The Predators listened on Ekholm, but ultimately decided he had more value to them going forward. This is a great Specialtythat gives a boost to some of thevery bestdefensive attributes when a defenseman will need them the most. I've made the case that the Lightning defenseman could be the best all-around hockey player in the world. , Aaron Ekblad has five seasons with at least 36 points, including a career-best 41 points in 2019-20. Inject some speed into your NHL 22 lines to get an edge against all of your opponents. Is Evan Bouchard the PP1 guy now, or does Ekholm run the top group? If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. 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. 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. 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. He is second to John Carlson of the Capitals in points-per-game average among defensemen since the 2017-18 season (0.83). 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. 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. His physical and skating skills are better, but not by much. 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. Your email address will not be published. Getting help on the blue line and more specifically getting the right kind of help leaps the Oilers near the front of the Pacific Division line, where only a handful of points separate the top five teams. A skilled, young defenseman with considerable offensive ability, Quinn Hughes' 53-point performance in 2019-20 made him a finalist for the. He netted 33 points during his 2018-19 NHL debut, 35 points 68 games as a sophomore and 27 points in 55 games last season. . Fox led. There are those, however, who are as renowned for their offensive skills as their defensive ones. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. Moritz Seider, DET26. He could move up among the elite puck-movers with a strong outing in 2021-22. RELATED:NHL 21, 10 Prospects To Draft In Franchise Mode. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. 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 The second version of this perk reduces the player's Passing and Puck Control accuracy by 3 and 4 points, and defensemen need accurate shots less than they'll need to make plays with the puck on their stick. 1. Acquired from the Islanders last October, Toews meshed quickly with Makar. The primary role of NHL defensemen is to prevent their opponents from scoring. Unlike Kukkonen, Montgomery is just 18. The previous season with the Ottawa 67s, he had 25 assists and six goals in 54 games. Last season with the Hershey Bears, Fehervary had 14 assists and three goals across 24 games. 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. On the ice, change up your attack with all new moves, dekes, dangles and evasive maneuvers, inspired by the leagues most groundbreaking innovators. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. He also netted at least 40 points six times in the past seven seasons with the Bruins, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. in total points over the past four seasons with 257. . Hedman's strong two-way game earned the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017-18 and the Conn Smythe Trophy 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,netting 20 pointsin 24 games. His aggressiveness is only an 81 and body checking is only an 80, but he does have good endurance (87), durability (85), and strength (84), helping to account for the lower ratings. Esa Lindell and John Klingberg were the Dallas Stars' best defense pairing prior to this season. 28. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. 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. (0.93) ranked second among defensemen with at least 100 games played. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking, Def. 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. WebThe best defence is a good offence. He's ledall NHL defensemenin total points over the past four seasons with 257. His 0.67 points-per-game average is second to Erik Karlsson (0.79)during that period. He has good senses with a 94 in offensive awareness, 91 in defensive awareness, and 90 in poise. For all his perceived defensive deficiencies, Barrie has been an effective player for the Oilers this year. He has a fine shot, but his accuracies are paltry at 69 each. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. 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. The first-round pick is the prize, and Schafer sounds like an interesting piece to have around, too. The 25-year-old had 22 points in 35 games in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. His two-career game-winning goals came during the 2019-20 season when he had eight goals and 45 assists over 68 games, pitching in 14 assists and two goals over 17 playoff games in his only postseason experience. The first version will reduce the player's Strengthby 5 points instead of Balance, andStrength is more valuable to defensemen, as it willincrease the power ofnot only body checks, but also shots. Speed, as they say, kills. Miro Heiskanen, DAL16. 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. 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. Since last season, the 6'3" 220-pound Finn leads the Stars in blocked shots with 120. Press J to jump to the feed. After nine seasons with the Boston Bruins, Krug signed with the St. Louis Blues in 2020. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly. His shot power for both is a 92 with his wrist shot accuracy edging his slap shot accuracy 93 to 90. These are the best perks for defencemen who want to shut down opponents. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. by That led to Miro Heiskanen becoming Lindell's partner. 