time and space to punish them—and he hasn’t missed.
Jackson LaCombe: Quacking Up the Scoreboard in Anaheim
The Anaheim Ducks are a team on the rise, and while most eyes are on their young forward core, defenseman Jackson LaCombe is having a true breakout campaign on the blue line.
Stepping Up After the Shakeup
Following the departure of veteran defenseman Cam Fowler to St. Louis last season, a massive hole opened up on the Ducks’ back end. LaCombe stepped right through it. His average ice time has jumped significantly, now hovering over 25 minutes a game. More importantly, he has become a transition machine. LaCombe is currently one of the top-scoring defensemen in the Western Conference at 5-on-5, using his skating ability to jump into the rush. He might not have the name recognition of a Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, but his impact on the Ducks’ transition game this season has been undeniable.
Simon Edvinsson: Detroit’s Steady Hand
The Detroit Red Wings have been waiting for their prospects to mature, and Simon Edvinsson has officially arrived. Generally, the development path of a young defenseman is full of volatility—one shift they look elite, and the next they look lost. This unpredictability is quite similar to the constant changes of luck in online casino games, which can be witnessed on sites for Swedish players if you’re living in Sweden. However, Edvinsson has defied that trend by being the model of consistency.
Quiet Efficiency
While Moritz Seider gets the heavy hits and the difficult defensive matchups, Edvinsson has quietly solidified the team’s top-four. His game this season is defined by poise. He rarely makes mistakes, his gap control is elite, and he moves the puck with the efficiency of a ten-year veteran. He isn’t putting up 80 points, but his underlying defensive metrics are stellar. He is playing over 20 minutes a night for a team in the playoff hunt, providing the kind of stability that doesn’t always make the highlight shows but is absolutely essential for winning hockey.
These four players prove that you don’t need to be a household name to make a massive impact. Whether you are looking to bolster your fantasy roster or just want to sound smarter than your friends at the bar, keep an eye on Protas, Dorofeyev, LaCombe, and Edvinsson as the season rolls on.
