The 3 Underrated 2025 – The Most Underrated Players of the Year in 26 – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oilers

The NHL season is coming soon, and excitement is in the air. After the second straight win in the Stanley Cup final, the Edmonton Oilers hope to finally overcome that hump and bring Lord Stanley north of the border. To do this, they will need other players without names called Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to strengthen and become the team’s unsung heroes. That being said, these are the three underrated oilers entering the 2025-26 season.

Vasily Podkolzin

Vasily Podkolzin was acquired by Edmonton in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick last August, and he immediately attracted himself to his fan base. Fans love hardworking and steady players, they provide energy with every change, and that’s what Podkolzin does. He rarely has bad games and it’s always obvious. The Russian winger is a physical presence, leading the team with 211 shots last season, with more than 50 times.

Related: Oilers’ 3 highest rate in 2025 – 26 years

The only downside is his offensive game. Last season, he recorded eight goals and 24 points in all 82 games, but still scored. He always buzzed around the net and created opportunities with his tenacious pre-censorship, so his lack of crime was surprising. The 2019 first-round draft pick scored 14 goals in 79 games in the 2021-22 rookie season, so the offense is there. He just needs to find it.

His work ethics and play style have been compared to that of Zach Hyman, the perfect person to model your game. If he can make a bigger contribution in offense, he will be a complete player. He is still only 24 years old and all attributes can be valid NHLE. He just needs to shoot hard and become more stable to match the rest of the game. He has all the tools and potential to succeed and if he finds his scoring contact, he will continue to be an underrated member of the forward team.

Brett Kulak

Every team needs players like Brett Kulak. He is consistent and is a typical third defender who killed the fine and can move to the second pair if necessary. He is not known for his crime, but it is not his role. However, he recorded seven goals and 25 points last season, which is his highest career in both categories. He also recorded a career-high 118 blocks, surpassing the 106 in 2022-23. The experienced defensive player has become a batting machine since coming to Edmonton, and in 2018-19, he was a member of the Montreal Canadaens considering his highest career.

Kulak is also the Oil Man Iron Man, which is valuable. He has played in all 82 regular season games in three straight seasons and hasn’t missed a single game since being acquired by Edmonton in March 2022. He played 264 consecutive games with Counting in the 12th NHL. The 31-year-old Blueliner didn’t get the recognition he deserved, making him an underrated piece for the 2025-26 season.

Jake Walman

The Oilers have acquired Jake Walman before the 2025 trade deadline, and his inclusion solidifies that defensive core. He has scored a goal and eight points in 15 games since the trade and added another 10 points in 22 playoff games, which is a result. He is the perfect addition and it’s great to see him wearing a oiler sweater throughout the season 2025-26.

Another reason why Wolman is considered undervalued is his very affordable $3.6 million cap. He is the top four defenders in a team-friendly deal that makes him a valuable asset. The 29-year-old is also a left-handed person who can play both parties, thus increasing his versatility. Without Mattias Ekholm, he can play with Evan Bouchard on the left, or with Nurse Darnell or Brett Kulak on the right. Since his acquisition, he has scored 121:30 in the regular season with Bouchard 5-on-5 and 105:51 from the Nurse. He can play with anyone to make the oiler lineup flexible.

The Oiler’s blue line is known for his ability to hockey, but his defensive game is underrated. He is an excellent shooter, recording over 120 blocks in three consecutive seasons. He has had 34 blocks in 15 games since the trade and added 66 blocks in 22 playoff games. The best way to defend is to win the fights around the corner and quickly transition the puck to bring the puck to the skilled forward Walman excels at. In all cases, he has the potential to be a difference maker for the blue line.

All three players entered the final season of the trade and needed a new contract, two of them becoming unrestricted free agents. So, it is interesting how management will handle these situations. Do you agree to this list? Who else has been underestimated until 2025-26? Continue to follow Hockey writer For all your NHL content, bootcamp is just around the corner.