NHL Networks top 20 Defensemen

[GermanSpitfire]

No Chabot is mildly surprising - I’d have him above a few guys on that list.

While I think he is overrated by many, I also believe he is in for a big year offensively barring injurys.

 

[Gurglesons]

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.

Orlov was an absolute rock star in the cup run lol

I think it is easy to argue Orlov is the best Russian hockey defenseman in the world right now.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

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.

I guess your going off of NHL network list then. Just remember they have Pietrangelo and Burns in the top 20

 

[JUSTGIROUXIT]

No Chabot is mildly surprising - I’d have him above a few guys on that list.

While I think he is overrated by many, I also believe he is in for a big year offensively barring injurys.

Would agree, should pile up pts on the peeper there. Going to be interesting to see how they deploy units in OTT this year - Imagine Giroux will get a good look at first unit as well.

 

[Sheppy]

I guess your going off of NHL network list then. Just remember they have Pietrangelo and Burns in the top 20

No, I’m not. He’s just flat out better. I’ve seen plenty of lists that have McAvoy in the top 5. You having him at 9 is hilariously bad.

Rounding out 15-20 is a crap shoot. When you’re dealing the elites of the NHL, it isn’t.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

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

Nah fam - you have to be playing with this take. Reilly doesn’t evem deserve a top-20 nod, he is one of the most overrated players in recent memory
McAvoy is a top-5 defender in the NHL. You’re faded.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

No, I’m not. He’s just flat out better. I’ve seen plenty of lists that have McAvoy in the top 5. You having him at 9 is hilariously bad. Rounding out 15-20 is a crap shoot. When you’re dealing the elites of the NHL, it isn’t.

I’ve seen list that have Rielly above McAvoy depending on who makes the list does it matter that much, probably not.

They aren’t that far apart as I’ve stated Rielly is more active offensively and McAvoy is more active defensively.

Rielly is a cornerstone PP quarterback and McAvoy is a well rounded 2-way defender. They are close but I have Rielly slightly ahead by 1 spot.

 

[Sheppy]

I’ve seen list that have Rielly above McAvoy depending on who makes the list does it matter that much, probably not.

They aren’t that far apart as I’ve stated Rielly is more active offensively and McAvoy is more active defensively.

Rielly is a cornerstone PP quarterback and McAvoy is a well rounded 2-way defender. They are close but I have Rielly slightly ahead by 1 spot.

Holy shit, dude.

Also, let’s see these lists that have Reilly over McAvoy.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Nah fam - you have to be playing with this take. Reilly doesn’t evem deserve a top-20 nod, he is one of the most overrated players in recent memory
McAvoy is a top-5 defender in the NHL. You’re faded.

Rielly gets a lot of guff, maybe it’s because he is a shrub, he still puts up more points then McAvoy while having close to the same game as McAvoy.

 

[Hivemind]

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.

Your first sentence immediately invalidates your opinion on this matter. The Orlov-Niskanen pairing carried the Capitals defensive group during the Cup run. They were getting the match-up duties and did an excellent job with them. They held Kucherov to just two even-strength points in 7 games (and only 1G/4A total) during the ECF, and then they held Vegas' red hot top line in check in the SCF (3 even-strength goals for the whole line in the 5 game series).

Even if you don't think Orlov has been a difference maker in the playoffs since the Capitals cup run, he hasn't been the complete liability that Carlson has in the past four playoffs. In the past four playoffs COMBINED Carlson has just one even strength goal and four even strength points. That's a far cry from the offensive wizard he's supposed to be. Moreover, he's a combined -18 over those post-season stretches, and has routinely committed utterly egregious turnover and mistakes that have resulted in goals against. He was getting undressed in his match-up against Taylor Hall and Boston's second line in 2021, and hasn't looked a whole lot better against any other opponent.



Carlson blocking shots is more about the fact that Carlson routinely gets pinned inside his own zone more than someone of his reputation should. Carlson is also a braindead turnover machine on the breakout, which is a large part of why he gets pinned in his zone.

Carlson is the more famous defenseman, but Orlov has outplayed him for several consecutive seasons.

 

[LosPollosHermanos]

Makar at 1 is questionable, definitely top 5 but 1 is stretching it

 

[Ace of Hades]

Seider is way too high on that list

 

[Sheppy]

Rielly gets a lot of guff, maybe it’s because he is a shrub, he still puts up more points then McAvoy while having close to the same game as McAvoy.

If you’re in the playoffs and you have to pick one of the two. Would you seriously pick Reilly over McAvoy? McAvoy is a f***ing horse.

