See the two Dallas Stars defensemen named among the NHL’s most underrated players

If you ask NHL players, there’s little consensus on who is the most underrated in the league.

That’s according to more than two dozen players who recently answered an informal NHL.com poll. Among the answers, 24 players received mention as underrated, including two standout Dallas Stars defensemen.

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger named his teammate Miro Heiskanen when asked about underrated NHLers.

“I think if he was in New York or a Canadian market, he would be in the top three for the Norris every year,” Oettinger said. “People don’t see what I get to see every night. I think if he was in a different market he would get talked about in the same sentence as guys like Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox and guys like that. So, I’m lucky to have him in front of me.”

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Fellow defenseman Thomas Harley got a shout out from New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal.

“I think he always seems to make the right play, and he’s a good skater, and he’s got a good offensive touch,” Barzal said. “He’s got a bit of everything. I think he’s a stud.”

Together, Heiskanen and Harley will form the backbone of new Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan’s blue line for the 2025-26 season. Heiskanen is coming off an injury-impacted 2024-25 season where he put up a career-low 25 points in only 50 games played. Harley blossomed last season with Heiskanen sidelined, scoring 50 points to finish seventh in Norris Trophy voting and earn a Team Canada call up for the 4-Nations Face-Off.

Dallas Stars have engaged with multiple North Texas cities about possible relocation