Those defensemen log the most ice time among their teammates, including in power-play and short-handed situations. Matt Grzelcyk, BOS42. Ekholm was finally getting paid for a decade of quiet, effective service to the Preds. Sean Gentille:Dont let the multiple elements in play here confuse you; each teams respective goal is obvious. This I's a trick alot of people don't no and I dont like telling lol but if u hold out poke check with r1 and u press in r3 u get an added poke. In just two seasons, Adam Fox has joined the ranks of the NHL's elite defensemen. After ranking the wingers last week, here are the positional rankings for defensemen for the 2020-21 season, according to those in the NHL we surveyed. The Preds? Nevertheless, he. Team: Carolina HurricanesAge: 18Position: Right Defense/Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: RightContract: $0.750M, 0 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 82 Slap Shot Power, 81 Wrist Shot Power, 80 Durability. That led to Miro Heiskanen becoming Lindell's partner. The below table lists all of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. Do you agree or disagree with our selections? There are those, however, who are as renowned for their offensive skills as their defensive ones. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It will also decrease the The Oilers can stick him on the left side of their second pair, where he can help eat some tough minutes and lighten the load on Darnell Nurse, and forget about him. Hockey Sense will allow the user to intercept passes and pick up loose pucks more effectively, as well as make better passes and shots. . 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 This is a great Specialtythat gives a boost to some of thevery bestdefensive attributes when a defenseman will need them the most. Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters. Since his debut in 2017-18, the 23-year-old McAvoy has steadily developed as the Bruins' top defenseman. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. He led all blueliners in scoring last season, , Barrie's production should remain among the league's best. If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so. Depends on the Norris nominee, though. He is decent enough at defense with an 83 in shot blocking, 81 in stick checking, and 79 in awareness. Theyre blowing things up. Hes an ideal short-term piece with a problematic short-term contract ($6.25 million AAV for three seasons after this one). His 0.67 points-per-game average is second to Erik Karlsson (0.79), Letang is approaching the period in his career when his offensive output could start to decline. For defensemen, they'll want their build to have perks that help them break up plays with their stick, make good hits, and make quick breakout passes out of their zone. 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. among defensemen, and he's fifth in total points with 412 over the same period. 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. Aaron Ekblad, FLA47. The Oilers have previously been linked to a series of skilled mostly offensive defencemen Erik Karlsson and John Klingberg, to name just two. Player stats (accurate as of Oct. 29) viaNHL.com. Awareness, and Discipline by 2, 3, and 2 points. Choosing NHL 22s best young defensive defensemen. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. It will be interesting seeing who runs the Oilers two power play units now with Barrie out. The second version of this perk will reduce the player's Endurance and Strength by 2 and 3 points, and defensemen will need their cardio and strength more than their agility. Of those 33 goals, 11 were game-winners, while two were netted in overtime. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Chychrun is an extremely underrated but extremely good shutdown guy. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. One of two New Jersey players on this list, Okhotyuk gains the edge over Kevin Bahl who is rated higher overall thanks to the higher potential of the imposing Russian. With Binghamton in 27 games, he had four assists and one goal. Press J to jump to the feed. Given the effectiveness of Pelech and Pulock as a shutdown blue-line tandem, however, don't be surprised if they're reunited at some point this season. His defense is adequate, but still needs improvement. Inject some speed into your NHL 22 lines to get an edge against all of your opponents. He should remain among the league's high-scoring defensemen while skating with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Already an ESPN+ subscriber? NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen, NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Free Agents to Sign, NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy, 96 Deking, 96 Puck Control, 96 Off. 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. 2 earned nine points and so on. The Calder Memorial Trophy winner in2014-15, Aaron Ekblad has five seasons with at least 36 points, including a career-best 41 points in 2019-20. Morgan Rielly, TOR27. A strong skater who logs big minutes for the Maple Leafs, the 27-year-old Rielly reached or exceeded 27 points in each of his eight NHL campaigns. However, it's not unusual for there to be two swift-skating defenders who can also generate offense or two defensive-minded rearguards who can neutralize an opponent's top scorers. Crusher 1. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. Traits and Specialties will make or break a build NHL 21's online modes. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. If you're able to handle that ice time and still perform, or even get better as the game goes on, that's very important.". In just two seasons, Adam Fox has joined the ranks of the NHL's elite defensemen. Jakob Chychrun, OTT19. Arguably the best player in hockey, Connor McDavid has lived up to the hype since being drafted first overall by Edmonton in 2015. He followed that up by becoming a finalist last season for theJames Norris Memorial Trophy. He is second to John Carlson of the Capitals in points-per-game average among defensemen since the 2017-18 season (0.83). Weegar emerged from Ekblad's shadow last season, netting a career-high 36 points in 54 games. He is also one of five players with a speed score of 93, so the order of these five are interchangeable. He was also their leading scorer (26 points) in the, A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. Gustav Forsling, FLA41. With a minimum of twenty game played, here is a look at the top 10 NHL defenseman based on a 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. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. Add those to his mediocre scores in senses with a 75 in discipline and a 70 in both offensive awareness and poise and its clear that it will take time, but that he can develop into a solid player. 1.00 PPG average. Some are established veterans, while others are young blueliners rising quickly among the ranks of the game's elite puck-moving rearguards. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT31. He was also their leading scorer (26 points) in the2020 playoffs. Fox is the better known of the two. We are the premier subreddit to talk everything hockey! 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 New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Eric Duhatschek:It was only two years ago when the Nashville Predators Mattias Ekholm was at or near the top of everybodys trade board heading into the 2021 NHL trade deadline. A gifted playmaker, he led all defensemenin 2020-21 with 42 assists and finished second with 47 points. His puck-moving abilities and offensive instincts make him among the league's top rearguards. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. His deking, puck control, and awareness are at 96 while his hand-eye, passing, poise, and wrist shot accuracy are at 95. That includes a career-high 72 points (along with 20 goals) in 2018-19. Though limited to 33 points in 48 games last season, Josi remains among the game's elite mobile blueliners. The primary role of NHL defensemen is to prevent their opponents from scoring. The East is an arms race, sure, but theres a whole other side of the playoff bracket. The players chosen for this list are all 21 and younger and chosen based on the grade in potential. But who are the best shutdown beasts that come to mind for you? A model of consistency, the 6'3", 215-pound Carlson has reached or exceeded 32 points in 10 of his 12 NHL seasons. The Lead Editor at OG, Bruce has been an avid gamer since childhood, owning the NES, SNES, N64, PS one, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, and Switch throughout his life. The 22-year-old Finn's 25:05 time on ice per game ranks seventh among all defensemen since last season. Like his counterpart from Edmonton, MacKinnon excels in every aspect of the game. Brent Burns, CAR10. His physical ratings are good with an 83 in aggressiveness, body checking, and strength. Josh He can use improvement in all aspects, particularly puck skills and defense. Unlike Burns and Karlsson, his point-per-game (0.83) over thepast two seasonsremains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. A big, skillful all-around defender, the 27-year-old Lindell has led the NHL since 2018-19 in short-handed ice time (718:12) among players with 100-plus games played, averaging 3:21 minutes per contest. Injuries and a shortened schedule limited him to 32 points in 2019-20, but he netted 36 points in 53 games the following season. It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Accuracy, Slap Shot Accuracy, and Deking by 2, 2, and 3 points. All of his puck skills are in the 60s, and none of his defense skills are above 79. remains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. Bruce holds a Ph.D. in Education and formerly taught undergraduates as an adjunct instructor. This perk will apply to poke checks, but not for the ability to intercept passes with their stick. WebThe best defence is a good offence. Awareness, 93 Puck Control, 93 Off. Predators get: Defenseman Tyson On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to thank Jakob for He also checks the boxes on the physical end. 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 5'11", 187-pounder collected 50 points in 57 games as a rookie to finish secondamong Avalanche scorers. Thanks to his powerful shot, he sits fourth among all rearguards with 94 total goalssince 2014-15. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, Burns enjoyed five straight 60-plus point campaigns from 2014-15 to 2018-19, including a career-best 83-point effort. Your email address will not be published. Truth be told: The two guys in the top spots are really in a 1A On Tuesday, the Oilers decided the answer was yes. Pairing Ellis with Provorov should give the Flyers one of this season's top defensive duos. Rasmus Sandin, WSH (NEW)45. It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Power and Puck Control by 4 and 2 points. His puck skills and senses are even lower, but focus on one area at a time. His three highlighted attributes are his best, which should help keep him on the ice. Miska Kukkonen is rare for this list in that he has played all of his career for Finnish teams and the Finland national team. Entering his fourth year, Hughes helped Vancouver with 38 assists and three goals over 56 games during the 2020-21 season. Age: 22Rating: 88Position: Right DefenseType: Offensive DefensemanTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 94 Agility, 93 Deking, 93 Passing. He led the Stars in playoff scoring with 26 points during their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. K'Andre Miller, D, NYR (suspended)32. The play of top-pairing defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock has been a significant contributing factor in the club's early success. All of which is a long preamble into why when Ekholm was finally traded after 719 career games in a Nashville uniform it was just another in a long line of complicated financial transactions that required some jockeying on the part of both clubs to make the dollars work. He has good puck and shooting skills. The previous season with the Ottawa 67s, he had 25 assists and six goals in 54 games. The first version of this perk will reduce the player's Balance by 4 points instead of Wrist Shot Power, and Balance is more important for defensemen to make sure they're not knocked off the puck in their zone. In those eight seasons, he's, behind Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson in total points among defensemen with 429. Awareness and Def. Interceptor will allow the user to not only intercept passes more effectively, but to get into position to make a good defensive play with the boost to Agility, as well. Esa Lindell and John Klingberg were the Dallas Stars' best defense pairing prior to this season. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. Awareness while on the penalty kill. Stretch passes are long passes from the defensive zone into the neutral zone. In modern hockey, it is imperative to have speed on your lines, or your team is doomed to failure. This year is the first year of that extension, which changed the arithmetic as it related to Ekholm as a trade chip this time around. Target Slapper will allow the user to shoot slap shots with more accuracy and power. This will allow them to be the best defenseman they can be without worry about taking penalties. All Rights Reserved. While his discipline is fine at 80, his offensive awareness is 77 and his poise a meager 70. The Predators are in transition longtime GM David Poile is calling the shots until the end of June, when his retirement becomes official. 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. This page will look at the best young up-and-coming defensive defensemen in NHL 22, with names like Top 20 defensemen in the NHL for the 2022-23 season of the last four seasons with the exception being the shortened year in 2020-21. If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. His hand-eye and slap shot accuracy are both 94. 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. Covers does not provide any advice or guidance as to the legality of online sports betting or other online gambling activities within your jurisdiction and you are responsible for complying with laws that are applicable to you in your relevant locality. That said, hes certainly worse than Ekholm and only a year younger, and the Oilers needed to send out money to make the deal work. Your first click here will rank He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Stick Checking, and Def. Players who were ranked in the top 10 on each ballot were given a numerical score: No. 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. , Hughes will be a significant contributor to the Canucks' offensive punch. Whether its Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, the Rangers, the Devils theyre going to have to play someone from the Western Conference. 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. 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. The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year is entering his third season, but has already made an impact in his first two.