Secret Soldiers: 3 under-the-radar players making their mark on the NHL

Just because a player doesn't make headlines, doesn't mean their presence isn't felt.

Many of the league's budding stars of the future are significantly under-appreciated, but they're proving this season that they'll soon be hockey's poster boys.

Here are three under-the-radar players making their mark on the NHL:

Tyler Toffoli

The Los Angeles Kings are having the bounce-back season the hockey world anticipated, but it's unlikely that many predicted Tyler Toffoli would be playing such an integral role in the team's success.

In just his third full season in the NHL, the 23-year-old is leading his club with 20 goals through 42 games - eight more than Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar, who sit tied in second with 12 each. His seven power-play goals are also a team high.

Toffoli's numbers have improved exponentially since he first joined the league, and this season he's on pace to hit 39 goals and 62 points. He is very much a King.

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Through 43 games, Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov has already eclipsed the goal and point totals he registered in 80 games last season.

He's quickly become one of the most relied upon players on a team that boasts Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and Justin Williams.

Kuznetsov is tied with Backstrom for the team lead with 41 points, and leads the club with 28 assists. His emergence looks to have come out of nowhere, though the 23-year-old showed flashes of brilliance during the Capitals' playoff run last season.

He has taken his time developing since being drafted in 2010, but is quickly proving he wasn't a first-round bust.

Petr Mrazek

The Detroit Red Wings have flown under the radar in the Eastern Conference.

While much of the talk in the East has surrounded the Capitals and the suddenly dominant Florida Panthers, the Red Wings have put forth a respectable season that has them just two wins out of the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Much of this is thanks to goaltender Petr Mrazek, who has quietly stolen the net away from Jimmy Howard.

Mrazek played in all seven of the team's playoff games last season while Howard was left to watch from the bench.

Though his numbers in the past have been nothing short of brilliant, they came within a small sample size. But already this season, he has eclipsed his previous career high of 29 games played.

Through 28 games, Mrazek has constructed a 16-8-3 record while boasting a career-best .930 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average - good enough for ninth in the league.

A changing of the guard in Detroit is well underway.