Who Is the Best Defenseman in the NHL?

We’re taking a look at who the best defensemen in the NHL are. We’ll be looking at a variety of factors, including statistics, intangibles, and more.

Preamble

In order to decide who the best defenseman in the NHL is, we must first understand what characteristics we are looking for in a defenseman. A good defenseman is someone who is able to shut down the other team’s offense and prevent them from scoring. They are also typically good at controlling the puck and making good decisions with it. Additionally, a good defenseman is often someone who is physical and can clear the front of the net. With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top defensemen in the NHL and see who stands out as the best of the bunch.

The case for Drew Doughty

In a league filled with great defensemen, Drew Doughty stands out as one of the best. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a Norris Trophy winner. He’s also been named to the NHL All-Star team six times. Doughty is a complete defenseman who excels at both ends of the ice. Let’s take a closer look at why he’s the best defenseman in the NHL.

His stats speak for themselves

In 2018, Doughty averaged almost 28 minutes of ice time per game, the most of any player in the NHL. He had 10 goals and 50 assists in 82 games, leading all defensemen in points. He was plus-21 on the season, meaning his team tended to score more goals than its opponents when he was on the ice. He also played big minutes in important situations: Doughty averaged more than three minutes per game on the penalty kill and more than two and a half minutes per game on the power play.

He’s a two-way player

Drew Doughty is often lauded for his offensive production from the blue line, but it’s his two-way game that makes him the best defenseman in the NHL.

In addition to his 51 points this season, Doughty is also averaging 26:50 of ice time per game, the most of any player in the league. He’s used in all situations, whether it’s shutting down the opposition’s top line or leading the charge on a power play.

And while Doughty isn’t known for his physical play, he’s not afraid to mix it up when necessary. He’s tied for second among NHL defenseman with 94 hits this season.

In other words, Doughty is the complete package and there’s simply no other blueliner who can match his all-around game.

He’s clutch

When the game is on the line, there’s no one you’d rather have on your team than Drew Doughty. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has a reputation for delivering in the clutch, and he’s shown time and again that he’s up for the challenge when the stakes are high.

In the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, Doughty played a key role in helping the Los Angeles Kings come back from a 3-0 series deficit to beat the New York Rangers in seven games. He had two goals and eight assists in the series, including a goal and an assist in Game 7.

Just last year, Doughty scored the winning goal in overtime to give the Kings a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs. He finished the postseason with four goals and 11 assists in 15 games.

Doughty is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014. He had one goal and three assists in six games at the 2010 Games and two goals and five assists at the 2014 Games.

There’s no doubt that Doughty is one of the best defensemen in the NHL today, and there’s a case to be made that he’s actually the best blueliner in the league. He has all of the skills you could want in a defenseman: He’s an excellent skater, he has great vision, he’s a good passer, and he has a rocket of a shot. He also has superb hockey IQ and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

The case for Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He is a two-time Norris Trophy winner and was named to the NHL First All-Star team four times. He is a puck-moving defenseman who can also score goals. In the 2018-19 season, Karlsson had 14 goals and 53 assists for the Sharks.

His stats speak for themselves

Erik Karlsson is often deemed as the best defenseman in the NHL by many people, but is that really the case? Let’s take a deeper look into Karlsson’s stats to try and answer that question.

First off, Karlsson is an amazing skater. He has great speed and agility, which allows him to get to the puck first and make plays. He is also a great passer, which helps set up his teammates for goals.

Karlsson also has great offensive instincts. He is always looking for ways to get the puck to the net, and he has a great shot. He is currently leading all defensemen in goals scored, with 12. He also has 28 assists, which puts him second among defensemen in points scored.

Defensively, Karlsson is not quite as strong as he is offensively. However, he is still a very good defenseman. He has good positional awareness and he uses his skating ability to his advantage when defending against opposing forwards.

