One of the most common denominators of Stanley Cup-winning teams is a legitimate No. 1 defenseman. Given their importance, we rarely see them traded or become unrestricted free agents.
The best way to acquire one is through the draft, and then teams have to be patient in their development because of how difficult it is for young D-men to make the transition to the NHL.
Who are the best defensemen in hockey right now? Check out the list below for our 2015-16 season rankings. It should be noted that the difference between the top five is pretty small, so calm down Senators fans.
1) Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
Doughty played the second-most minutes of any player last season with the Kings blue line decimated by injuries, offseason departures and suspension. He still performed at a high level at both ends of the ice while driving puck possession — best even-strength shot attempt percentage of all D-men last season — and defending opponents’ top forwards. Doughty also played a huge role on both special teams units.
2) Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP is a two-way machine. He mixes excellent defensive play with some of the highest scoring production from the defenseman position, in addition to fantastic passes from the backend that evade the forecheck and start the transition up ice.
3) Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
Giordano likely would have won the Norris Trophy last season if he didn’t suffer a biceps injury in February. He plays over 25 minutes per game, drives puck possession much better than his teammates and provides consistent scoring production. Don’t be surprised if Giordano is a Hart Trophy candidate in 2015-16, especially if the Flames return to the playoffs.
4) P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Subban is perhaps the best skater among all defensemen. His offensive skills, both in terms of scoring and playmaking, are off the charts. He’s also a beast on the power play, where he scores goals with a powerful shot from the point.
5) Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Karlsson is as good as it gets when talking about offensive defensemen. He’s tallied 66 or more points in three of the last four seasons (he was hurt for most of 2012-13).
Karlsson is a better defensive player than people give him credit for. He’s not a typical “shutdown” guy, but he doesn’t need to defend as much as most players because the Senators usually have the puck when their captain is on the ice.
6) Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
If Ekman-Larsson played in a market like Toronto, he might already have a Norris Trophy, or at least a few Norris finalist seasons on his resume. But in Arizona, the casual fan doesn’t notice him, which is too bad. He’s a very talented, smooth skating blueliner who makes smart decisions with the puck, creates offense for himself and teammates, and plays a ton of minutes.
7) Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hedman finally received national recognition during the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. Truth is, he’s been very good for several seasons. He’s an excellent skater, tallies between 35 and 55 points and drives possession at a high rate.
8) Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers
McDonagh is a physical, smart defenseman who plays the shutdown role for the Rangers against opponents’ top forwards. He blocks shots, is well positioned, strips pucks and joins the rush to provide occasional scoring production. He’s among the most reliable blueliners in the league.
9) Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Letang is a fantastic skater and among the best offensive defensemen in the league. He tallied 54 points last season despite playing in just 69 games. The only concern with Letang is health. He’s battled injuries throughout his career, and most recently, a stroke.
10) Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
Suter is an excellent two-way defensemen who provides offense consistently and takes on the toughest defensive assignments, including the penalty kill. He led all players in ice time per game last season, often playing 30-plus minutes in a single game. That kind of workload would tire a lot of players, but Suter still excels at both ends of the ice.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
