NHL Network: Top 20 Defenseman

Whether it’s breaking up a big play, setting up a goal or scoring on the power play, some defensemen can do it all. It’s time to take a look at the League’s “Top 20 Defensemen Right Now” as chosen by a panel of NHL Network experts:

1. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Doughty, 26, has been one of the best defensemen in the NHL for a number of seasons, and won the Norris Trophy for the first time in 2016. He didn’t win the Conn Smythe Trophy in either of the Kings’ Stanley Cup championship runs, but he would have been a worthy recipient either time. He has won Olympic gold medals twice, and was a critical part of Canada’s success in both tournaments. He had 51 points last season (14 goals, 37 assists), the second-highest of his NHL career (59 points in 2009-10), and he’s one of three defensemen to average more than 27 minutes per game of ice time during the past three seasons. Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild and Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators are the others.

2. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

Karlsson, 26, is one of the game’s best offensive players at the position. He has won the Norris Trophy twice, and had an NHL career-high 82 points last season, including a League-best 66 assists. He became the first defenseman in 20 years to have as many points in a season (Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers had 85 points and Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins had 82, in 1995-96), and his 222 points the past three seasons are 39 more points than any defenseman. If Karlsson wins the Norris again, he’ll be one of nine in NHL history to do so at least three times.

3. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

Burns, 31, has been back on defense for the past two seasons and is making the case to stay there permanently. His playful personality has boosted his profile, but his play cemented his stardom. Burns had NHL career highs with 27 goals and 75 points last season, and had 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) to help the Sharks reach the Stanley Cup Final. He has 598 shots on goal the past two seasons, 58 more than the next defenseman (Erik Karlsson, 540).

4. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

Keith, 33, is the only active player other than Karlsson to have won the Norris Trophy twice. Keith’s time on ice is monitored during the regular season, but he often plays an incredible amount during the postseason. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015 after he had 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 23 games while averaging 31:06 of ice time during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s the second-most by any player who reached the Stanley Cup Final since 1998, just shy of Nicklas Lidstrom’s 31:10 in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings.

5. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

The No. 2 pick of the 2009 NHL Draft, Hedman, 25, was rewarded with an eight-year, $63 million contract extension July 1. He has size (6-foot-6, 223 pounds) and is one of the best passers in the League at the position, especially on long-distance outlets to help ignite the Lightning offense. He might be the best bet to be the next first-time Norris Trophy winner now that Doughty has won it.

6. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

Letang, 29, is second among defensemen in points per game in the past three seasons (0.81) behind Karlsson (0.90), but has had trouble staying healthy. That wasn’t a problem during the 2016 playoffs, and he was a critical component of the Penguins’ second championship in eight years. He had three goals and 12 assists in 23 games, averaged 28:52 of ice time per game and was a contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy.

7. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

Josi, 26, might not be the most noted defenseman in Nashville, but quietly has become one of the best in the League. Josi is highly skilled and played on the Predators’ top pair with Shea Weber. Going from Weber to P.K. Subban, acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 29, as a …

continue reading in source sharks.nhl.com