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The 2025–26 NHL season, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs running alongside it, have been pretty much defined by those headline, big-name superstars, but when you peel back all that shiny stuff, the stats quietly suggest something else, like a few lower-profile players are doing the real heavy lifting for their teams. These five skaters and goalies have stepped past the usual “just depth” lane, and now they’re showing real, high-level efficiency. That changes how teams look in the postseason, even if a lot of it stays under the national media radar or at least mostly unnoticed, not really talked about.
Alex Newhook, Montreal Canadiens
In Montreal, while Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský are taking most of the attention, forward Alex Newhook has become the tactical backbone for the Canadiens in their top six. His versatility means he can shift between wing and center pretty fluidly, which helps Montreal with those high-speed zone entries, and honestly it feeds their transition attack. Newhook has chipped in with secondary scoring during the postseason, but his bigger deal might be the penalty kill. His speed pressures opposing blue-liners into safer habits at the point, and his flexibility has helped steady Montreal’s transition structure.
Jackson Blake, Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina kept pushing through the playoffs with this nonstop forecheck, and it’s the system rookie forward Jackson Blake seems to fit into naturally. He’s operating away from the top-line spotlight, still though Blake has produced an efficient secondary offense during Carolina’s run. His forechecking pressure and puck retrieval are repeatedly turning into high-danger chances for his linemates and advanced puck-tracking suggests strong offensive-zone time and an ability to extend plays along the boards before quickly flipping them into scoring opportunities.
J.J. Moser, Tampa Bay Lightning
On a Tampa Bay blue line that’s been historically carried by veteran stars, J.J. Moser has still found a way to grow into one of the more dependable defensive defensemen. Moser’s defensive numbers at 5-on-5 this season have been pretty strong, especially with keeping quality scoring chances against down. He’s disciplined with his positioning, and his stick-checking efficiency helps lock in Tampa’s top four pairings. And then that gives the coaching staff more room to protect older veterans, by sliding Moser into higher-leverage defensive zone starts against tougher competition.
Josh Doan, Utah Hockey Club
After he landed in Utah, Josh Doan moved way beyond the prospect label, and started looking like an actual middle-six NHL contributor. His impact is less about big raw totals and more about efficiency around the crease, where his instincts are helping improve Utah’s power-play pressure and net-front presence. He also has this steady physical edge, which pairs well with Utah’s quicker transition players, so he becomes a more complete forward option than many people seemed to expect early on.
Alex Lyon, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit’s push for postseason relevance has been closely tied to finally getting steadiness in net from journeyman Alex Lyon. When he stepped into higher-pressure stretches, Lyon delivered composed goaltending in key games, helping Detroit stabilize matchups that might’ve fallen apart defensively. His consistency when it matters has basically become one of Detroit’s biggest strengths during this stretch. He’s absorbed a heavy workload while keeping positioning calm and rebound control tight and that’s helped cover for several defensive breakdowns in front of him throughout the season.
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