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. For the Preds, this is a nice bit of business. Tyson Barrie (David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Awareness by 4 points each. Cale Makar zooms onto the list with his 94 in agility and 93 in acceleration and speed, making him the fastest defenseman by speed score. While Hedman is no doubt the beneficiary of having an incredible assemblage of offensive talent around him, he's also an integral part of that offense with his puck-rushing and passing skills. 0.85 PPG. Last night I ran a 6"5 defensive defenseman with stick em up and defensive minded. At the risk of being cooked by a subgroup of Edmonton fans, I dont think moving out Barrie is necessarily addition by subtraction. Kucherov is in rather that Pastrnak as Kucherov has a higher overall rating, but both are fine as they have the same speed score. His puck-moving abilities and offensive instincts make him among the league's top rearguards. 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. Alex Pietrangelo, VGK33. 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. 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. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, reached the Cup Final in 2015 and won the 2019 Presidents' Trophy with a, . 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. Predators retain four percent of Ekholm remaining cap hit/salary, Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 28, 2023. 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. The second version of this perk will reduce the player's Def. Copyright 1995 - 2023 He has decent quickness with an 80 in acceleration, agility, and speed. Yes that is true the poke checks are OP. He was ranked No. "I've seen players where their ice time goes up and their performance declines. He maintains that Chrono Trigger is still the best game ever made, though the games hes played the most are Ogre Battle 64 and MLB The Show. His replacement, Barry Trotz, is already in place and presumably providing input into what comes next for a franchise that for now anyway is in deep sell mode. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I once asked Hockey Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom how he evaluates other defensemen. Maybe Klingberg is in their future if they can navigate the cap complications. No defenseman has as many as Karlsson's 468 assists since he entered the league in 2009-10. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking when in their defensive zone. It is also something that cannot be taught. The 25-year-old had 22 points in 35 games in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. His hand-eye and slap shot accuracy are both 94. Required fields are marked *. Poke checking isn't typically the most effective method of defending in NHL 21, as it makes the user highly susceptible to tripping penalties if not executed properly. Though sidelined by a recent injury, the 30-year-old has four points in his first three games whileaveraging 24:09 minutes per game. Here's our ranking of the best defensive pairings for the 2021-22 season. His awareness is only a 77, and both shot blocking and stick checking are 80. They could become a playoff contender if he maintains his usual level of production with his new teammates. In just four NHL campaigns, Heiskanen has established himself as a talented offensive rearguard. That suggests he still has some productive seasons left in him. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. Player stats (accurate as of Oct. 29) viaNHL.com. Shawn enjoys discovering engaging stories, whether they be from movies, video games, books, or any other form in which they may be told. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. They are listed by left and right defense. But there is one stat he scrutinizes: How much they play, and how good they are after playing a ton of minutes. Defensive Minded will allow the user to stick check and intercept passes more effectively and make them less likely to take a penalty when attempting a defensive play. WebAt Odds Shark, we rank the best defensive teams in the NHL in several important handicapping categories. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. That was the beginning of seven straight seasons with 40-plus points, including a career-high 65 during his Norris Trophy campaign. This does not apply when both teams have taken a penalty (4-on-4 or 3-on-3). Those abilities would make him the top defenseman in this year's NHL free-agent market, earning him a seven-year,$63 million contractwith the New Jersey Devils. Sean Gentille:Dont let the multiple elements in play here confuse you; each teams respective goal is obvious. Grzelcyk may be small for an NHL defenseman at 5'9" and 178 pounds, but he possesses good puck-moving skills. The 24-year-old Flyers rearguard reached or exceeded 26 points in each of his five previous NHL campaigns. When the other team is in your zone and running a tight triangle just spinning and waiting for u to make a mistake if u just hold your poke check out and wag your stick around the added height makes your stick longer and having 96 poke check u just wag your stick back and forth till u get good at swatting away pass attempts. He leadsall their skaters in time on ice per game (22:52) and total blocked shots(395) over his four-plus seasons. All Rights Reserved. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Age: 28Rating: 87Position: Left WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Calgary FlamesShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 95 Deking, 95 Discipline, 93 Speed. Injuries make a player worse at just about everything, and that is never fun. 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. