Top 10 NHL Defensemen All-Time Ranked By Fans

[Henry Gill]

Ranker.com (as of 7/30/22) lists the following 10 as the greatest NHL defensemen ever, as voted on by the fans:

1.


2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.


10.

Source: The Best Defensemen in NHL History​

Click to read more...

 

[JellyRamp]

no objection here

 

[PK]

I believe Stevens should be there somewhere.

 

[Henry Gill]

no objection here

Yeah, I think it's a well balanced list. Every one of those guys has a strong case for being Top 10. Must be so hard though voting on a Top 10 and having to leave off guys like Brad Park, Chris Chelios and Al MacInnis. But they weren't too far off. So many great players.

I believe Stevens should be there somewhere.

He's not too much further down. Between 10-20 I believe. Great hitter.

 

[Bluesguru]

10 is so small a list. Brad Park deserves a mention.

 

[Felidae]

I'm surprised Harvey is 2nd. Not because he shouldn't be there, but usually these lists are more favourable towards recent players. I expected Bourque and Lidstrom to be ranked ahead.

One of the better online hockey rankings I've seen. I'd probably have them ranked a bit differently but everyone on the list is deserving with the exception of Leetch who sticks out like a sore thumb. Nothing against him, but definitely shouldn't be there. Especially over Chelios or Pilote.

 

[JackSlater]

Looks surprisingly good except for Leetch being the sixth best defenceman of all time.

 

[rmartin65]

If you take Leetch out of there, that's a pretty solid looking list.

Nothing against Leetch, but he's not a top 10 D of all time. He's (probably) not even top 20.

 

[DeysArena]

I agree about Leetch and Eddie Shore should be higher.

Still, it's not a bad list.

 

[The Panther]

This forum is really hard on Brian Leetch. I think, maybe, there's a recency-negative bias where people are remembering his latter half more than his first half.

In recent years, I've watched a few Rangers' games (and '96 World Cup) games from the early/mid-1990s, and there is no doubt that Leetch was the best player on those teams, and was the straw that stirred the drink (not Messier, not Lindros '96). Like, he was seriously good. He was the best player on the 1994 Cup champs. He was the best player on the 1996 World Cup champs.

From around 1990 to 1997, I honestly don't think there was a better Dman in the NHL than Leetch. Yes, I would take him over Chelios in that period, and also over Bourque -- they were both getting a bit older, while Lidstrom was still young.

Similar to Leetch, I could also make a case for peak-level Chris Pronger (or Chelios, maybe, though I'm not as high on him as most) to be in the top ten. But it's the prime vs. longevity thing. Leetch and Pronger didn't maintain their super-elite level as long as maybe we'd like to merit top-10 consideration.

So, ultimately, would I have Leetch in my top 10? Probably not, no. But if we're talking about prime level, then maybe, yes.

 

[67 others]

This forum is really hard on Brian Leetch. I think, maybe, there's a recency-negative bias where people are remembering his latter half more than his first half.

In recent years, I've watched a few Rangers' games (and '96 World Cup) games from the early/mid-1990s, and there is no doubt that Leetch was the best player on those teams, and was the straw that stirred the drink (not Messier, not Lindros '96). Like, he was seriously good. He was the best player on the 1994 Cup champs. He was the best player on the 1996 World Cup champs.

From around 1990 to 1997, I honestly don't think there was a better Dman in the NHL than Leetch. Yes, I would take him over Chelios in that period, and also over Bourque -- they were both getting a bit older, while Lidstrom was still young.

Similar to Leetch, I could also make a case for peak-level Chris Pronger (or Chelios, maybe, though I'm not as high on him as most) to be in the top ten. But it's the prime vs. longevity thing. Leetch and Pronger didn't maintain their super-elite level as long as maybe we'd like to merit top-10 consideration.

So, ultimately, would I have Leetch in my top 10? Probably not, no. But if we're talking about prime level, then maybe, yes.

Leetch was a terrific offensive dman.

But his defensive game wasn't anywhere near the top 10 and he really only had 5 great offensive years. Outside those years he was good offensive/not so good defensive.

The heavies in the top 10 beat him in both prime and consistency

 

[The Panther]

Leetch was a terrific offensive dman.

But his defensive game wasn't anywhere near the top 10 and he really only had 5 great offensive years. Outside those years he was good offensive/not so good defensive.

