A skilled, young defenseman with considerable offensive ability, Quinn Hughes' 53-point performance in 2019-20 made him a finalist for theCalder Memorial Trophy. RELATED:NHL 21, 10 Prospects To Draft In Franchise Mode. Montgomery did not appear for the London Knights last season, but during 2019-2020, he had two assists in 33 games. During the 2020-21 season, Pastrnak had 28 assists and 20 goals over 48 games with six of those goals and 14 assists coming on the power play. 3. Hes been a big part of a top WHL team in Seattle over the last two seasons and played a limited role on Canadas World Junior team this winter. Top It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly. Foden's return to form helps mask De Bruyne's troubles. The 30-year-old Barrie's offensive skills put him seventh, since 2013-14 with 381 career points. Brodin is especially shut down exclusive, so often gets missed. The Colorado Avalanche began this season with Devon Toews sidelined by offseason shoulder surgery. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. (Photo: Danny Murphy / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. His puck-moving abilities and offensive instincts make him among the league's top rearguards. He struggled at times with his new club last season, finishing with 32 points. Senators land Jakob Chychrun as Coyotes continue to unload He had three game-winning goals and four power play goals. Defensive Defenseman NHL 23 Players | NHL Ratings Lindgren is also fourth at even-strength time per contest (17:16) and in blocked shots with 66. You have to be able to defend," he told me. Now 31, Carlson continues to produce at a high level, tallying 44 points in 52 contests last season. If not, oh well youve got to ice a full lineup. That's the first time he was below 40 points in a season since 2014-15. This will allow them to be the best defenseman they can be without worry about taking penalties. Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. His deking, puck control, and awareness are at 96 while his hand-eye, passing, poise, and wrist shot accuracy are at 95. NHL 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. "That means you're playing all the power-play minutes but also have to have the ability to play against the opponents' top lines. The 26-year-old rearguard netted 46 points in 71 games in 2019-20 and 42 points in 53 games last season. , Aaron Ekblad has five seasons with at least 36 points, including a career-best 41 points in 2019-20. His production from the blue line during the 2018 playoffs played a crucial role in their march to the 2018 Stanley Cup, A model of consistency, the 6'3", 215-pound Carlson has reached or exceeded 32 points in 10 of his 12 NHL seasons. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT31. That's why it's crucial to have a strong first pairing to anchor a blue-line corps. Do you agree or disagree with our selections? 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. However, the 36-year-old'spoint-per-gameproduction (0.59) over the past two seasons slid to 24th among NHL blueliners. Where he could improve is on the defensive end, particularly since he plays a defensive position. 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. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. Defensively, his awareness is only 69 while his shot blocking and stick checking are 72. A Norris Trophy winner in 2015-16, Doughty had exceeded the 40-point plateau seven times in his 13 NHL seasons. The fastest line to play in NHL 22 is as follows, with each player selected on their speed score and preferred position: Johnny Gaudreau (93) Connor McDavid (96) Nikita Kucherov (93) Quinn Hughes (93) Cale Makar (93.33). 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. This perk will apply to poke checks, but not for the ability to intercept passes with their stick. Since last season, the 6'3" 220-pound Finn leads the Stars in blocked shots with 120. Last night I ran a 6"5 defensive defenseman with stick em up and defensive minded. The second version of this perk reduces the player's passing by 4 points instead of their Wrist Shot Accuracy, and defensemen will need to make a good outlet pass more often than they'll need to take an accurate wrist shot. Matt Grzelcyk, BOS42. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their respective primes, tomorrow isnt nearly as critical for the Oilers. Awareness boost also helps the user pick up loose pucks after a blocked shot. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. Josi made his NHL debut in 2011-12 but came into his own as a point producer in 2013-14 with a 40-point performance. Injuries and a shortened schedule limited him to 32 points in 2019-20, but he netted 36 points in 53 games the following season. NHL 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. 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. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, John Klingberg wasted little time establishing himself among the NHL's scoring defensemen, tallying 40 points in 65 games in 2014-15. Since last season, he's secondamong Rangers skaters in short-handed ice time per game (2:31) and inhits with 104. He is a ridiculously talented player. Maintaining an elite defensive pairing can mean the difference between a contender and a pretender. Webname season tm gp g a p +/-pim ppg ppa shg sha gwg otg s s% toi/gp; tyson barrie: 2022-23 Age: 29Rating: 86Position: CenterType: PlaymakerTeam: Washington CapitalsShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 93 Acceleration, 93 Agility, 93 Speed. I've made the case that the Lightning defenseman could be the best all-around hockey player in the world. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. That led to Miro Heiskanen becoming Lindell's partner. However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. Hes not flashy. Though limited to 33 points in 48 games last season, Josi remains among the game's elite mobile blueliners. No defenseman has as many as Karlsson's 468 assists since he entered the league in 2009-10. While he had no power play goals, he did have 19 assists on the power play. NEXT:NHL 21, 10 Tips To Win The Stanley Cup In Franchise Mode, Shawn is a Canadian writer for ScreenRant who studied Communications and Philosophy at The University of Ottawa. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. The pairing usually consists of a skilled puck-mover and a shutdown blueliner. 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. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Stick Checking, and Def. NHL 21 player ratings: The best defensemen - Gamepur It will also decrease the player's Agility by 3 points. in 2020-21 with 42 assists while finishing second with 47 points. So Ive been using the dangler for all positions in 3s. Lidstrom retired in 2012, so he wasn't a voter in our survey. 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. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.)4. Fact-Checking, Corrections & DMCA Takedowns, NHL 22 Fight Guide: How to Start a Fight, Tutorials, and Tips, NHL 22 X-Factors Explained: Zone and Superstar Abilities, All X-Factor Players Lists, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Grinders, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Power Forwards, NHL 22 Be A Pro: How to Build the Best Two-Way Center, NHL 22: How to Win Faceoffs, Faceoff Chart, and Tips, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Left Wingers. Brandon Montour, FLA13. Eight-year veteran Evegeny Kuznetsov still exhibits his fast legs even at 29 years of age, with a 93 in acceleration, agility, and speed. 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. Bahls non-balance skate skills all fall below 80, albeit only slightly. Team: Washington CapitalsAge: 21Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.790M, 2 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 87 Balance, 87 Wrist Shot Power, 87 Strength. Rasmus Andersson, CGY29. Drew Doughty, LAK22. Expect him to be reunited with Cale Makar and for the duo pick up where they left off last season as one of the NHL's best defensive pairings. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young offensive defensemen in NHL 22. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. It feels as if the Predators could potentially flip Barrie at some point. For now, their priority was obvious they needed someone to strengthen their overall defensive play in front of goaltenders Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner. 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. WebMost valuable options at position for standard leagues; new podcast episodes. Age: 28Rating: 87Position: Left WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Calgary FlamesShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 95 Deking, 95 Discipline, 93 Speed. His puck skills need a lot of work, too, but that can be saved for later. Recent performance, career offensive numbers and consistency factored into this compilation. 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. Favorite additions though are adding practice for your club and a free skate mode when editing/testing different load outs. Though sidelined by a recent injury, the 30-year-old has four points in his first three games whileaveraging 24:09 minutes per game. The fourth overall pick from the 2017 draft, Makar has great puck skills. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Fact-Checking, Corrections & DMCA Takedowns, NHL 22 X-Factors Explained: Zone and Superstar Abilities, All X-Factor Players Lists, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Goalies, NHL 22 Be A Pro: How to Build the Best Two-Way Center, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensemen, 95 Acceleration, 94 Hand-Eye, 94 Off. Speed, as they say, kills. For forwards, the search parameters were having a minimum of 91 in speed and acceleration with an 87 in agility. However, concerning was his drop in shot percentage from 17.2 during his award-winning season to 11.4 during the 2020-2021 season. 0.85 PPG. Still, his point-per-game percentage over the. He had a team-leading 4:11 of power-play ice time per game, tied for most takeaways with 32 and finished second in average ice time (24:19) per contest. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. They get fatigued. He had four different primary defensive partners -- Jan Rutta, Dan Girardi, Jake Dotchin and Anton Stralman -- during his four straight Norris nominations. In other words, they didnt sacrifice either Evan Bouchard or Philip Broberg in the deal, two of their better young defensemen. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. Since his debut in 2017-18, the 23-year-old McAvoy has steadily developed as the Bruins' top defenseman. Work to improve those three to at least 85. 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.". The below table lists all of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. Noah Dobson, NYI21. While his discipline is fine at 80, his offensive awareness is 77 and his poise a meager 70. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Esa Lindell and John Klingberg were the Dallas Stars' best defense pairing prior to this season. 1 on 14 of the 20 ballots. The 35-year-old Yandle sitsfourth overallamong defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. Last season for the Binghamton Devils, Okhotyuk had four assists and two goals in 28 games. Ranking the top 10 NHL defensemen entering the 2021 WebGet team defense stats for the 2020-2021 NHL season, including goals and shots against for the regular season and playoffs. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-old, among NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially onthe power play. It didn't take Cale Makar long to secure his spot among the NHL's top stars. 0.92 PPG. He led all rookies in points,finished fourthamong Canucks regular-season scorers and third with 16 points in postseason scoring. The blueliners who didn't make the cut are as noteworthy as those who did. Jakob Chychrun, OTT19. 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. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Amid a breakout season with the Flyers Awareness by 4 points each. 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. Hamilton says Mercedes a long way off pace, LIVE Transfer Talk: Bayern still keen on Kane despite new Choupo-Moting contract, Previewing the 2023 college baseball season: Teams and players to watch, key storylines, Road to the men's Frozen Four: Conference tournaments at a glance, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live', Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, could be the best all-around hockey player in the world, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. During the 2019-20 season, he had 33 assists and 19 goals over 63 games. among defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. 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. The 25-year-old had 22 points in 35 games in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Ranking the 10 Best Offensive Defenseman in the NHL Today On offense, Kuznetsov is a dangerous foe. Gustav Forsling, FLA41. NHL Team With Best Defense 2023 | StatMuse Zdeno Chara's departure last winter via free agency left the Bruins without a regular defense partner for rising star Charlie McAvoy. It's his offensive prowess, however, that draws the most attention. His awareness is only a 77, and both shot blocking and stick checking are 80. He has decent quickness with an 80 in acceleration, agility, and speed. He's fifth in total points (94) over the, and has yet to reach his playing prime. He exceeded the 40-point plateau again in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The 67 Bahl may prove to become a dominant force for your franchise, as imposing as his height would suggest. However, the offensive-minded Klingberg now skates alongside offseason acquisition Ryan Suter. 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. The 29-year-old became the Dallas Stars' highest-scoring blueliner over thepast seven seasonswith 327 career points and is ninth overall amongall NHL rearguardsduring that period. The seventh overall pick from 2018 has more than just speed. Flyers' Nick Seeler has emerged as a hot name in NHL trade Being down a man on the ice is when a defender's abilities to neutralize opposing attackers and help out the goalie will be called upon more than any other. Traits come in versions one or two and will decrease other attributes depending on which version is chosen. This list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua. Quinn Hughes, VAN12. The second version of this perk will reduce the player's Def. Only 22, Makar possesses the speed and offensive skills of a more seasoned NHL veteran. . In NHL 21, players can choose from a varied selection of Traits and Specialties that will boost the attributes of their player loadout for online World of CHEL modes. The Wild defender has been one of the leagues best defensive players for a while now. He has a 77 in shot blocking, which is decent, and better ratings with 85 in awareness and 87 in stick checking. Still, his point-per-game percentage over thepast two seasons(0.93) ranked second among defensemen with at least 100 games played. An impressive rookie campaign earned the Colorado Avalanche defenseman the, in 2019-20. The play of top-pairing defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock has been a significant contributing factor in the club's early success.