Brady Tkachuk Calls Senators' Jake Sanderson 'NHL's Most Underrated Player'

The Ottawa Senators are expecting to take a massive jump next season. The team is on the brink of developing their young stars into prime NHLers and one player to keep an eye on in 2023-24 is defenseman Jake Sanderson. If you ask Sens captain Brady Tkachuk about Sanderson, it may surprise you, but Tkachuk feels Sanderson is the NHL's most underrated player.

Tkachuk was recently on the Dropping the Gloves podcast and had this to say about Sanderson's game:

I think (Sanderson's) first pro season, what he did for our team and ... right from Game 1, how much he made our team better, coming out of college. The impact he had, the minutes he played, I just couldn't believe he wasn't even in the run for (the Calder Trophy). I was like, 'This guy is one of the most important players on our team' and it went unnoticed. His speed, his hockey sense, but his work ethic is second to none. I haven't seen a guy work like he did throughout the year. It was quite impressive. ... I'm excited to see what he's going to do for us this year because he's going to be an awesome player for us.

While Sanderson wasn't in the running to win the Calder, he did finish sixth in voting. He recorded four goals and 32 points in 77 games last season, playing close to 22 minutes a night. Expect to see the ice-time increase and the numbers as well, as Sanderson is in for a massive sophomore season. Just ask his captain.