Overall, Karlsson is a very good hockey player. His stats speak for themselves – he is one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL, and he is a solid defender as well. There is no doubt that Karlsson deserves to be considered one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

He’s a two-way player

Erik Karlsson is often lauded for his offensive contributions, but he is also a very strong defensive player. He has great hockey IQ and anticipation, and is always in the right position. He’s not the biggest player on the ice, but he uses his body well to block shots and keep opponents to the outside. Karlsson is an excellent skater, which allows him to keep up with even the fastest forwards. He’s also a good puck-handler, which is helpful when transitioning from defense to offense.

He’s clutch

Erik Karlsson is one of the most skilled offensive defensemen in the NHL. He led all defenseman in scoring during the 2014-15 season with 66 points, and was second in 2013-14 with 74 points. He’s also a two-time Norris Trophy winner, given to the league’s best defenseman.

But Karlsson’s value goes beyond just his offensive production. He’s also an excellent defensive player, and has been used in key situations by Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean. Karlsson is often matched up against the opposition’s best players, and he frequently logs more than 25 minutes of ice time per game.

In addition to his on-ice abilities, Karlsson is also a leader in the Senators locker room. He was named captain prior to the 2014-15 season, and he has been a steadying influence for a young team that has struggled at times.

There are other defensemen who may have higher point totals than Karlsson, but few can match his all-around game or his impact on both ends of the ice. For those reasons, Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL today.

The case for Brent Burns

It is well-known that Brent Burns is one of the best, if not the best, defenseman in the NHL today. But what makes him so great? Is it his incredible offensive production? His big body and physicality? His leadership? Let’s take a look at what makes Brent Burns the best defenseman in the NHL.

His stats speak for themselves

Brent Burns is one of the most dominant defensemen in the NHL, and his stats speak for themselves. In the past three seasons, he has averaged over a point per game and is currently among the league leaders in goals, assists, and points. He is also a +15 over that span.

In addition to his offensive production, Burns is also an excellent defensive player. He regularly logs huge minutes against the opposition’s best players and is among the league leaders in blocks and hits. He is also an excellent penalty-killer and has been a key player on some of the league’s best power-play units.

There is no question that Brent Burns is one of the NHL’s best defenseman, and his stats back it up. He is a difference-maker on both ends of the ice and has established himself as one of the league’s premier players.

He’s a two-way player

There are plenty of defenseman who can put up big numbers on the offensive end of the ice. But what sets Brent Burns apart from the pack is his ability to contribute on both ends of the rink.

In addition to being one of the league’s top scorers from the blue line, Burns is also a key contributor to the Sharks’ penalty kill. He averaged over three minutes of ice time per game on the PK last season, and his play helped San Jose rank seventh in the league in goals allowed while short-handed.

Beyond the numbers, it’s Burns’ all-around game that makes him one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in front of his own net, and he’s always willing to jump up in the rush and join the attack. He’s also a superb skater with great vision and passing ability. In other words, he has all the tools you could ask for in a modern-day defenseman.

He’s clutch

Brent Burns is one of the most clutch players in the NHL. In the past three seasons, he’s scored 19 goals in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime. That’s more than any other player in the league.

In addition, Burns has been a key player for the San Jose Sharks on both ends of the ice. He’s a two-time Norris Trophy finalist and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner. He’s also one of the league’s top scorers, with 20 goals and 63 points this season.

So why isn’t Brent Burns considered the best defenseman in the NHL? It might have something to do with his team’s struggles in recent years. The Sharks have missed the playoffs three times in the past four seasons. And they’re currently on the outside looking in, sitting ninth in the Western Conference standings.

But even if the Sharks don’t make a deep run this year, there’s no doubt that Brent Burns is one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

Conclusion

After analyzing the data, it is clear that Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL. He is significantly better than the next best defenseman, Brent Burns. Karlsson is not only a great offensive defenseman, but he is also a very good defensive player. He has won two Norris Trophies and is a five-time All-Star. There is no doubt that Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL.