All of his puck skills are in the 60s, and none of his defense skills are above 79. Josh He and his teammates also struggled defensively, giving up the third-highest, (33.4) and sixth-most goals-against per game (3.34). Darnell Nurse, EDM35. The Predators listened on Ekholm, but ultimately decided he had more value to them going forward. He has an 80 in aggressiveness, body checking, and durability, though he does have an 87 in endurance and 86 in strength. They cleared cap space and added a first-round pick to the haul they received for Jeannot. The surveys were conducted over the past two months. He's fifth in total points (94) over the, and has yet to reach his playing prime. He also checks the boxes on the physical end. His balance and durability should keep him on the ice as he will rarely fall, which would increase the risk of injury. Injuries, however, have hampered the 31-year-old since joining the Sharks in 2018-19, dropping his. 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. Devon Toews, COL24. He has a 95 in deking, passing, puck control, offensive awareness, and wrist shot accuracy. He's their overall leader since 2016-17 in time on ice per game (24:09), short-handed ice time (2:48) and blocked shots with 722. 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. We canvassed 10 active NHL players -- seven skaters, three goaltenders -- and 10 individuals in team hockey operations, from coaches to general managers to player personnel executives. Shawn has co-written and co-produced numerous plays, one of which was featured at the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Miska Kukkonen is rare for this list in that he has played all of his career for Finnish teams and the Finland national team. 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). 1 earned 10 points, No. 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. His physical ratings are good with an 83 in aggressiveness, body checking, and strength. While Kukkonen does have good durability (85) and shot power (82 for both), he is a prospect in every sense of the word in that he needs plenty of time to develop. Stick 'Em Up will allow the user to make defensive plays with their stick and intercept passes much more effectively. He combines those with his 92 in passing, puck control, and offensive awareness, making him a fulcrum of any offensive attack hence why he is a playmaker. The physical blueliner is also their leader with 96 blocked shots and 52 takeaways, and he's second in hits with 136. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. He did see a steep drop off in shots, 51 less of them in 2020-21, but he also played in 22 less games than the year prior. Cale Makar, COL (INJ.) Fehervarys hand-eye is only 71 with his other puck skills all at 77. Awareness by 4 points instead of Passing, and the ability to break up opposing passes is more important for defensemen than completing their passes. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Quinn Hughes, VAN12. 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. Nevertheless, he. 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. It's his offensive prowess, however, that draws the most attention. Adam Fox, New York Rangers. 4. A skilled, young defenseman with considerable offensive ability, Quinn Hughes' 53-point performance in 2019-20 made him a finalist for theCalder Memorial Trophy. 0.85 PPG. Injuries and a shortened schedule limited him to 32 points in 2019-20, but he netted 36 points in 53 games the following season. Target Slapper will allow the user to shoot slap shots with more accuracy and power. The first version of this perk will reduce the player's Passing and Body Checking by 4 and 3 points, and, while the first version reduces fewer attributes, they are the more important attributes for a defenseman. Shawn enjoys discovering engaging stories, whether they be from movies, video games, books, or any other form in which they may be told. 2. Crusher will allow theuser to make bigger bodychecks more often and stayon their feet more effectively. Signed to a new. Injuries, however, have hampered the 31-year-old since joining the Sharks in 2018-19, dropping hispoint-per-game average(0.57) to 21st overall during that period. Yes, he has a big contract that goes for a while and hes up there in age, but McDavid doesnt care, its about winning right now in Edmonton. NHL Defensemen Scoring Leaders 20222023 1 2 3 4 5 6 OverallTime on IceGoalsAssistsPointsper 60per GameShotsDefensiveFaceoffs NHL defenseman stats In addition to his solid defensive game, his mobility, puck-moving skills and ability to log big minutes has contributed to his offensive success. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially onthe power play. 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. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below. , Aaron Ekblad has five seasons with at least 36 points, including a career-best 41 points in 2019-20. It didn't take Cale Makar long to secure his spot among the NHL's top stars. Those defensemen log the most ice time among their teammates, including in power-play and short-handed situations. Jeff Petry, PIT49. Since his sophomore campaign, he's been their overall leader in time on ice time per game (22:55). This perk will increase the player's Slap Shot Accuracy and Slap Shot Power by 4 and 2 points. Acquired from the Islanders last October, Toews meshed quickly with Makar. Brandon Montour, FLA13. 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. 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. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Fox is the better known of the two. Awareness and Def. Two more had him Where he could improve is on the defensive end, particularly since he plays a defensive position. All rights reserved. On Tuesday, the Oilers decided the answer was yes. Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty Few defensemen in the NHL could've done more with the surrounding talent Doughty had last year. He controls play in his own zone as a defensive stopper. He is also someone who rarely spends time in the penalty box, having spent just six minutes there during the 2020-21 season and amassing a total of 106 minutes over eight seasons. This perk will increase the player's Off. Others, like the Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar, excel on the attack. "I've seen players where their ice time goes up and their performance declines. The saying goes that offense wins games, but defense wins championships. He trades a slight bit of speed for a little more agility. 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. These are the best perks for defencemen who want to shut down opponents. The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year is entering his third season, but has already made an impact in his first two. He was also their leading scorer (26 points) in the2020 playoffs. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy. Second question - CHEL menu UI is different but an improvement. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as theymissed the playoffs,due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. Advertisement. That's the first time he was below 40 points in a season since 2014-15. Since last season, Fox has averaged a team-leading 24:43 of ice time. 1. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, CAR, John Carlson, WSHZach Werenski, CBJ (out for season). Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. Individual awards, experience and performance were among the items that factored into this ranking. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. The Golden Knights' patience in developing Theodore's game is paying off. Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, leading the Lightning to their Stanley Cup championship with 22 points in 25 games and 26 minutes, 28 seconds of average ice time. They are listed by left and right defense. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Then you've got Karlsson and Burns who, well, no. Shore up his physical ratings and he could be the best player in NHL 22 for your team. John Klingberg wasted little time establishing himself among the NHL's scoring defensemen, tallying 40 points in 65 games in 2014-15. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the fastest players in NHL 22. These perks can be used to either round out weaknesses in a build or highlighta build's strengths. It didn't take Cale Makar long to secure his spot among the NHL's top stars. Charlie McAvoy, BOS9. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Moritz Seider, DET26. Drew Doughty, LAK22. Corey Pronman: Ekholm is a legit high-in-the-lineup NHL defenseman. A finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, Makar is among the NHL's elite mobile defensemen. 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. 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. You have to be able to defend," he told me. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. An impressive rookie campaign earned the Colorado Avalanche defenseman theCalder Memorial Trophyin 2019-20. His deking, puck control, and awareness are at 96 while his hand-eye, passing, poise, and wrist shot accuracy are at 95. Karlsson prevented goals because he always had the puck. Vince Dunn, SEA14. 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. He has good awareness with offense at 93 and defense at 90, and he is good at stick checking with a 92. Whether you are rebuilding or retooling, finding your defensive stalwart of the future only bodes well for your franchise. Unlike Burns and Karlsson, his point-per-game (0.83) over thepast two seasonsremains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. 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 Age: 24Rating: 95Position: CenterType: PlaymakerTeam: Edmonton OilersShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 98 Offensive Awareness, 97 Hand-Eye, 97 Puck Control. Hes just good. The Preds? However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. Work to improve those three to at least 85. His skating skills are a little better, but none are more than 76. All Rights Reserved. Age: 29Rating: 86Position: CenterType: PlaymakerTeam: Washington CapitalsShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 93 Acceleration, 93 Agility, 93 Speed. His awareness is only a 77, and both shot blocking and stick checking are 80. Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, defense pairs, power-play usage, injury history or concern, age, contract status and overall upside for the rest of this season. among NHL defensemen last season with 45 points. 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 youngest player on this list by one year, Quinn Hughes is also only the second defenseman who scored at least a 93 in speed score. Awareness and Balance by 3 and 5. While he had no power play goals, he did have 19 assists on the power play. 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. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. WebThe best defence is a good offence. The Oilers had cleared $3 million of salary-cap space earlier in the day by trading Jesse Puljujarvi to the Carolina Hurricanes. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. His puck skills and senses are even lower, but focus on one area at a time. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. Evan Bouchard, EDM (NEW)37. And they did this by giving up a decent prospect in Reid Schafer plus a first- and a fourth-round draft choice. He has great offensive skills and instincts, but hes an undersized one-way defenseman who doesnt defend that well. Josh Morrissey, WPG6. 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. Lindgren is also fourth at even-strength time per contest (17:16) and in blocked shots with 66. 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 He has good senses with a 94 in offensive awareness, 91 in defensive awareness, and 90 in poise. His physical skills could improve a little. Miro Heiskanen, DAL16. His shot power for both is a 92 with his wrist shot accuracy edging his slap shot accuracy 93 to 90. His best skills outside of his speed are with the puck as he has a 94 in hand-eye and a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control. His discipline and poise are 70 while his offensive awareness is 69. Mattias Ekholm, EDM (NEW)38. If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. . Team: New Jersey DevilsAge: 21Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.795M, 2 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 87 Slap Shot Power, 85 Balance, 85 Durability. The 23-year-old McAvoy rose in just four seasons to become the Bruins' top defenseman. The more offensive-minded of the two, Pulock enjoyed three consecutive 32-plus point seasons from 2017-18 to 2019-20. Awareness by 4 points each. 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 It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly. Recent performance, career offensive numbers and consistency factored into this compilation. Traits and Specialties will make or break a build NHL 21's online modes. Awareness, 93 Speed, 96 Deking, 95 Off. Bahls non-balance skate skills all fall below 80, albeit only slightly. 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. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as they, due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. Nevertheless, hetied for thirdamong defensemen last season with 45 points. Playing a major role in those accomplishments was Victor Hedman, who. Defensively, his awareness is only 69 while his shot blocking and stick checking are 72. With his size, speed, hockey smarts and booming shot, he remains among the NHL's top offensive rearguards. Playing a major role in those accomplishments was Victor Hedman, whofinished tied for thirdamong NHL defensemen last season with 45 points. Do you agree or disagree with our selections? With Binghamton in 27 games, he had four assists and one goal. Lighting defensemen Victor Hedman tops this list, as he received a 91 OVR rating from the NHL team. Potential is not all that he possesses, though. Some are fast, others are not. Victor Hedman Tampa By Lightning. Cale Makar, COL (INJ.)5. Erik Karlsson, SJS. Is Evan Bouchard the PP1 guy now, or does Ekholm run the top group? Sometimes, it can be that simple. 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. You will need patience, but it will pay off. A broken leg cut short his 2020-21 season, but the 25-year-old has made a full recovery and collected seven points in as many games so far this campaign. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking when in their defensive zone. He needs vast improvement in his senses and puck skills, and a bit more focus on his skating. This list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua. While injuries limited Matt Grzelcyk to 37 games last season, he wound up seeing more playing time with McAvoy than any other Bruins blueliner. Fox is a talented all-around defenseman, logging ateam-leading24:42 of ice time per game and 102blocked shotswhile finishing second with 38 takeaways last season. Nashville also retained 4 percent of the contract, according to Pierre LeBrun. Awareness while on the penalty kill. Maybe Klingberg is in their future if they can navigate the cap complications. 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. by (Photo: Danny Murphy / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). But ask yourself does that matter? First, goals allowed is the big one. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.)4. This does not apply when both teams have taken a penalty (4-on-4 or 3-on-3). Awareness by 4 and 3 points. Team: New York IslandersAge: 20Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.750M, 0 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 85 Balance, 85 Slap Shot Power, 85 Durability. Spurgeon also gets listed as underrated by players, hard player to get by despite being 5'7". Awareness, and Discipline by 2, 3, and 2 points. Someone every team would love to have. His hand-eye and slap shot accuracy are both 94. Continue reading this article and more from top writers, for only $9.99/mo. Awareness by 4 and 3 points. Barrie is signed for the rest of this year and next for a reasonable $4.5 million. The 22-year-old Finn's 25:05 time on ice per game ranks seventh among all defensemen since last season. Unlike Kukkonen, Montgomery is just 18. 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. 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. Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. Best NHL Defenseman: Points per Game. The season before with Cushing Academy, a prep school, he had seven assists in 33 games. Press J to jump to the feed. His stats with the Predators over the past five seasons back this up. Now, speed is not the only necessary skill a team needs, but it certainly helps bridge any gap or widen it for successful teams. Roman Josi, NSH8. That includes tallying 68 points in 2017-18, 70 points in 2018-19 and 75 points in 2019-20. Finding the right combination isn't easy. This Specialty is a great choice for defensemen, as stretch passes can be vulnerable to interception by the opposing team. Nashville, who are in rebuild mode now, gets a strong prospect, a first-round pick and capitalized on Ekholm while he has great value, and Edmonton gets a key piece it needs for the next few playoff runs. 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. Last season for the Binghamton Devils, Okhotyuk had four assists and two goals in 28 games. But that wasnt nearly enough to squeeze in Ekholm which is why Tyson Barrie, the quarterback of the Oilers No. He has good skating skills with his non-balance ratings between 82 and 85. 1 on 14 of the 20 ballots. Maintaining an elite defensive pairing can mean the difference between a contender and a pretender. Depends on the Norris nominee, though. in 2020-21 with 42 assists while finishing second with 47 points. 3. Players who were ranked in the top 10 on each ballot were given a numerical score: No. 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. Inject some speed into your NHL 22 lines to get an edge against all of your opponents. 1 in that span, ahead of Zdeno Chara (+82). 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. On offense, Kuznetsov is a dangerous foe. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Speed, as they say, kills. Awareness, 91 Passing, 91 Puck Control, 91 Stick Checking. Aseason-ending injurylimited him to 20 points in 35 games last season. 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. The pairing usually consists of a skilled puck-mover and a shutdown blueliner. He's also the leader in power-play points (106) during that period. His production from the blue line during the 2018 playoffs played a crucial role in their march to the 2018 Stanley Cup,netting 20 pointsin 24 games. 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. David Pastrnak, like Gaudreau, has a 93 rating in acceleration, agility, and speed. The 5'11", 187-pounder collected 50 points in 57 games as a rookie to finish second. For the Preds, this is a nice bit of business. The blueliners who didn't make the cut are as noteworthy as those who did. 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. While things like body checking and stick checking wellare both important for defensemen, the ability to successfully transition the puck up the ice can be just as effective in reducing shots and goals against. 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. Not bad. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. In just four NHL campaigns, Heiskanen has established himself as a talented offensive rearguard. He was ranked No. Pairing Ellis with Provorov should give the Flyers one of this season's top defensive duos. He's netted 30-plus points three times and could be poised to put up bigger numbers as he enters his playing prime. RELATED:10 Best Badges For Centers In NBA 2K21. 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. The Philadelphia Flyers missed the 2021 NHL playoffs due in part to the lack of a solid right-side defenseman to partner with Ivan Provorov on their top pairing. They could become a playoff contender if he maintains his usual level of production with his new teammates. February 28, 2022 by Marko Zlomislic. The East is an arms race, sure, but theres a whole other side of the playoff bracket. I wouldnt call his playmaking a major asset and his skating is just OK, but theres a lot of pieces in his game to become a middle-six powerful type of wing in the NHL. That includes tallying 68 points in 2017-18, 70 points in 2018-19 and 75 points in 2019-20. Awareness, 94 Puck Control, 95 Discipline, 93 Puck Control, 93 Wrist Shot Accuracy, 93 Speed, 92 Acceleration, 91 Wrist Shot Power, 92 Passing, 92 Puck Control, 92 Off. His defensive skills are good with an 85 in both shot blocking and stick checking and an 81 in awareness. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. Log in here. Required fields are marked *. Choosing NHL 22s best young defensive defensemen. It feels as if the Predators could potentially flip Barrie at some point. 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. Bruce holds a Ph.D. in Education and formerly taught undergraduates as an adjunct instructor. Like his counterpart from Edmonton, MacKinnon excels in every aspect of the game. (0.93) ranked second among defensemen with at least 100 games played. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL23. Now 30, the long-time Lightning rearguard shows no sign of slowing down. Your email address will not be published. Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters. The 27-year-old all-around rearguard led the club in time on ice per game (24:46); tied with Makar and Mikko Rantanen for most takeaways with 32; finished second in short-handed ice time per game (3:06) and blocked shots (87); and was third in scoring among Avs defensemen with a career-best 31 points. Ekholm is who hes always been; exceedingly solid in his own end, and a guy capable of doing the dirty work in the transition game. 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. He is also one of five players with a speed score of 93, so the order of these five are interchangeable. After missing all of the 2020-21 regular season recovering from surgery, Kucherov joined Tampa Bay for the playoffs and had 24 assists and eight goals over 23 games in another championship season. Instead of being a contractual bargain, he was now pricey and any contender looking to add him needed to consider his salary, his age, now 32, and decide if he was the same effective hard-nosed defender he was in his minute-munching prime. 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.