Eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July, Klingberg could earn a lucrative new contract with the Stars or another NHL club. While injuries limited Matt Grzelcyk to 37 games last season, he wound up seeing more playing time with McAvoy than any other Bruins blueliner. Brandon Montour, FLA13. His highest ratings come in deking and discipline, both of which sit at 95. This list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua. As for Nashville, the Predators have now traded three contributing players off the roster Nino Niederreiter to the Winnipeg Jets and Tanner Jeannot to the Tampa Bay Lightning harvesting mostly draft choices, two young players and Barrie. Defensive Minded will allow the user to stick check and intercept passes more effectively and make them less likely to take a penalty when attempting a defensive play. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Ranking the NHL's top 20 defensemen for the 2022-23 season from Cale Makar to Brent Burns | Sporting News Canada BUF BOS 4:00p NSH FLA 4:00p PIT TB Remember how that looked: Nashville was a borderline playoff team and Ekholm looked like one of the most-cost effective adds out there a player earning $3.75 million in the next-to-last year of a six-year, $22.5 million contract hed signed with the Predators, a deal that was proving to be a massive bargain. This is a great Specialtythat gives a boost to some of thevery bestdefensive attributes when a defenseman will need them the most. WebWho are the top defensemen in NHL 21. Here, you will find the fastest forwards and defensemen to add to your team. However, even with that poise, his faceoffs are only a 77. Lindgren's more defensive style complements Fox's puck-moving game. Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters. Grzelcyk may be small for an NHL defenseman at 5'9" and 178 pounds, but he possesses good puck-moving skills. Brady Skjei, CAR46. Chychrun is an extremely underrated but extremely good shutdown guy. Only 22, Makar possesses the speed and offensive skills of a more seasoned NHL veteran. While his discipline is fine at 80, his offensive awareness is 77 and his poise a meager 70. Though limited to 33 points in 48 games last season, Josi remains among the game's elite mobile blueliners. All Rights Reserved. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2014-15, the 6'4", 215-pound Ekblad sits fourth among Panthers scorers in points (241) since his NHL debut. Signed in July by the Oilers to athree-year contract, Barrie's production should remain among the league's best. Samuel Bolduc could prove to be a steal for your franchise should you develop him appropriately. It didn't take Cale Makar long to secure his spot among the NHL's top stars. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the fastest players in NHL 22. He does have good defensive ratings otherwise with an 87 in stick checking and 85 in awareness, which may help mitigate his lower rating in shot blocking. 4. The linchpin of the Washington Capitals defense corps, John Carlson's smooth skating and offensive skills make him an invaluable part of their scoring attack too. Your email address will not be published. His aggressiveness and strength are 72 and body checking 70. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below. He has good skating skills with his non-balance ratings between 82 and 85. Nevertheless, he. The Def. Shawn enjoys discovering engaging stories, whether they be from movies, video games, books, or any other form in which they may be told. Age: 22Rating: 88Position: Right DefenseType: Offensive DefensemanTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 94 Agility, 93 Deking, 93 Passing. . He was second among Isles skaters in short-handed ice time per game (2:14) and takeaways (25), third in ice time per contest (21:03) and fourth with 73 blocked shots. Tyson Barrie, NSH40. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. Individual awards, experience and performance were among the items that factored into this ranking. Rasmus Sandin, WSH (NEW)45. Where he does lack as evidenced by the sub-80 rating is in faceoffs, where he has a career 44.8 win percentage, though he won a career-high 49.53 in 2020-21. 10 Best Perks For Defensemen In NHL 21. Inject some speed into your NHL 22 lines to get an edge against all of your opponents. However, concerning was his drop in shot percentage from 17.2 during his award-winning season to 11.4 during the 2020-2021 season. The trade. On a team that has superstar Seth Jones, CHI43. Maybe Klingberg is in their future if they can navigate the cap complications. They have the best all-around defenseman in hockey in Victor Hedman, so that is always a big plus in giving your blue line an edge. A model of consistency, the 6'3", 215-pound Carlson has reached or exceeded 32 points in 10 of his 12 NHL seasons. His puck skills need a lot of work, too, but that can be saved for later. Hes just good. Quinn Hughes 86 OVR (Potential: Elite Med) Team: Vancouver Canucks Age: 21 Position: Left Defense Type: Offensive Defenseman Shoots: Left Contract: $0.915M, 0 Years Left, Two-Way Best Attributes: 93 Speed, 93 Deking, 93 A gifted puck-handler who uses his skills well at both ends of the ice, the 23-year-old netted 44 points in as many games last season. WebDefensive Defenseman NHL 23 List of Players with Defensive Defenseman Archetype on NHL 23 Below is the latest list of Top 100 Players with Defensive Defenseman Player That's why it's crucial to have a strong first pairing to anchor a blue-line corps. If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The former Stanley Cup champion had 20 assists and nine goals across 41 games during the 2020-2021 season. Kris Letang, PIT15. Fox is the better known of the two. I've made the case that the Lightning defenseman could be the best all-around hockey player in the world. Roman Josi, NSH8. Defensively, his awareness is only 69 while his shot blocking and stick checking are 72. Advertisement. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy, 96 Deking, 96 Puck Control, 96 Off. As a sophomore, he tallied 44 points in as many games,leading the clubin power-play ice time per game (4:11) while finishing second with an average ice time per game of 24:19. Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. He had a longer runway than other young players," Lidstrom told me recently, "but boy, did he ever take off, in every aspect of his game.". Now, speed is not the only necessary skill a team needs, but it certainly helps bridge any gap or widen it for successful teams. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ac8a95dcd7c97b1d582a267662c16003" );document.getElementById("b90191b810").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. He has good puck and shooting skills. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Def. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as they, due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. While younger defensemen like the New York Rangers' Adam Fox and Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar are on the rise, Hedman's consistency makes him the league's best offensive blueliner. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young offensive defensemen in NHL 22. Nevertheless, Hughes finished third, Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. Cale Makar zooms onto the list with his 94 in agility and 93 in acceleration and speed, making him the fastest defenseman by speed score. One of the aspects of his game that doesn't get enough attention: That the Lightning have been able to play him with anyone and still Hedman excels. His awareness is only a 77, and both shot blocking and stick checking are 80. Noah Dobson, NYI21. among defensemen last season with 45 points. Two more had him second. Age: 26Rating: 93Position: Center/Right WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 95 Acceleration, 94 Hand-Eye, 94 Offensive Awareness. WebAt Odds Shark, we rank the best defensive teams in the NHL in several important handicapping categories. Tyson Barrie (David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). The fourth overall pick from the 2017 draft, Makar has great puck skills. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. Cale Makar, COL (INJ.)5. Age: 29Rating: 86Position: CenterType: PlaymakerTeam: Washington CapitalsShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 93 Acceleration, 93 Agility, 93 Speed. among defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. His puck skills and senses are even lower, but focus on one area at a time. Stretch passes are long passes from the defensive zone into the neutral zone. The fourth overall pick from the 2017 draft, Makar has great puck skills. It feels different but the learning curve is pretty minimal. Those abilities would make him the top defenseman in this year's NHL free-agent market, earning him a seven-year, The 6'6", 230-pounder isn't a physical blueliner, but he uses his long reach to strip opposing players of the puck and his big strides to move the puck up the ice. Erik Karlsson, SJS2. He's netted 30-plus points three times and could be poised to put up bigger numbers as he enters his playing prime. Respondents were asked to rank their top 10 players at center, winger, defenseman and goaltender, based on a predetermined list of the top 20 to 30 players at each position. On offense, Kuznetsov is a dangerous foe. Awareness and Def. If not, oh well youve got to ice a full lineup. The blueliners who didn't make the cut are as noteworthy as those who did. 0.97 PPG. He is also a good defenseman as his position would suggest with a 91 in stick checking, 87 in awareness, and 85 in shot blocking. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. The 23-year-old New York Rangers star took home the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, joining Hall of Famer Bobby Orr asthe only sophomoresto accomplish that feat. Thats a down-the-road problem for a team currently out of the playoff picture. If you wanted the fastest line incorporating a players secondary position, then your line would look like this: Johnny Gaudreau (93) Connor McDavid (96) Nathan MacKinnon (93) Quinn Hughes (93) Cole Makar (93.33). The East is an arms race, sure, but theres a whole other side of the playoff bracket. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. NHL 22: Fastest Players (Forwards and Defensemen), NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode Draft: Best Prospects and Top Draft Steals 2022 (First Draft), NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. He needs vast improvement in his senses and puck skills, and a bit more focus on his skating. Crusher will allow theuser to make bigger bodychecks more often and stayon their feet more effectively. Hes able to score from the dots and around the net. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, reached the Cup Final in 2015 and won the 2019 Presidents' Trophy with a, . He followed that up by becoming a finalist last season for the, Only 22, Makar possesses the speed and offensive skills of a more seasoned NHL veteran. For all his perceived defensive deficiencies, Barrie has been an effective player for the Oilers this year. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. Hes not flashy. RELATED:10 Best Badges For Centers In NBA 2K21. Josh Morrissey, WPG6. Weegar emerged from Ekblad's shadow last season, netting a career-high 36 points in 54 games. A gifted playmaker, he led all defensemenin 2020-21 with 42 assists and finished second with 47 points. Part of the New York Rangers' recent rebuilding process, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox have been together since their first full seasons in 2019-20. It is also something that cannot be taught. "Hedman came in young. production (0.59) over the past two seasons slid to 24th among NHL blueliners. When the other team is in your zone and running a tight triangle just spinning and waiting for u to make a mistake if u just hold your poke check out and wag your stick around the added height makes your stick longer and having 96 poke check u just wag your stick back and forth till u get good at swatting away pass attempts. He has a fine shot, but his accuracies are paltry at 69 each. With his team off to stumbling start to this season, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz separated his top defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock by moving the latter to the second pairing to skate alongside Zdeno Chara. Now the Rangers' undisputed top blueliner, Fox will face considerable pressure to follow up last season's impressive performance. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. among Canucks regular-season scorers and third with 16 points in postseason scoring. His two-career game-winning goals came during the 2019-20 season when he had eight goals and 45 assists over 68 games, pitching in 14 assists and two goals over 17 playoff games in his only postseason experience. Awareness, 93 Puck Control, 93 Off. Required fields are marked *. All rights reserved. 1.00 PPG average. Aaron Ekblad, FLA47. David Pastrnak, like Gaudreau, has a 93 rating in acceleration, agility, and speed. Fehervarys hand-eye is only 71 with his other puck skills all at 77. Discuss the NHL, AHL, PHF, IIHF, KHL, and every other hockey league you can think of! To determine the fastest skaters in NHL 22, we calculated Outsider Gamings Speed Score by averaging the total of a players speed, acceleration, and agility ratings. Thanks to his powerful shot, he sits fourth among all rearguards with 94 total goalssince 2014-15. At the risk of being cooked by a subgroup of Edmonton fans, I dont think moving out Barrie is necessarily addition by subtraction. A defensive defenseman is your first step in establishing a top-line defense. Age: 28Rating: 92Position: Right WingType: SniperTeam: Tampa Bay LightningShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 96 Deking, 96 Puck Control, 96 Offensive Awareness. He has good senses with a 94 in offensive awareness, 91 in defensive awareness, and 90 in poise. Ryan Graves, NJD48. The 2013 first overall draft pick and Calder Memorial Trophy winner had 45 assists and 20 goals in 48 games during the 2020-21 season. K'Andre Miller, D, NYR (suspended)32. Do you agree or disagree with our selections? He has a 95 in deking, passing, puck control, offensive awareness, and wrist shot accuracy. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the rest of the 2022-23 season. He led them in short-handed ice time per game (2:35), was second in average ice time (23:47) per game andblocked shots with 534, and he was fifth with 167 points. He was ranked No. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. Shawn has co-written and co-produced numerous plays, one of which was featured at the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Not bad. Kucherov is in rather that Pastrnak as Kucherov has a higher overall rating, but both are fine as they have the same speed score. The 35-year-old Yandle sitsfourth overallamong defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. Thanks to his powerful shot, he sits fourth among all rearguards with 94 total goals. Maintaining an elite defensive pairing can mean the difference between a contender and a pretender. That includes a career-high 72 points (along with 20 goals) in 2018-19. He has been on the plus side of puck possession in eight straight seasons. Nashville also retained 4 percent of the contract, according to Pierre LeBrun. Dougie Hamilton's offensive skills were apparent early in his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, exceeding 40 points for the first time in 2014-15. Two more had him Is it more important for Edmonton to avoid an overpay in two years when theyve got McDavid and Draisaitl right now, in a conference where the top teams have seemed unwilling or unable to reach for the brass ring? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Adam Fox, NYR3. Traits come in versions one or two and will decrease other attributes depending on which version is chosen. Some are established veterans, while others are young blueliners rising quickly among the ranks of the game's elite puck-moving rearguards. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL23. Awareness, 91 Passing, 91 Puck Control, 91 Stick Checking. Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. Traits and Specialties will make or break a build NHL 21's online modes. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. So Ive been using the dangler for all positions in 3s. NHLs Best Defense Pairs of 2021-22. Jett Woo, former second round pick of Vancouver, finds himself atop this list thanks to his Top 4 D Med potential grade. Unlike Kukkonen, Montgomery is just 18. The former MVP and two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion had 52 assists and 33 goals over 68 games during the 2019-20 first championship season, adding 27 assists and seven goals over 25 playoff games. Best Canadian Casinos. Eventually, the Oilers will get the injured Evander Kane back probably in about 10 days so their roster up front is probably deep enough, especially since playing 11 forwards and seven defensemen as often as they do just means more ice time for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Awareness by 4 points instead of Passing, and the ability to break up opposing passes is more important for defensemen than completing their passes. However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. If you want to still be able to bang some bodies, but not sacrifice a ton of speed/athleticism. 1 earned 10 points, No. He should remain among the league's high-scoring defensemen while skating with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He is second to John Carlson of the Capitals in points-per-game average among defensemen since the 2017-18 season (0.83). In 20 I used a 59 186 Sniper so I could still pose a threat offensively and be big enough to knock most builds off the puck, this year it doesnt stand a chance Im curious to find a versatile build appreciate anyone who responds. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-old, among NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. For defensemen, the parameters were dropped to 90 and 85. The 6'2", 215-pounder logged a team-leading 22:26 of ice time per game last season, finishing second in blocked shots with 106 and fifth with 97 hits. After Jamie Oleksiak's offseason departure to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, he also leads them in hits over that period with 134. Arguably the best player in hockey, Connor McDavid has lived up to the hype since being drafted first overall by Edmonton in 2015. Required fields are marked *. Evaluating the top 10 defensemen in ESPN's 2021 NHL position-by-position rankings is a study in competing philosophies on how to properly evaluate the position. The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year is entering his third season, but has already made an impact in his first two. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. But that wasnt nearly enough to squeeze in Ekholm which is why Tyson Barrie, the quarterback of the Oilers No. His shot power for both is a 92 with his wrist shot accuracy edging his slap shot accuracy 93 to 90. His 85 in durability should keep him on the ice to learn and grow, and his 84 in both slap and wrist shot power makes him a good offensive force from the right defense. Johnny Gaudreau is fast with a 93 in acceleration, agility, and speed, but he is more than just a blur. Best NHL Defenseman: Points per Game. Predators retain four percent of Ekholm remaining cap hit/salary, Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 28, 2023. Awareness while on the penalty kill. He could move up among the elite puck-movers with a strong outing in 2021-22. He's ledall NHL defensemenin total points over the past four seasons with 257. Age: 28Rating: 87Position: Left WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Calgary FlamesShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 95 Deking, 95 Discipline, 93 Speed. He is decent enough at defense with an 83 in shot blocking, 81 in stick checking, and 79 in awareness. 2. Oilers get: Defenseman Mattias Ekholm (4 percent of salary retained by the Predators), 2024 sixth-round pick, Predators get: Defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Reid Schaefer, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick. What metrics best define value for scoring defensemen or "defensive" defensemen? The 31-year-old's point-per-game production (0.56) declined over the past two seasons to 29th among all rearguards as the Kings rebuilt with younger talent. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.)4. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-oldsits sixthin pointsamong NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. A Norris Trophy winner in 2015-16, Doughty had exceeded the 40-point plateau seven times in his 13 NHL seasons. The 5'11", 187-pounder collected 50 points in 57 games as a rookie to finish second. The 24-year-old Werenski is a skilled and mobile blueliner, tallying 47 points as a rookie in 2016-17. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? Another big defender at 6'3" and 205 pounds, Pelech tends to play a more defensive role. Hedman, 30, has played every season with the Lightning since coming into the NHL as a 19-year-old in 2009-10. The 23-year-old McAvoy rose in just four seasons to become the Bruins' top defenseman. Scoring goals is the name of the game in hockey, but it's also important to limit an opponent's offensive opportunities. The rise of the Florida Panthers among the NHL's top teams since last season can be attributed in part to their first defensive pairing of MacKenzie Weegar and Aaron Ekblad. Signed to a newsix-year contract, Hughes will be a significant contributor to the Canucks' offensive punch. Some are fast, others are not. He scored 48 goals during the 2019-2020 season (with 47 assists) over 70 games, winning the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy as top goal scorer. Dougie Hamilton's offensive skills were apparent early in his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, exceeding 40 points for the first time in 2014-15. The Golden Knights' patience in developing Theodore's game is paying off. This list has the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. They cleared cap space and added a first-round pick to the haul they received for Jeannot. by Last season for the Binghamton Devils, Okhotyuk had four assists and two goals in 28 games. Yes that is true the poke checks are OP. in power-play ice time per game (4:11) while finishing second with an average ice time per game of 24:19. However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. 2) Victor Hedman, Lightning 2020-21 Stats: 9 G, 36 A in 54 GP Hedman has been one of the league's top defensemen, particularly from an offensive standpoint, for Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. He exceeded the 40-point plateau again in 2018-19 and 2019-20. During the 2019-20 season, he had 33 assists and 19 goals over 63 games. That suggests he still has some productive seasons left in him. But I just got back to dv1 and the elite badge players are playing the same l2 game and there's nothing wrong with that adding l2 into your game is a really useful skill. He is a tall, mobile, intelligent defender who provides value at both ends of the ice. Rasmus Andersson, CGY29. RELATED:NHL 21, 10 Under The Radar Players To Acquire In Franchise Mode. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. The 6'6", 230-pounder isn't a physical blueliner, but he uses his long reach to strip opposing players of the puck and his big strides to move the puck up the ice. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy.