Sports Illustrated (they still exist?) has conducted a poll of 161 NHL players who could vote in secret for the player they think is the most overrated in the NHL.
So who was #1? Dion Phaneuf.
It is truly hard to believe that other players didn't make it over him for being the most overrated. Just think of the list of these players that clearly take the cake in terms of their reputation and skill. Try these NHL players for size:
Jarome Iginla, Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Mike Richards, Ryan Kessler, Alex Burrows, Jeff Carter, Jason Spezza, Scott Gomez, Carey Price, James Reimer, Ilya Kovalchuk, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Malone,
From the top 15 players that don't deserve to be on that list include Dany Heatley and Chris Pronger. These are 2 great players, Heatley is always scoring goals and has a knack for playing on winning teams, mind you they don't win the cup. Chris Pronger only has one downside which is bad luck that has caused him so many injuries it isn't funny. When healthy, give me a team that doesn't want him besides Edmonton or rather he doesn't want them. These players are not overrated but rather players don't like playing against them.
Phaneuf is a player who doesn't belong on that list of 15. This season he is one of the league leaders in defenceman in points and Toronto players better with him than without.