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking and Def. If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. Karlsson prevented goals because he always had the puck. It will also decrease the Jett Woo, former second round pick of Vancouver, finds himself atop this list thanks to his Top 4 D Med potential grade. David Pastrnak, like Gaudreau, has a 93 rating in acceleration, agility, and speed. He's led. However, the 36-year-old's. Shawn has co-written and co-produced numerous plays, one of which was featured at the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Samuel Bolduc could prove to be a steal for your franchise should you develop him appropriately. Pairing Ellis with Provorov should give the Flyers one of this season's top defensive duos. He's also the leader in power-play points (106) during that period. Hes part of the best power play most of us have ever seen, and his overall game has bounced back a bit in 2022-23. The 30-year-old Barrie's offensive skills put him seventh, since 2013-14 with 381 career points. Barrie is a necessary piece going the other way. 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. Eight of his goals and 17 of his assists were on the power play. NHL Defensemen Scoring Leaders 20222023 1 2 3 4 5 6 OverallTime on IceGoalsAssistsPointsper 60per GameShotsDefensiveFaceoffs NHL defenseman stats Awareness, 91 Passing, 91 Puck Control, 91 Stick Checking. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL23. Kris Letang, PIT15. Adam Fox, NYR3. Hampus Lindholm, BOS18. Shore up his physical ratings and he could be the best player in NHL 22 for your team. That includes tallying 68 points in 2017-18, 70 points in 2018-19 and 75 points in 2019-20. You have to be able to defend," he told me. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their respective primes, tomorrow isnt nearly as critical for the Oilers. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as they, due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Def. Lindgren is also fourth at even-strength time per contest (17:16) and in blocked shots with 66. Two more had him Your email address will not be published. The 23-year-old McAvoy rose in just four seasons to become the Bruins' top defenseman. Age: 26Rating: 93Position: Center/Right WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 95 Acceleration, 94 Hand-Eye, 94 Offensive Awareness. His offensive awareness is a staggering 98, but he also has a 92 in defensive awareness. Quinn Hughes, VAN12. An impressive rookie campaign earned the Colorado Avalanche defenseman the, in 2019-20. 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. Fox ledall NHL defensemenin 2020-21 with 42 assists while finishing second with 47 points. Awareness by 4 points instead of Passing, and the ability to break up opposing passes is more important for defensemen than completing their passes. 2 earned nine points and so on. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. Why shouldnt it be the Oilers? Beyond his speed, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as MVP boasts incredible puck skills with a 97 in deking, hand-eye, and puck control with a 96 in passing. Injuries and a shortened schedule limited him to 32 points in 2019-20, but he netted 36 points in 53 games the following season. What metrics best define value for scoring defensemen or "defensive" defensemen? Target Slapper will allow the user to shoot slap shots with more accuracy and power. Aaron Ekblad, FLA47. His aggressiveness and body checking are both 80, and his durability an 82. The question, as always, is whether each end of the deal justifies its reason for being. 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. Part of the New York Rangers' recent rebuilding process, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox have been together since their first full seasons in 2019-20. This perk will increase the player's passing power and accuracy for stretch passes. His physical ratings are good with an 83 in aggressiveness, body checking, and strength. He controls play in his own zone as a defensive stopper. It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Accuracy, Slap Shot Accuracy, and Deking by 2, 2, and 3 points. These perks can be used to either round out weaknesses in a build or highlighta build's strengths. His slap shot accuracy is a 94 with both power ratings at 90. Some, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman, play a terrific two-way game, contributing to their team's scoring while playing a responsible defensive game. He can use improvement in all aspects, particularly puck skills and defense. Stats are collected from sites such as Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference and Evolving Hockey. 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. 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. NHLs Best Defense Pairs of 2021-22. (0.57) to 21st overall during that period. Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher sang Ellis' praises at the time of the deal, calling him "an excellent all-around defenseman." Fast forward two years, and Seelers reputation and status around the league has changed dramatically. Like Kukkonen, Bryce Montgomery will take time and patience to develop for your franchise. Thats a down-the-road problem for a team currently out of the playoff picture. His defensive skills are good with an 85 in both shot blocking and stick checking and an 81 in awareness. , Hughes will be a significant contributor to the Canucks' offensive punch. This Specialty is a great choice for defensemen, as stretch passes can be vulnerable to interception by the opposing team. Stick 'Em Up will allow the user to make defensive plays with their stick and intercept passes much more effectively. Seth Jones, CHI43. His puck skills range from 66-69. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. Though limited to 33 points in 48 games last season, Josi remains among the game's elite mobile blueliners. Hes not flashy. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? Scoring goals is the name of the game in hockey, but it's also important to limit an opponent's offensive opportunities. 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. 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. 