NHL Networks top 20 Defensemen

[Gurglesons]

Do you believe Jaccob Slavin is a better player then John Carlson, or were you questioning my assessment that Carlson should be #5?

Both tbh. I’d argue Carlson’s placement is the most egregious on the list.

Orlov is the Caps best defenseman. And I’d probably put him top 20 in the league.

 

[GreenLine]

Weird combination of young players being ranked too high due to the initial hype (Seider) and old players ranked way too high based on hype from ten years ago (Letang).

 

[Lavar Ball]

Weird combination of young players being ranked too high due to the initial hype (Seider) and old players ranked way too high based on hype from ten years ago (Letang).

Joke of a take, Letang just had one of the best seasons of his career. He deserves to be top ten

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Both tbh. I’d argue Carlson’s placement is the most egregious on the list.

Orlov is the Caps best defenseman. And I’d probably put him top 20 in the league.

You should check John Carlson’s game, Orlov is a good top 4 defender but most likely wouldn’t even be considered a top 50 defender by most experts.

Carlson is underrated by some and not by others depending on who’s top defenseman list your looking at.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Letang is usually shafted on these lists so even though I wouldn't have him as high as #6, it is nice to see him get some recognition.

 

[Gurglesons]

You should check John Carlson’s game, Orlov is a good top 4 defender but most likely wouldn’t even be considered a top 50 defender by most experts.

Carlson is underrated by some and not by others depending on who’s top defenseman list your looking at.

Lol. I can’t agree.

Carlson us not underrated. Powerplay specialist who can play 5v5 but is overrated because of playing on a stacked team a couple years in a row three or four years ago.

 

[Lavar Ball]

1) Makar
2) Hedman
3) Josi
4) Fox
5) McAvoy

Now the easy part is over...

6) Ekblad
7) Slavin
8) Heiskanen
9) Letang
10) Toews

Would probably round out my top 10.

11) Hughes
12) Carlson
13) Seider
14) Pietrangelo
15) Theodore
16) Chabot
17) Doughty
18) Werenski
19) Rielly
20) Dahlin

This group is tough. Jumble them around if you like and can add some more names too. Could also possibly move some up into the top 10

 

[Maurice of Orange]

You know Carlson over Heiskanen is one of those conversation starters lol.

Carlson was 4th in goals and 5 in points for NHL defenders not sure about Miro although Heiskanen does deserve a top 20 placement probably 10-15ish for his defensive attributes.

 

[JackSlater]

It's a lot better than the winger list. Surprised they put Seider that high already.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Lol. I can’t agree.

Carlson us not underrated. Powerplay specialist who can play 5v5 but is overrated because of playing on a stacked team a couple years in a row three or four years ago.

Carlson’s defensive partner was a rookie he carried in Martin Fehervary how could you even argue Orlov being better then Carlson.

I see what Carlson did last season is what I’m judging by, now do I believe Carlson will hold his place on this list next season probably not as I see him as a defender that has hit his peak and will be on the downside of his career.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

1) Makar
2) Hedman
3) Josi
4) Fox
5) McAvoy

Now the easy part is over...

6) Ekblad
7) Slavin
8) Heiskanen
9) Letang
10) Toews

Would probably round out my top 10.

11) Hughes
12) Carlson
13) Seider
14) Pietrangelo
15) Theodore
16) Chabot
17) Doughty
18) Werenski
19) Rielly
20) Dahlin

This group is tough. Jumble them around if you like and can add some more names too. Could also possibly move some up into the top 10

Pietrangelo does not belong in the top 20 I’d go more like.

1. Cale Makar
2. Victor Hedman
3. Roman Josi
4. Adam Fox
5. John Carlson
6. Aaron Ekblad
7. Devon Toews
8. Morgan Rielly
9. Charlie McAvoy
10. Kris Letang
11. Shea Theodore
12. Quinn Hughes
13. Jaccob Slavin
14. Rasmus Dahlin
15. Miro Heiskanen
16. Moritz Seider
17. Hampus Lindholm
18. Seth Jones
19. MacKenzie Weegar
20. Thomas Chabot

 

[DearDiary]

Weird combination of young players being ranked too high due to the initial hype (Seider) and old players ranked way too high based on hype from ten years ago (Letang).

Letang ranked between 6-8 is fine. Not sure why you would point him out specifically

 

[Lavar Ball]

Pietrangelo does not belong in the top 20 I’d go more like.

1. Cale Makar
2. Victor Hedman
3. Roman Josi
4. Adam Fox
5. John Carlson
6. Aaron Ekblad
7. Devon Toews
8. Morgan Rielly
9. Charlie McAvoy
10. Kris Letang
11. Shea Theodore
12. Quinn Hughes
13. Jaccob Slavin
14. Rasmus Dahlin
15. Miro Heiskanen
16. Moritz Seider
17. Hampus Lindholm
18. Seth Jones
19. MacKenzie Weegar
20. Thomas Chabot

Pietrangelo deserves to be in top 20 way before Hampus Lindholm

Also Rielly over McAvoy is laughable. The top 5 is pretty clear I feel

 

[The Red Line]

1) Makar
2) Hedman
3) Josi
4) Fox
5) McAvoy

Now the easy part is over...

6) Ekblad
7) Slavin
8) Heiskanen
9) Letang
10) Toews

Would probably round out my top 10.

