NHL's Top 20 Defenseman List Revealed and It's Drawing Controversy

PUBLICATION

Tyler
September 1, 2022 (0:16)

SHARE THIS STORY

Ahead of every NHL season, in recent memory, the NHLPA does a vote for the top players at each position, and the most recent list of the top 20 defenseman features a changing of the guard of sorts at the top of the list.

Cale Makar has unseated Victor Hedman from number one on the list, and the Calder Trophy winning Moritz Seider debuts on the list.

Let's dive in. -

1. Cale Makar, the defenseman won the Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and the first Stanley Cup ring of his NHL career in 2022.

2. Victor Hedman, the six-feet-six-inches tall Swedish Tampa Bay Lightning number one defender won his second consecutive Stanley Cup ring in 2021, before losing in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, at the hands of Makar's Colorado Avalanche.

3. Roman Josi, the Nashville Predators captain and do-it-all number one defenseman scored 23 goals and 73 assists for 96 points through 80 games in the 2022 season, a feat that hasn't been done by a defenseman since Phil Housley did it back in 1992-93, scoring 97 points.

4. Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy recipient had a fine season with the Rangers, doing Adam Fox things, just making smart decisions, and high IQ plays with regularity, the young defenseman scored 11 goals and 63 assists for 74 points through 78 2022 regular season games.

5. Charlie McAvoy, the Boston Bruins number one defenseman led the team in minutes played averaging (24:38) in ice time through the 2022 season, he also had the highest plus/minus on the club with a plus-31 rating, McAvoy was also one of the team's top point producer, with the highest amongst defenseman on the team, he scored 10 goals and 46 assists for 56 points in 78 games in 2022.

6. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh's long-time number one defenseman was a staple once again in 2022 for the Penguins, the Quebec born defenseman scored 10 goals and 58 assists for 68 points (a career best) through 78 2022 regular season games, while averaging 25:47 of average ice time for the entire season.

7. Aaron Ekblad, the Florida Panthers number one selection in the 2014 NHL Draft and defenseman, played 61 games in 2021 due to injury, but the 26-year-old managed a career high in points with 57 points, he scored 10 goals for the seventh time in his career, adding 47 assists, while managing to lead the team in average ice time per game (24:55) in 2022.

8. Devon Toews, Cale Makar's defensive partner had an exceptional season and playoffs, for that matter, the former Islander scored 13 goals and 44 assists for 57 points in 66 regular season games in 2022.

9. John Carlson, the Washington Capitals number one defenseman scored 71 points, 17 goals, 54 assists in 78 games last season, he also led his team in ice time per game (23:49) in 2022.

10. Miro Heiskanen, the Finnish defenseman scored 36 points in 2022,five goals, 31 assists in 70 games last season, he also led the Dallas Stars in ice time per game (24:23) in 2022.

11. Moritz Seider, the 2022 Calder Memorial Trophy winner scored seven goals, 43 assists for 50 points last season, the German born defenseman also led the Red Wings in ice time per game (23:02) in 2022.

12. Quinn Hughes, the runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy behind fellow rookie Cale Makar in 2021, Hughes played 76 games last season scoring eight goals and 60 assists for 68 points, he also led the Canucks in ice time per game (25:15) in 2022.

13. Jaccob Slavin, the Carolina Hurricanes number one defenseman led the team in average ice time per game (23:32) in 2022, Slavvin had a career-high 42 points, four goals, 38 assists in 2022.

14. Morgan Rielly, the Leafs number one defenseman scored 68 points, 10 goals, 50 assists through 82 games in 2022, he also led the Leafs in average ice time per game (23:44).

15. Shea Theodore, Vegas number one defenseman was second on his squad in average ice time per game (23:38) in 2022, Theodore scored 52 points, 14 goals, 38 assists in 78 games played in 2022.

16. Zach Werenski, the University of Michigan Wolverines product scored 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points, through 68 games last season, he also led the Blue Jackets in average ice time per game (25:40) in 2022.

17. Drew Doughty, the long-time Kings number one defenseman was much of the same in 2022, serving as a pillar on the Kings number one defense pair, the 32-year-old played 39 games due to injury in 2022, averaging (25:49) average ice time per game, which led the club, Doughty scored 31 points, seven goals, 24 assists in 2022.

18. Rasmus Dahlin, the 2018 number one overall draft selection, led the Sabres in average ice time per game (24:01) in 2022, through 80 games, Dahlin also scored 13 goals, 40 assists for 53 points.

19. Alex Pietrangelo, the Vegas Golden Knights rearguard Vegas in ice time (24:39) in 80 games in 2022, the former St. Louis Blues defenseman scored 44 points, 13 goals and 31 assists in 2022.

20. Brent Burns, the six-foot-five-inch offense-minded former Sharks defenseman led the team in average ice time per game (26:09), which was third best in the league for 2022, he scored 10 goals, 44 assists for 54 points in 82 games played in 2022. Burns was dealt to the Hurricanes on July 13.