The defense and what is required from the position, changed dramatically in recent seasons. It wasn’t long ago that for a team to have a great unit, the skaters needed to defend and send the puck up the ice to the forwards who would do the scoring. Now, defensemen are essentially asked to do it all.
It’s what makes ranking the defensive units a difficult task. A great unit needs to eliminate opposing offenses; that’s a given. Yet, they also must help set up the offense and create rush chances once the puck is turned over. On top of that, they must open things up in the offensive zone. Along with the on-ice contributions, the skaters have to have both speed and skill to combat the speed and skill of the opposition but they must also have the toughness needed to deliver a big hit when needed.
How These Rankings Came Together
Because a lot goes into play for a great defensive unit, a lot went into the rankings. There are some eye test things to consider. How have some defensive units held up this season? Which ones are pointed to make a big impact in the playoffs? Which units make average goaltenders look good and good goaltenders look great? We look at the key skaters who anchor the unit but also how things shake up on each team’s later pairings as well. Additionally, these rankings took some outside perspective as some of the writers at The Hockey Writers provided insight on teams they don’t cover, a way to remove bias from the rankings.
Related: NHL Awards History: Oldest & Youngest Winners
Considering this article requires a lot of scrolling, let’s stop wasting time and dive right in!
32. Vancouver Canucks
Key Skaters: Filip Hronek, Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson
Depth Skaters: Marcus Pettersson, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Tyler Myers
The Vancouver Canucks got significantly worse after they traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. As the organization heads for a rebuild, it is clear that they lack a game breaker on the blue line. On paper, and on the ice, it’s by far the worst blue line in the NHL.
31. San Jose Sharks
Key Skaters: Mario Ferraro, Dmitry Orlov, Timothy Liljegren, Sam Dickinson
Depth Skaters: John Klingberg and Vincent Desharnais
The San Jose Sharks have a great rebuild in the works with the forward unit developing elite talent. The defense remains a weak link. They don’t have a number one defenseman but do have Sam Dickinson, who ha proven he has what it takes. This season, the Sharks are piecing together their unit with Dmitry Orlov, and John Klingberg, who have added a good veterans presence to try to add stability.
30. Chicago Blackhawks
Key Skaters: Alex Vlasic, Connor Murphy, Louis Crevier
Depth Skaters: Wyatt Kaiser, Sam Rinzel, Matt Grzelcyk
The wild cards for the Chicago Blackhawks are Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov, two prospects who can change the outlook of this unit. Korchinski’s development hasn’t been great, with the team moving up and down from the American Hockey League (AHL) to the NHL. Levshunov is worth watching as he can join the NHL roster from day one or spend this season developing in the AHL. Otherwise, the Blackhawks are a rebuilding team with a rebuilding defense that is going through the growing pains.
29. Anaheim Ducks
Key Skaters: Pavel Mintyukov, Jackson LaCombe
Depth Skaters: Olen Zellweger, Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba
Last season, the Anaheim Ducks struggled despite having a good goaltending tandem. Largely due to their defense being young and developing. However, this season, they’ve turned it around. They’ve gotten better and find themselves in a playoff race in the West.
28. Calgary Flames
Key Skaters: MacKenzie Weegar, Zayne Parekh, ZacH Whitecloud
Depth Skaters: Kevin Bahl, Joel Hanley
The biggest question mark for the Calgary Flames is Zayne Parekh. He’s their top prospect who is expected to be a big part of the team this season. Other than that, this is a unit that needs work. Especially after trading Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. They did land Zach Whitecloud who could be a good addition, but one that they could very likely flip at the deadline.
27. Nashville Predators
Key Skaters: Roman Josi, Brady Skjei
Depth Skaters: Nicolas Hague, Nick Perbix
Unfortunately, for the Nashville Predators after taking a big step back last season. It hasn’t really worked out as they would have hoped. Yes, they have players like Roman Josi, who is still playing at a high level, and not much else. The defense lacks depth, and the Nick Perbix and Nicolas Hague additions from the offseason aren’t changing that.
26. New York Rangers
Key Skaters: Adam Fox, Braden Schneider, Vladislav Gavrikov
Depth Skaters: Matthew Robertson, Will Borgen
Related: Oilers Linked To Maple Leafs’ Defenseman Brandon Carlo
Next up, we have the New York Rangers who are entering a full-scale rebuild. They’ve recently traded Artemi Panarin and things don’t look good there. On the blue line, they have Adam Fox who is the number one. After that, they have Braden Schneider and Vladislav Gavrikov, who are their secondary members. However, after that, there isn’t much else.