11) Hughes
12) Carlson
13) Seider
14) Pietrangelo
15) Theodore
16) Chabot
17) Doughty
18) Werenski
19) Rielly
20) Dahlin

This group is tough. Jumble them around if you like and can add some more names too. Could also possibly move some up into the top 10

I like your list and how you came to it. People are always going to complain that their guy isn't high enough.

 

[Gurglesons]

Carlson’s defensive partner was a rookie he carried in Martin Fehervary how could you even argue Orlov being better then Carlson.

I see what Carlson did last season is what I’m judging by, now do I believe Carlson will hold his place on this list next season probably not as I see him as a defender that has hit his peak and will be on the downside of his career.

I bet if you do a poll on the Caps forum they take Orlov over Carlson.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Pietrangelo deserves to be in top 20 way before Hampus Lindholm

Also Rielly over McAvoy is laughable. The top 5 is pretty clear I feel

Are you people smoking crack tonight, Lindholm is twice the defender Pietrangelo is at both ends of the ice, just because Lindholm was injured and traded at the deadline to Boston doesn’t make him any more less of a defender then Pietrangelo for christ sakes.

NHL network got Pietrangelo’s placement wrong going off past seasons and obviously not by last season, because there could be atleast 5 defenders not on that list that could easily be placed above Pietrangelo.

It could be debated Rielly over MacAvoy or vice versa.

I bet if you do a poll on the Caps forum they take Orlov over Carlson.

If you care to do that, it’s up to you I’m not a Caps fan so I don’t really care to go on a board I’m not native too. There’s no need to raile up the natives

 

[Gurglesons]

Are you people smoking crack tonight, Lindholm is twice the defender Pietrangelo is at both ends of the ice, just because Lindholm was injured and traded at the deadline to Boston doesn’t make him any more less of a defender then Pietrangelo for christ sakes.

NHL network got Pietrangelo’s placement wrong going off past seasons and obviously not by last season, because there could be atleast 5 defenders not on that list that could easily be placed above Pietrangelo.

It could be debated Rielly over MacAvoy or vice versa.


If you care to do that, it’s up to you I’m not a Caps fan so I don’t really care to go on a board I’m not native too. There’s no need to raile up the natives

You think Reilly is over McAvoy?

Lol what?

 

[Hivemind]

Carlson’s defensive partner was a rookie he carried in Martin Fehervary how could you even argue Orlov being better then Carlson.

I see what Carlson did last season is what I’m judging by, now do I believe Carlson will hold his place on this list next season probably not as I see him as a defender that has hit his peak and will be on the downside of his career.

Orlov is the better overall player than Carlson. Carlson is the better offensive producer, but his defensive play has been getting progressively worse over the past several seasons, and he has has four disastrous playoffs campaigns in a row. Orlov doesn't put up the raw point totals and his handedness limits him to small usage on the powerplay, so he's not going to have the same #1 reputation (and the PP time will limit his overall minutes) as Carlson. But he's been the most effective play driver and two-way defenseman on the Caps blueline since about 2018.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

You think Reilly is over McAvoy?

Lol what?

If you look at both players side by side each one has some things better then others.

Rielly had more points and hits but MacAvoy had more points shares and blocks. They aren’t far apart.

Rielly was more active in the offensive zone and MacAvoy in the defensive zone.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Orlov is the better overall player than Carlson. Carlson is the better offensive producer, but his defensive play has been getting progressively worse over the past several seasons, and he has has four disastrous playoffs campaigns in a row. Orlov doesn't put up the raw point totals and his handedness limits him to small usage on the powerplay, so he's not going to have the same #1 reputation (and the PP time will limit his overall minutes) as Carlson. But he's been the most effective play driver and two-way defenseman on the Caps blueline since about 2018.

Orlov’s hasn’t done anything in the playoffs either including the season in which the Caps won the cup, Carlson did produce then.

I don’t want to go off the rails and I’m not questioning Orlov’s 2-way acumen or play driving ability but I don’t believe he’s a better all around defenseman then Carlson is.

The list was for best defenseman from last season, Carlson’s numbers are much better then even some of the players listed above him. Carlson also blocked more shots then Orlov last season so it shows Carlson is somewhat active helping in his own zone.

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

Blocks are generally a sign that you spend a lot of time in your own zone, which is not something good players tend to do. Slavin and Carlson are both good, but this is not how I'd make this point lol.

Haha, 100%. Generating defense - Andy MacDonald was known for this.

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

If you look at both players side by side each one has some things better then others.

Rielly had more points and hits but MacAvoy had more points shares and blocks. They aren’t far apart.

Rielly was more active in the offensive zone and MacAvoy in the defensive zone.

Whut.

Is this what happens when you stat watch and dont watch the games or?

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Whut.

Is this what happens when you stat watch and dont watch the games or?

Seen plenty of Rielly and McAvoy nice try though. Classic HF response...

 

[Sheppy]

Seen plenty of Rielly and McAvoy nice try though. Classic HF response...

McAvoy is EASILY better than Reilly, and the fact that you have him at #9 is hilariously bad. He’s top 5, and honestly, it’s pretty clear.

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

Seen plenty of Rielly and McAvoy nice try though. Classic HF response...

Maybe you need some prescription glasses?
There's zero debate, I think you'd have a hard time finding a Leafs homer argue that Rielly is better than McAvoy.