 

[hirawl]

I’ve seen list that have Rielly above McAvoy depending on who makes the list does it matter that much, probably not.

They aren’t that far apart as I’ve stated Rielly is more active offensively and McAvoy is more active defensively.

Rielly is a cornerstone PP quarterback and McAvoy is a well rounded 2-way defender. They are close but I have Rielly slightly ahead by 1 spot.

They are nowhere near. McAvoy is miles better and it's only debatable in the minds of people who don't know their shit.

 

[Hivemind]

Makar at 1 is questionable, definitely top 5 but 1 is stretching it

His Norris Trophy begs to differ

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Your first sentence immediately invalidates your opinion on this matter. The Orlov-Niskanen pairing carried the Capitals defensive group during the Cup run. They were getting the match-up duties and did an excellent job with them. They held Kucherov to just two even-strength points in 7 games (and only 1G/4A total) during the ECF, and then they held Vegas' red hot top line in check in the SCF (3 even-strength goals for the whole line in the 5 game series).

Even if you don't think Orlov has been a difference maker in the playoffs since the Capitals cup run, he hasn't been the complete liability that Carlson has in the past four playoffs. In the past four playoffs COMBINED Carlson has just one even strength goal and four even strength points. That's a far cry from the offensive wizard he's supposed to be. Moreover, he's a combined -18 over those post-season stretches, and has routinely committed utterly egregious turnover and mistakes that have resulted in goals against. He was getting undressed in his match-up against Taylor Hall and Boston's second line in 2021, and hasn't looked a whole lot better against any other opponent.



Carlson blocking shots is more about the fact that Carlson routinely gets pinned inside his own zone more than someone of his reputation should. Carlson is also a braindead turnover machine on the breakout, which is a large part of why he gets pinned in his zone.

Carlson is the more famous defenseman, but Orlov has outplayed him for several consecutive seasons.

Then why isn’t Orlov on anybody’s top 20 list?

 

[Hivemind]

Then why isn’t Orlov on anybody’s top 20 list?

Because Orlov gets essentially zero PP time, so his point totals are low and he's generally under-heralded. And he's borderline Top 20 at best, anyway.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

If you’re in the playoffs and you have to pick one of the two. Would you seriously pick Reilly over McAvoy? McAvoy is a f***ing horse.

Rielly just had 6 points in 7 playoff games. 3g-3a-6pts I’d have to go with Morgan.

 

[Sheppy]

Rielly just had 6 points in 7 playoff games. 3g-3a-6pts I’d have to go with Morgan.

Jesus Christ. You’re really just hanging onto the whole “points” thing. If you don’t think that McAvoy brings a better overall game, there’s zero help for you.

I’m actually baffled.

 

[LosPollosHermanos]

His Norris Trophy begs to differ

My washing machine does too

Winning the Norris trophy does not automatically slot you in as the #1 best there buckaroo

 

[Habsrule]

The top five are correct and before even opening the thread those were the top ones that jumped out at me. For most of the rest you can scramble up and make a strong enough case to put them in any order. Some names obviously belong near the bottom of that tier.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Man the position is in more trouble than I thought if Carlson and Toews are top 10 defenseman in the NHL. Don't think I'd have Heiskanen at 10 and Seider at 11 either. At least they got the top 5 right, although I think a blind goat could have hit those. Also nice to see Letang get some due, better late than never.

Chabot is better than a lot of these guys.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Jesus Christ. You’re really just hanging onto the whole “points” thing. If you don’t think that McAvoy brings a better overall game, there’s zero help for you.

I’m actually baffled.

McAvoy brings a good all around game, the thing I like about Charlie is his defensive zone prowess with shot blocking and hitting, also one of the best at carrying and moving the puck.

 

[Sheppy]

McAvoy brings a good all around game, the thing I like about Charlie is his defensive zone prowess with shot blocking and hitting, also one of the best at carrying and moving the puck.

Reilly has a better offensive game as of now, but McAvoy is clearly better in every other aspect. The gap between points doesn’t make up for McAvoy being clearly better in every other aspect of being a defenseman.

I feel like I’m being trolled here. Like there’s zero way you can honestly tell me that Morgan Reilly is better than Charlie McAvoy.

 

[majormajor]

Heiskanen too low, he's top 5 for me.

Zach Werenski placing on the top 20 list could also be debated as Seth Jones, Hampus Lindblom, Thomas Chabot and even Noah Dobson could all argue a placing over Werenski.

I'm going to guess you haven't watched Jones and Lindholm in a while. They're past their primes while Werenski is at his best. Werenski is similar to Chabot, that could go either way. I can't speak on Dobson.