25. Philadelphia Flyers
Key Skaters: Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale
Depth Skaters: Rasmus Ristolainen
The Philadelphia Flyers have a mixed bag of a defense. Travis Sanheim is a great two-way player that many fans don’t know about, as he’s spent his prime on a terrible team. Likewise, Jamie Drysdale and Cam York are the young skaters with high upside but both are inconsistent, and the hope is that new head coach Rick Tocchet fixes that. For a young team looking to make the big step, the Flyers need a young blueliner who does it all, and Drysdale so far hasn’t proven capable of doing so.
24. Toronto Maple Leafs
Key Skaters: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe
Depth Skaters: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo
It has been a tough season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. There was so much hype around this season and it hasn’t gone as planned. Unfortunately, a lot of that is because of injuries. But another large part is because their blue line. Morgan Rielly, who was once a mainstay in their lineup has fallen so far out of favour with the fan base, they want him gone. Chris Tanev has been injured nearly the entire season. Brandon Carlo has been good, but with how bad that trade looks now, it’ll always be thought about when fans talk about him. And lastly, Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have been their own bright spots. It is safe to say that this blue line needs a drastic overhaul.
23. St. Louis Blues
Key Skaters: Philip Broberg, Colton Parayko
Depth Skaters: Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler
After the St. Louis Blues struck gold with their offer sheet and addition of Philip Broberg. Things have been relatively bleak. Their blue line is one year old and doesn’t look to be playing like a well-oiled machine. Now, they look leaky and it has affected them quite a bit. After being a team known for their defensemen, they’ve really struggled badly, this season.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
Key Skaters: Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson
Depth Skaters: Parker Wotherspoon, Brett Kulak
The Pittsburgh Penguins are an aging team without much depth to help as the core slowly declines. This is particularly accurate when it comes to the defense. Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson are in their 30s and on the decline, with Letang notably underachieving in recent seasons. Even after the trade that sent Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak. This blue line is missing something, although the team is playing better this season. If they get into the playoffs, their blue line will hurt their chances, a lot.
21. Seattle Kraken
Key Skaters: Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, Ryker Evans
Depth Skaters: Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak
The Brandon Montour signing was supposed to put the Seattle Kraken over the top, notably on the defense. It didn’t. The truth is that this defense lacks reliable players outside of the top pair, and with Vince Dunn coming off a down season, it doesn’t help the cause either. If Dunn and the rest of the unit rebound, the Kraken will see a resurgence on their defense, although it’s worth noting that new head coach Lane Lambert isn’t known for fixing defenses (on the contrary, they often struggle with him behind the bench).
20. Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Skaters: Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro
Depth Skaters: Damon Severson, Denton Mateychuk
Zach Werenski had a great start to last season and ended it as a Norris Trophy finalist. He’s the reason this defense made massive strides and why the Columbus Blue Jackets came close to a playoff spot. Along with Werenski, there’s Ivan Provorov, a shutdown defenseman who was given a big contract this summer, and Dante Fabbro, who was the stay-at-home option who rounded out the top pair. Unfortunately, things haven’t been going as well this season. Their team defensive took a step back but since the hiring of Rick Bowness, they are looking better.
19. Ottawa Senators
Key Skaters: Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson
Depth Skaters: Artem Zub, Tyler Kleven, Nick Jensen
Jake Sanderson became an elite defenseman last season, not only stepping up and standing out in the Four Nations but arguably being the best player on the Ottawa Senators in the playoffs. His impact across the board helped turn this unit into a great one. Moreover, Sanderson’s emergence as the number one defenseman has allowed Chabot, who is typically the workhorse, to play with less ice time and more quality. Despite having Nick Jensen, Tyler Kleven, and the savvy addition of Jordan Spence playing the second and third pair, the Senators have had an awful season and sit outside of the playoffs.
18. New Jersey Devils
Key Skaters: Luke Hughes, and Johnathan Kovacevic
Depth Skaters: Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Seigenthaler
The New Jersey Devils have had a lot of drama surrounding their organization this season. However, none bigger than the shocking trade speculation that the Devils were moving on from Dougie Hamilton. That has since settled down while they naviage Luke Hughes’ injury. But it does look like Hamilton will be traded. After that, they have Johnathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon who add stability and a physical presence in the defensive zone.
17. Florida Panthers
Key Skaters: Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad
Depth Skaters: Niko Mikkola, Dmitry Kulikov, Seth Jones
Related: 3 San Jose Sharks That Fans Would Like to Forget About
The Florida Panthers went back-to-back with the help of a great defense. It wasn’t the type that overwhelmed teams on the offensive end but it shut down great offenses on the way to another Cup title. The Seth Jones trade at the deadline put them over the top and made the defense a complete unit. Unfortunately, after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals three seasons in a row, it does look like the Panthers are going to miss the playoffs, this season
16. Utah Mammoth
Key Skaters: Mikhail Sergachev, Sean Durzi
Depth Skaters: Ian Cole, John Marino, Nate Schmidt.