The heavies in the top 10 beat him in both prime and consistency

Again, I think the "not so good defensively" is accurate when talking about Leetch from 1997-98 to the end of his career (well, the entire Rangers' team was pretty much a train-wreck in that era). However, starting from when he was a bit NHL-seasoned and going until about 1997, I think Leetch was quite good defensively. That is, "good" in terms of an attacking defenseman, of course (he wasn't waiting around in front of his goalie all game like Brad McCrimmon).

From 1990-91 to 1996-97 (RS) among D-men:

PPG
1.05 Bourque
1.03 Leetch
1.03 Coffey
0.97 MacInnis
0.94 Housley

For 7 years or so, Leetch was basically the best offensive Dman in the game. One of these seasons, he missed more than half of it to injury, and another season was the work-stoppage short year.

But anyway, in Leetch's defense I submit the following three pieces of evidence:

1) 1994 Stanley Cup
-- Most valuable player of playoffs
-- 34 points (1st NHL)
-- +19 (1st NHL)

2) 1996 World Cup
-- Was the best player for Team USA other than Richter
(Note: For some reason, Chelios was named to the tournament All Star team over Leetch. That is silly.)

3) Value to New York Rangers
Let's put it this way: Here's the Rangers' record with and without Leetch in the line-up from 1991 to 1994:
-- with Leetch: 122-62-16 (.650)
-- without Leetch: 14-26-8 (.375)


Again, I'm not saying Leetch is a top-10 D of all-time. I am saying that based on his peak/prime level, he could have been. But his prime wasn't long enough.

 

[GMR]

Leetch doesn’t belong on here. Replace him with Fetisov and reorder the bottom 5 on this list.

 

[Theokritos]

Replace him with Fetisov

It's an NHL list though.

 

[The Panther]

Leetch doesn’t belong on here. Replace him with Fetisov and reorder the bottom 5 on this list.

Fetisov wouldn't be in the top 100 NHL defensemen.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

No way is Eddie Shore outside the top 5.

4 Harts
1,1,1,1,2,3,3 Hart finishes
7x AS-1
Minimum 7 Norris trophies is it existed

 

[GMR]

It's an NHL list though.

Fair enough. Replace him with Chelios, Macinnis, or Pronger. At the very least, put him below Shore.

 

[67 others]

Again, I think the "not so good defensively" is accurate when talking about Leetch from 1997-98 to the end of his career (well, the entire Rangers' team was pretty much a train-wreck in that era). However, starting from when he was a bit NHL-seasoned and going until about 1997, I think Leetch was quite good defensively. That is, "good" in terms of an attacking defenseman, of course (he wasn't waiting around in front of his goalie all game like Brad McCrimmon).

From 1990-91 to 1996-97 (RS) among D-men:

PPG
1.05 Bourque
1.03 Leetch
1.03 Coffey
0.97 MacInnis
0.94 Housley

For 7 years or so, Leetch was basically the best offensive Dman in the game. One of these seasons, he missed more than half of it to injury, and another season was the work-stoppage short year.

But anyway, in Leetch's defense I submit the following three pieces of evidence:

1) 1994 Stanley Cup
-- Most valuable player of playoffs
-- 34 points (1st NHL)
-- +19 (1st NHL)

2) 1996 World Cup
-- Was the best player for Team USA other than Richter
(Note: For some reason, Chelios was named to the tournament All Star team over Leetch. That is silly.)

3) Value to New York Rangers
Let's put it this way: Here's the Rangers' record with and without Leetch in the line-up from 1991 to 1994:
-- with Leetch: 122-62-16 (.650)
-- without Leetch: 14-26-8 (.375)


Again, I'm not saying Leetch is a top-10 D of all-time. I am saying that based on his peak/prime level, he could have been. But his prime wasn't long enough.

*Shrugs

I have different memories of him than you I guess. Im not saying he is Paul Coffey defensively, but he sure wasn't Chris Chelios either.

Chelios was a horrific jerk, but he was Damn effective defensively(Considered one of the best PKers of all time) and also had a very effective transition game and his offensive game, while less noticeable, was great. His carrying of the puck always looked awkward to me, yet despite looking silly and awkward, was very effective and a bit of a mirage to fool us. I don't think Chelios deserved his 93 Norris, but he deserved the other 2. Not sure about the 96 team. I was probably focused on Canada lol

 

[JackSlater]

I view the top defencemen historically in terms of tiers. Orr is alone in his tier on top. The next tier has Lidstrom, Bourque, Potvin, Harvey and a few others. There is probably room for two or so defencemen from the next tier, where Leetch resides, but it wouldn't be Leetch. He's near the bottom of that third tier for me.