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. Victor Hedman, TBL11. It feels as if the Predators could potentially flip Barrie at some point. On Tuesday, the Oilers decided the answer was yes. Dougie Hamilton, NJD7. As a sophomore, he tallied 44 points in as many games,leading the clubin power-play ice time per game (4:11) while finishing second with an average ice time per game of 24:19. Playing a major role in those accomplishments was Victor Hedman, whofinished tied for thirdamong NHL defensemen last season with 45 points. He trades a slight bit of speed for a little more agility. But ask yourself does that matter? Awareness and Durability by 6, 3, and 4 points. Those defensemen log the most ice time among their teammates, including in power-play and short-handed situations. 3. He had five game-winning goals and two in overtime. The players chosen for this list are all 21 and younger and chosen based on the grade in potential. 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. 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. The Def. On offense, Kuznetsov is a dangerous foe. The Wild defender has been one of the leagues best defensive players for a while now. However, concerning was his drop in shot percentage from 17.2 during his award-winning season to 11.4 during the 2020-2021 season. For forwards, the search parameters were having a minimum of 91 in speed and acceleration with an 87 in agility. 1 earned 10 points, No. among defensemen, and he's fifth in total points with 412 over the same period. Defensively, his awareness is only 69 while his shot blocking and stick checking are 72. Defensively, Montgomery needs a lot of fine-tuning as his stick checking is 71, shot blocking a 68, and awareness a 67. One of the aspects of his game that doesn't get enough attention: That the Lightning have been able to play him with anyone and still Hedman excels. His aggressiveness and strength are 72 and body checking 70. Its another trade where the outcome for Nashville will ultimately be determined by whether it can make those draft picks count. Thats 19th highest among NHL defensemen. He maintains that Chrono Trigger is still the best game ever made, though the games hes played the most are Ogre Battle 64 and MLB The Show. Tj Brodie is great but he's certainly not a shut down defensemen, Ahhh yes, Jan Rutta the legendary shutdown defenseman alongside Hedman /s, From our team it is definitely Brodin and Spurgeon, Suter is still solid too. The 6'2", 215-pounder logged a team-leading 22:26 of ice time per game last season, finishing second in blocked shots with 106 and fifth with 97 hits. His skating skills are a little better, but none are more than 76. Finding the right combination isn't easy. Last season for the Binghamton Devils, Okhotyuk had four assists and two goals in 28 games. Woos lines from last season with the Utica Comets saw him register three goals and two assists across 28 games. Gustav Forsling, FLA41. 10 Best Perks For Defensemen In NHL 21. He led all rookies in points,finished fourthamong Canucks regular-season scorers and third with 16 points in postseason scoring. 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. It will also decrease the player's Off. That shouldve already been clear. He should remain among the league's high-scoring defensemen while skating with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Injuries, however, have hampered the 31-year-old since joining the Sharks in 2018-19, dropping his. Erik Gustafsson, TOR20. "That means you're playing all the power-play minutes but also have to have the ability to play against the opponents' top lines. among NHL defensemen last season with 45 points. Age: 22Rating: 88Position: Right DefenseType: Offensive DefensemanTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 94 Agility, 93 Deking, 93 Passing. Mattias Ekholm, EDM (NEW)38. Here, you will find the fastest forwards and defensemen to add to your team. Awareness, 95 Passing, 95 Off. 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. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. The Arizona Coyotes unloaded another top player prior to the NHL trade deadline, sending defenseman Jakob Chychrun to the Ottawa Senators.. Ottawa is sending a 2023 first-round draft pick, a 2024 conditional second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to Arizona. He does have good defensive ratings otherwise with an 87 in stick checking and 85 in awareness, which may help mitigate his lower rating in shot blocking. among Canucks regular-season scorers and third with 16 points in postseason scoring. 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.". Spurgeon also gets listed as underrated by players, hard player to get by despite being 5'7". He is a tall, mobile, intelligent defender who provides value at both ends of the ice. Entering his fourth year, Hughes helped Vancouver with 38 assists and three goals over 56 games during the 2020-21 season. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Webname season tm gp g a p +/-pim ppg ppa shg sha gwg otg s s% toi/gp; tyson barrie: 2022-23 Gaudreau had 30 assists and 19 goals across 56 games for Calgary during the 2020-21 season. Awareness while on the penalty kill. A finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, Makar is among the NHL's elite mobile defensemen. Advertisement. NHL 22: Fastest Players (Forwards and Defensemen), NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode Draft: Best Prospects and Top Draft Steals 2022 (First Draft), NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. WebWho are the top defensemen in NHL 21. Age: 28Rating: 92Position: Right WingType: SniperTeam: Tampa Bay LightningShoots: LeftBest Attributes: 96 Deking, 96 Puck Control, 96 Offensive Awareness. For now, their priority was obvious they needed someone to strengthen their overall defensive play in front of goaltenders Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner. Today is all that matters. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.