The Utah Mammoth has a promising young forward unit with plenty of elite prospects. So, what better way to help that group out (aside from trading Michael Kesselring) than with a defense built to win now? Mikhail Sergachev wasthe big addition last offseason, and Nate Schmidt was the big one this time around. The good news is that the other skaters have also stepped up to ultimately give them a good but far-from-great unit.
15. Winnipeg Jets
Key Skaters: Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk
Depth Skaters: Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, Dylan DeMelo
The Winnipeg Jets have fallen off a lot since last season. Despite still having the best goaltender in the game, they’ve been very bad this season. Just early this season, their unit was considered to be elite, and now they are one of the worst teams in the league. They use to shut down opponents and now they get beat, easily. A lot has changed in the last six months, especially for a team that won the President’s Trophy last season.
14. New York Islanders
Key Skaters: Matthew Schaefer, Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech
Depth Skaters: Isaiah George, Scott Mayfield, Alexander Romanov, Carson Soucy
When the New York Islanders landed the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, it was clear they were going to select Matthew Schaefer. Flash forward to four months into his career and he is already one of the best defensemen in the NHL. Coupling that with the veteran experience they have on the backend, they have a good foundation.
13. Los Angeles Kings
Key Skaters: Michael Anderson, Drew Doughty
Key Players: Joel Edmundson, Brandt Clarke, Cody Ceci
Part of the Ken Holland special is bringing in veterans who are over the hill, hoping they can turn back the clock and lead a team to a Cup. Cody Ceci is the case in point for that, and Holland was only getting warmed up as he brought in Brian Dumoulin to add depth. The Los Angeles Kings were trying to build a team that can win in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be the case. Although, they did improve after landing Artemi Panarin from the Rangers.
12. Edmonton Oilers
Key Skaters: Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm
Depth Skaters: Jake Walman, Darnell Nurse
Evan Bouchard, for all his issues, proved in the playoffs why he’s one of the most valued defensemen in the game. He takes the Edmonton Oilers to another level, especially offensively, with his ability to find goals where there aren’t any, and he has stepped up on defense as well. It’s why Bouchard got a big payday in the offseason with a four-year deal. With Mattias Ekholm being the stay-at-home option, it’s unlocked his game and allowed the Oilers to have a great top pair, maybe the best in the league.
The Oilers also have plenty of depth on their defense. Jake Walman has been a great addition to the back end and because of that inked a long-term deal. Darnell Nurse hasn’t lived up to his contract, yet he’s stepped up as well, especially in the playoffs as a physical defenseman who cleans up pucks in the crease. They are definitely one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.
11. Buffalo Sabres
Key Skaters: Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram
Depth Skaters: Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Michael Kesselring
When the Buffalo Sabres traded JJ Peterka, the bright spot was that they got back Michael Kesselring in the return. This move could be what this defense needed, as Kesselring can be the finishing touch for a unit that’s great but has otherwise disappointed. Rasmus Dahlin is great, and Bowen Byram’s stepped up as well. It has paid off, this team has been one of the best surprises of the season. They are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time in more than 15 years. And, it is largely due to how well their team has defended.
10. Boston Bruins
Key Skaters: Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov
Depth Skaters: Andrew Peeke, Mason Lohrei
The Boston Bruins are typically known for having a great defense. That remains true again this season. They’ve shown what a healthy unit can do, as they turned around a retool in just one season. They are now fighting in a wild card race in the East and it is largely due to how well their defense has played this season. It’s going to earned them a spot in the playoffs, if they continue to play well.
9. Washington Capitals
Key Skaters: Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson
Depth Skaters: Martin Fehervary, Rasmus Sandin, Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun took this defense to the next level. The Washington Capitals got him last summer, and he added a scoring presence from the point, which, paired with John Carlson, gives them a great one-two punch. Carlson, it’s worth noting, is one of the great defensemen in the league who is often overlooked but also makes this group a great one. Suddenly, the Capitals have a complete defense with three great pairings. Rasmus Sandin and Matt Roy are among the veterans who add depth and leave the Capitals with no glaring weaknesses.
8. Montreal Canadiens
Key Skaters: Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson
Depth Skaters: Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson
Related: Toronto Maple Leafs History of Black Hockey Players
Lane Hutson won the Calder Trophy last season and is shaping up to be the next great young defenseman in the NHL. He’s a great puck mover who opens up the offense at the point and also steps up on the defensive end. The Montreal Canadiens added another wave of scoring at the blue line this offseason as they acquired Noah Dobson, who can take the offense up a notch from the point. Those two will make sure the Canadiens run up the score on many teams this season but the great thing about this defense is that it also has great stay-at-home options. Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle, and Mike Matheson round out this defense, and a group that features many skaters just starting to enter their primes, it’s set up this team to be a sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference.
7. Vegas Golden Knights
Key Skaters: Noah Hanifin, Shea Theodore, Rasmus Andersson
Depth Skaters: Brayden McNabb
Since their inaugural 2017-18 season, the Vegas Golden Knights have had a great defensive unit. It’s what fueled their Cup run in 2018, where they lost in the Final, and was the backbone of the winning team in 2023. For the first time, they head into the season with glaring issues on the defense. It starts with Alex Pietrangelo, a staple of the blue line, who is on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). The Golden Knights still have a great defense led by the trio of Noah Hanifin, Brayden McNabb, and Shea Theodore. Plus with the addition of Rasmus Andersson, it makes them deeper than they’ve ever been.
6. Dallas Stars
Key Skaters: Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Thomas Harley
Depth Skaters: Ilya Lyubushkin, Nils Lundkvist
There’s a cliche in hockey that defenses shouldn’t draft and develop two players with the same skill sets. The Dallas Stars prove that it’s just a hockey myth. They have two young defensemen who play the same way and do it all to lead their defense. Miro Heiskanen was in the Norris conversation until he got hurt, and Thomas Harley has been great since coming into the NHL and cemented his name a one of the top-eight defencemen in Canada. Which earns him a spot on Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning
Key Skaters: Victor Hedman, Erik Cernak, Ryan McDonagh
Depth Skaters: JJ Moser
Victor Hedman is the motor of the defense and plays at a high level, even at 35 years old. He’s eventually going to decline, and the same is true about aging skater Ryan McDonagh, who was acquired last offseason and once again looks like the shutdown defenseman who helped them win the Cup in 2020 and 2021. The thing holding this defense back is depth. They don’t have much of it. It didn’t help in the playoffs when they faced a team in the first round that came after them in waves.
4. Detroit Red Wings
Key Skaters: Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson
Depth Skaters: Alex Sandin-Pellikka, Ben Chairot
The Detroit Red Wings’ blue line is a group led by Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson. They’ve been one of, if not the best pairing in the NHL this season and it has shown just how impactful they are. The Red Wings are on their way to clinching a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Outside of that, they have names like Ben Chairot, Alex Sandin-Pellikka and Jacob Bernard-Docker who all their respective roles, very well.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Key Skaters: Jaccob Slavin, Shayne Gostibehere, K’Andre Miller
Depth Skaters: Jalen Chatfield, Sean Walker, Alexander Nikishin
The Carolina Hurricanes have a great defense that only got better with the K’Andre Miller addition. Yes, there are questions about how Miller will look after a rough season (plus signing him to a long-term deal before he’s played a single game with the team) but he’s talented and fits right in with this unit while bringing more speed and skill to it as well. Jaccob Slavin is the leader of this group, arguably the best shutdown defenseman in the game, and people are starting to take notice. If Alexander Nikishin, who had a brief stint with the team last season, steps up as well, then the Hurricanes check all the boxes for a great defense plus some.
2. Minnesota Wild
Key Skaters: Brock Faber, Quinn Hughes
Depth Skaters: Zach Bogosian, Jared Spurgeon, Jacob Middleton
The Minnesota Wild typically are led by their offense and skill in the top six. Last season, they quietly put together a great season on defense. It’s led by Brock Faber, who enters his third full season in the NHL as a top 20 (possibly a top 10) defenseman in the league. Along with Faber, the Wild went out in traded for the second best defensemen in the NHL, Hughes. After that trade, they skyrocketed up this list. Yes, it meant parting with Zeev Buium among other things. But it helped solidify their blue line and putting them in second on his lists
1. Colorado Avalanche
Key Skaters: Cale Makar and Devon Toews
Depth Skaters: Josh Manson, Brent Burns, Samuel Girard
The Colorado Avalanche hands down have the best blue linesin the NHL. From top to bottom, they are stacked. Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the NHL, and after winning the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career, the question is whether he’s the best of this generation and is establishing himself as one of the greatest defensemen of all time. Makar is often paired with Devon Toews, who is also an elite defenseman that the Avalanche lean on to become one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The duo gets a lot of ice time, although it’s understandable considering what the rest of the unit looks like.
What Do You Think?
The best thing about ranking defensive units is that everyone has their own way of evaluating the position. Some prefer to have a unit that creates more offense, while others want one that is great on the defensive end, with everything else being extra. Likewise, there are plenty of defenses that are preferred because they have the speed and puck-moving ability suited for the modern game, while other defenses are a throwback because they have size and deliver big hits that have the crowd jumping.
All this is to say that these rankings are sure to leave some readers annoyed and eager to submit their own rankings. Do you think these rankings are accurate? Let us know in the comments section below!
Statistics were obtained from Hockey Reference, and rosters were available courtesy of PuckPedia.
