3 NHL players that deserve more attention this season

A quick look at the NHL's scoring leader board reveals a host of familiar names: Crosby, Getzlaf, Giroux, Kane, Ovechkin, Perry. There are, however, other relatively lesser names that find themselves in the midst of spectacular seasons and therefore deserving of as much attention as the usual suspects.

Here's a look at three players very much worth talking about.

Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders

With 27 goals and 42 assists in 68 games, Kyle Okposo has already smashed his previous career highs in both categories (19 goals, 33 assists in 2009-10), and the 25-year old finds himself tied for fourth in points with Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars and Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers.

It's an impressive breakout performance by the 25-year old, who was drafted seventh overall by the New York Islanders back in 2006.

Okposo, of course, has benefited from playing alongside John Tavares for much of the season, but is set to record the most points by an Islanders' forward for the first time in five years due to a season-ending injury suffered by Tavares in Sochi.

Despite the loss of his superstar linemate, Okposo continues to thrive, registering three goals and seven assists in nine games since the Olympics and named the NHL's second star of the week for the period of March 10-16. 

In hindsight, he's also become an increasingly glaring omission from the U.S. Olympic team that finished fourth in Sochi.

He has also posted impressive Corsi and Fenwick numbers on a less than stellar defensive team (57.7 percent and 56.4 percent in all situations, 50.1 percent and 48.8 percent at five-on-five), and has emerged as a legitimate top-flight forward for the Islanders, giving his team two outstanding forwards to build around moving forward.

Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

When one thinks of the San Jose Sharks, the names Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and even Tomas Hertl come to mind (based on the way he exploded on the scene as a rookie prior to a serious knee injury). But the player who leads the team in scoring is Joe Pavelski, with 34 goals and 32 assists through 69 games.

A model of consistency throughout his career (averaging 0.73 points in 548 games with the Sharks), Pavelski has set a career high in goals and points while playing on line with Thornton and Brett Burns for much of the season, rising to the top ten in NHL scoring in the process.

His 32nd goal of the season came during this hat-trick performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 27.

Pavelski is also known for his penchant for big goals in the playoffs, and the Sharks are counting on him to continue to produce in the postseason in their quest for that elusive Stanley Cup.

Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche

While Ryan O'Reilly doesn't quite have the point totals of the players mentioned above, he has scored a team and career-high 25 goals and added 30 assists in 67 games for the surprising Avalanche.

What's more impressive is the fact he leads all Colorado forwards with an average ice time of 19:39, sits second to Matt Duchene in both Corsi for and Fenwick for at even-strength in close game situations (51 percent and 50.4 percent, respectively), and contributes at both ends of the ice in all situations.

O'Reilly has also been one of the hottest players in the league since the Olympic break, co-leading in points with fellow Avalanche forward Matt Duchene.

Astonishingly, he has yet to be assessed a penalty of any kind, crediting yoga for his ability to remain disciplined on the ice.

As such, O'Reilly appears in line to bring home the Lady Byng Trophy, and has emerged as one of the most complete players in the NHL. While the likes of Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon dominate the highlights, O'Reilly is one of the biggest reasons why the Avalanche have amassed 93 points (through March 17) and are set to return to the playoffs for the first time in four years.