Even among close contemporaries who aren't in the top ten list I don't like Leetch's argument against MacInnis, Stevens, or especially Chelios.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Good list.

Much as I think there should be an additional trophy (yes, there are too many already) to honor the best *defensive* defenseman, these polls are highly skewed to offensive production.

I'll nominate Rod Langway for the trophy's name, and give credit to the 2-time Norris winner whose best offensive season was 11 goals and 45 points. His 2 Norris seasons *combined* produced just 12 goals and 65 points. Those numbers today would almost certainly disqualify him from even a 2nd Team All-Star berth, despite his prowess at the position.

Not saying Langway deserves to be in this or any other top-10, but just that defensive mastery is ignored to a ridiculous extent. The position might as well be renamed to "offenseman".

And a point of trivia - apparently Langway was the most sought after football quarterback prospect coming out of high school, and attended UNH because it was the only school that would allow him to play both sports.

 

[jcs0218]

Leetch shouldn't be anywhere near a top 10 all-time defensemen list.

He was a great player. But I don't think he was very good defensively.

Chelios, Stevens, Pronger, MacInnis, and Niedermayer all rank ahead of him on my personal list.

Chelios should replace Leetch on this list, and then move Chelios down to the 9th or 10th spot.

 

[JackSlater]

Good list.

Much as I think there should be an additional trophy (yes, there are too many already) to honor the best *defensive* defenseman, these polls are highly skewed to offensive production.

I'll nominate Rod Langway for the trophy's name, and give credit to the 2-time Norris winner whose best offensive season was 11 goals and 45 points. His 2 Norris seasons *combined* produced just 12 goals and 65 points. Those numbers today would almost certainly disqualify him from even a 2nd Team All-Star berth, despite his prowess at the position.

Not saying Langway deserves to be in this or any other top-10, but just that defensive mastery is ignored to a ridiculous extent. The position might as well be renamed to "offenseman".

And a point of trivia - apparently Langway was the most sought after football quarterback prospect coming out of high school, and attended UNH because it was the only school that would allow him to play both sports.

What exactly is your point as it pertains to this list? The first five were noted as elite defensively, as was Robinson. The only player who, as far as I know, was heavily criticized for his defence is Coffey, but Coffey was no more one-dimensional than Langway was, and I'd say less one dimensional come playoff time. Realistically one player can't have a defensive impact to equal Coffey's offensive impact.

If anything Langway is very fortunate to be remembered as much as he is, and I say that as someone who highly regards his defensive game. He was very, very fortunate to be given two Norris trophies even if someone wanted to give the trophy only to players who were elite defensively.

 

[LightningStorm]

Pretty much agree with the sentiment here that Leetch is too high. Loved seeing him play for Team USA as a kid, but no way is he #6. I consider him borderline top 15, but definitely top 20. I also think Robinson is ranked too low. Bare minimum at 8, but probably 6-7. After Orr, the rest of the top 5 is correct though. 2-5 can reasonably be in any order of those 4.

 

[The Panther]

I think Robinson is rated about right. He's very elite, but wouldn't reside in the top-six or seven. Number ten feels about right.

I could definitely make space for Scott Stevens here, towards the end of the '10'. He just had everything you could want, including consistent longevity.

 

[Galchenyuk15]

Pretty agree with that list but mine is a little bit different.

1 - Orr : In his own category; the player with the most impact to ever play the game; the efficacy of Bourque in his own zone, the killer instinct of McDavid in the offensive zone, skate like a wind, built like a truck, this guy can kick your ass if he want and play 30-40 minutes with 2 bad knees ...
2 - Harvey : Not really sure at the number 2 but because of what he has bring to the game I think it's OK!
3 - Bourque : The perfect model of a true defenseman; can contribute in attack but play defense first mentality!
4 - Lidstrom : The best of the modern ERA; euro version of Bourque!
5 - Shore : Like Harvey and Orr, this guy is a true legend; everyone know Eddie Shore the Chuck Norris of is time!
6 - Potvin : Very offensive defenseman and can defend pretty well; key piece of the New York Islanders dynasty!
7 - Robinson : Not a sexy choice but if you want to win some crucial game, you need this guy, a monster!
8 - Coffey : He deserves better if you see his number but he plays the game like a 4th forward ...
9 - Kelly : Another monument like Shore and Harvey!
10 - Leetch : Very intelligent, really offensive and impressive numbers but can drop at rank 15 pretty quick ...

Honorable mention to Chris Chelios, Al MaCinnis, Scott Stevens, Phil Housley and Scott Niedermayer from the post 1980 Era!