He is second to John Carlson of the Capitals in points-per-game average among defensemen since the 2017-18 season (0.83). The linchpin of the Washington Capitals defense corps, John Carlson's smooth skating and offensive skills make him an invaluable part of their scoring attack too. among defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. WebBest 3s Defensive Build . As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT31. That said, hes certainly worse than Ekholm and only a year younger, and the Oilers needed to send out money to make the deal work. Is Evan Bouchard the PP1 guy now, or does Ekholm run the top group? WebBUY NHL 21 Recognize Greatness. With McDavid and Draisaitl in their respective primes, tomorrow isnt nearly as critical for the Oilers. NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? After missing all of the 2020-21 regular season recovering from surgery, Kucherov joined Tampa Bay for the playoffs and had 24 assists and eight goals over 23 games in another championship season. Injuries and a shortened schedule limited him to 32 points in 2019-20, but he netted 36 points in 53 games the following season. Hes a big, highly physical winger, with good hands and some goal-scoring touch. With his size, speed, hockey smarts and booming shot, he remains among the NHL's top offensive rearguards. Awareness by 4 and 3 points. Where he could improve is on the defensive end, particularly since he plays a defensive position. A gifted playmaker, he led all defensemenin 2020-21 with 42 assists and finished second with 47 points. Letang is approaching the period in his career when his offensive output could start to decline. It will be interesting seeing who runs the Oilers two power play units now with Barrie out. John Klingberg wasted little time establishing himself among the NHL's scoring defensemen, tallying 40 points in 65 games in 2014-15. Recent performance, career offensive numbers and consistency factored into this compilation. Nevertheless, Hughes finished third, Entering his third NHL season, the 21-year-old should continue to shine as one of the league's best-scoring defensemen. Rasmus Andersson, CGY29. His production from the blue line during the 2018 playoffs played a crucial role in their march to the 2018 Stanley Cup,netting 20 pointsin 24 games. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. Look at who gets paired with Norris nominees. While injuries limited Matt Grzelcyk to 37 games last season, he wound up seeing more playing time with McAvoy than any other Bruins blueliner. It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Accuracy, Slap Shot Accuracy, and Deking by 2, 2, and 3 points. Signed in July by the Oilers to athree-year contract, Barrie's production should remain among the league's best. Dougie Hamilton's offensive skills were apparent early in his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, exceeding 40 points for the first time in 2014-15. He was ranked No. Tj Brodie is great but he's certainly not a shut down defensemen, Ahhh yes, Jan Rutta the legendary shutdown defenseman alongside Hedman /s, From our team it is definitely Brodin and Spurgeon, Suter is still solid too. Pairing Ellis with Provorov should give the Flyers one of this season's top defensive duos. Chychrun is an extremely underrated but extremely good shutdown guy. 4 platypus_bear CGY - NHL 2 yr. ago In those eight seasons, he'sthird overallbehind Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson in total points among defensemen with 429. This list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua. remains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. McDavid rates as the fastest player in the game with a 96 speed score, having a 96 in all three speed categories. A return to his 40-point form this season could ensure a hefty raise as well as maintain his place among the league's elite offensive defensemen. Add those to his mediocre scores in senses with a 75 in discipline and a 70 in both offensive awareness and poise and its clear that it will take time, but that he can develop into a solid player. He had a team-leading 4:11 of power-play ice time per game, tied for most takeaways with 32 and finished second in average ice time (24:19) per contest. Fox led. Finding the right combination isn't easy. Bruce holds a Ph.D. in Education and formerly taught undergraduates as an adjunct instructor. The fastest line to play in NHL 22 is as follows, with each player selected on their speed score and preferred position: Johnny Gaudreau (93) Connor McDavid (96) Nikita Kucherov (93) Quinn Hughes (93) Cale Makar (93.33). Jeff Petry, PIT49. NHLs Best Defense Pairs of 2021-22. All rights reserved. In 20 I used a 59 186 Sniper so I could still pose a threat offensively and be big enough to knock most builds off the puck, this year it doesnt stand a chance Im curious to find a versatile build appreciate anyone who responds. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. He also checks the boxes on the physical end. Roman Josi, NSH8. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. With Lukko last season, he had nine assists and a goal over 51 games, while the previous season, he had two assists over 19 games. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. He has good skating skills with his non-balance ratings between 82 and 85. Theyre blowing things up. But ask yourself does that matter? Noah Dobson, NYI21. Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below. 1 power-play also was included in the deal. He was also their leading scorer (26 points) in the, A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. Maintaining an elite defensive pairing can mean the difference between a contender and a pretender. A big, skillful all-around defender, the 27-year-old Lindell has led the NHL since 2018-19 in short-handed ice time (718:12) among players with 100-plus games played, averaging 3:21 minutes per contest. Being down a man on the ice is when a defender's abilities to neutralize opposing attackers and help out the goalie will be called upon more than any other. The 25-year-old had 22 points in 35 games in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. RELATED:10 Best Badges For Centers In NBA 2K21. That was the beginning of seven straight seasons with 40-plus points, including a career-high 65 during his Norris Trophy campaign. Fast forward two years, and Seelers reputation and status around the league has changed dramatically. Choosing NHL 22s best young defensive defensemen. Your email address will not be published. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. A strong skater who logs big minutes for the Maple Leafs, the 27-year-old Rielly reached or exceeded 27 points in each of his eight NHL campaigns. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy. The former Stanley Cup champion had 20 assists and nine goals across 41 games during the 2020-2021 season. Then you've got Karlsson and Burns who, well, no. Cale Makar, COL (INJ.) His deking, puck control, and awareness are at 96 while his hand-eye, passing, poise, and wrist shot accuracy are at 95. Your first click here will rank What metrics best define value for scoring defensemen or "defensive" defensemen? NHL This perk will increase the player's Off. While Hedman is no doubt the beneficiary of having an incredible assemblage of offensive talent around him, he's also an integral part of that offense with his puck-rushing and passing skills. The Wild defender has been one of the leagues best defensive players for a while now. Oilers get: Defenseman Mattias Ekholm (4 percent of salary retained by the Predators), 2024 sixth-round pick, Predators get: Defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Reid Schaefer, 2023 first-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick. Entering his fourth year, Hughes helped Vancouver with 38 assists and three goals over 56 games during the 2020-21 season. The Predators listened on Ekholm, but ultimately decided he had more value to them going forward. The trade. Drew Doughty, LAK22. He is also someone who rarely spends time in the penalty box, having spent just six minutes there during the 2020-21 season and amassing a total of 106 minutes over eight seasons. Speed, as they say, kills. Mattias Ekholm, EDM (NEW)38. For defensemen, the parameters were dropped to 90 and 85. The 30-year-old Barrie's offensive skills put him seventh, since 2013-14 with 381 career points. Brandon Montour, FLA13. Eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July, Klingberg could earn a lucrative new contract with the Stars or another NHL club. The question, as always, is whether each end of the deal justifies its reason for being. Blockade will allow the user to block shots much more effectively, and the Durability boost will make the player less likely to incur an injury from blocking shots. Tyson Barrie, NSH40. Our survey respondents agreed that Hedman is, at the very least, the best defenseman in the world. His defensive skills are good with an 85 in both shot blocking and stick checking and an 81 in awareness. The 6'2", 215-pounder logged a team-leading 22:26 of ice time per game last season, finishing second in blocked shots with 106 and fifth with 97 hits. He is a ridiculously talented player. A two-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson netted at least 62 points six times in his 12 NHL seasons. Top 20 defensemen in the NHL for the 2022-23 season of the last four seasons with the exception being the shortened year in 2020-21. So Ive been using the dangler for all positions in 3s. The 25-year-old had 22 points in 35 games in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He has also worked as a ghostwriter, but by definition, he can't prove it. Awareness, 93 Speed, 96 Deking, 95 Off. NHL The 2019-20 Rookie of the Year is entering his third season, but has already made an impact in his first two. Respondents were asked to rank their top 10 players at center, winger, defenseman and goaltender, based on a predetermined list of the top 20 to 30 players at each position. The 2013 first overall draft pick and Calder Memorial Trophy winner had 45 assists and 20 goals in 48 games during the 2020-21 season. However, concerning was his drop in shot percentage from 17.2 during his award-winning season to 11.4 during the 2020-2021 season. He has a 93 in deking, passing, and puck control, though his hand-eye is lacking a bit (but still good) at 86. They are listed by left and right defense. Your email address will not be published. defenseman But who are the best shutdown beasts that come to mind for you? Aseason-ending injurylimited him to 20 points in 35 games last season. Injuries make a player worse at just about everything, and that is never fun. The 24-year-old Werenski is a skilled and mobile blueliner, tallying 47 points as a rookie in 2016-17. The blueliners who didn't make the cut are as noteworthy as those who did. Since 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the NHL's top franchise. For all his perceived defensive deficiencies, Barrie has been an effective player for the Oilers this year. Defensive Defenseman NHL 23 Players | NHL Ratings Miro Heiskanen is only 21-years-old but has already made a big impact in the NHL as an integral defenseman for the Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Final run in 2020. Required fields are marked *. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, Burns enjoyed five straight 60-plus point campaigns from 2014-15 to 2018-19, including a career-best 83-point effort. His physical and skating skills are better, but not by much. All of which is a long preamble into why when Ekholm was finally traded after 719 career games in a Nashville uniform it was just another in a long line of complicated financial transactions that required some jockeying on the part of both clubs to make the dollars work. He's also tied for second among the Stars in takeaways with 22 and sits fourth with 65 blocked shots. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. He has good puck and shooting skills. He has an 80 in aggressiveness, body checking, and durability, though he does have an 87 in endurance and 86 in strength. There are those, however, who are as renowned for their offensive skills as their defensive ones. His awareness and stick checking are 78 with a 76 in shot blocking, and unlike others on this list, his senses are good with an 80 in discipline and 78 in offensive awareness though the 70 in poise is concerning. The 22-year-old Finn's 25:05 time on ice per game ranks seventh among all defensemen since last season. Team: New Jersey DevilsAge: 21Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.795M, 2 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 87 Slap Shot Power, 85 Balance, 85 Durability. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. With his team off to stumbling start to this season, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz separated his top defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock by moving the latter to the second pairing to skate alongside Zdeno Chara. He can improve on defense, though his speed can help make up for some of his lower ratings. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen, NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Free Agents to Sign, NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. Bouchard would be my choice. Beyond his speed, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as MVP boasts incredible puck skills with a 97 in deking, hand-eye, and puck control with a 96 in passing. A broken leg cut short his 2020-21 season, but the 25-year-old has made a full recovery and collected seven points in as many games so far this campaign. Team: New Jersey DevilsAge: 20Position: Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: LeftContract: $0.790M, 3 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 85 Durability, 85 Slap Shot Power, 85 Wrist Shot Power. Awareness by 4 and 3 points. Ekholm is who hes always been; exceedingly solid in his own end, and a guy capable of doing the dirty work in the transition game. Adam Fox, New York Rangers. The former MVP and two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion had 52 assists and 33 goals over 68 games during the 2019-20 first championship season, adding 27 assists and seven goals over 25 playoff games. Why shouldnt it be the Oilers? Awareness and Agility by 4 and 2 points. Not bad. Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters. This year is the first year of that extension, which changed the arithmetic as it related to Ekholm as a trade chip this time around. Hes a fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Flyers' Nick Seeler has emerged as a hot name in NHL trade Webname season tm gp g a p +/-pim ppg ppa shg sha gwg otg s s% toi/gp; tyson barrie: 2022-23 In other words, they didnt sacrifice either Evan Bouchard or Philip Broberg in the deal, two of their better young defensemen. Defensemen are relied upon to patrol the blue line where they'll likely be taking most of their shots, and slap shots are most effective from that range. Traits and Specialties will make or break a build NHL 21's online modes. NHL Stats 2022-2023 - Team Defense - Covers.com He has good awareness with offense at 93 and defense at 90, and he is good at stick checking with a 92. This is a great Specialtythat gives a boost to some of thevery bestdefensive attributes when a defenseman will need them the most. The season before with Cushing Academy, a prep school, he had seven assists in 33 games. For the Preds, this is a nice bit of business. Where he does lack as evidenced by the sub-80 rating is in faceoffs, where he has a career 44.8 win percentage, though he won a career-high 49.53 in 2020-21. Whether its Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, the Rangers, the Devils theyre going to have to play someone from the Western Conference. He's fifth in total points (94) over the, and has yet to reach his playing prime. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-old, among NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. His plus-98 places him firmly at No. This I's a trick alot of people don't no and I dont like telling lol but if u hold out poke check with r1 and u press in r3 u get an added poke. The Lead Editor at OG, Bruce has been an avid gamer since childhood, owning the NES, SNES, N64, PS one, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, and Switch throughout his life. Choosing NHL 22s best young defensive defensemen. He was second among Isles skaters in short-handed ice time per game (2:14) and takeaways (25), third in ice time per contest (21:03) and fourth with 73 blocked shots. Nashville, who are in rebuild mode now, gets a strong prospect, a first-round pick and capitalized on Ekholm while he has great value, and Edmonton gets a key piece it needs for the next few playoff runs. Like his counterpart from Edmonton, MacKinnon excels in every aspect of the game. He maintains that Chrono Trigger is still the best game ever made, though the games hes played the most are Ogre Battle 64 and MLB The Show. Esa Lindell and John Klingberg were the Dallas Stars' best defense pairing prior to this season. Which team has the NHLs best defensemen? - NBC Sports Evan Bouchard, EDM (NEW)37. The 23-year-old New York Rangers star took home the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, joining Hall of Famer Bobby Orr as, Fox is a talented all-around defenseman, logging a, while finishing second with 38 takeaways last season. His shot power for both is a 92 with his wrist shot accuracy edging his slap shot accuracy 93 to 90. Age: 26Rating: 93Position: Center/Right WingType: PlaymakerTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 95 Acceleration, 94 Hand-Eye, 94 Offensive Awareness. Since 2013-14, he's come into his own as an offensive blueliner. A skilled, young defenseman with considerable offensive ability, Quinn Hughes' 53-point performance in 2019-20 made him a finalist for theCalder Memorial Trophy. Here's our ranking of the best defensive pairings for the 2021-22 season. We are the premier subreddit to talk everything hockey! Predators retain four percent of Ekholm remaining cap hit/salary, Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 28, 2023. He has decent quickness with an 80 in acceleration, agility, and speed. The below table lists all of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. In modern hockey, it is imperative to have speed on your lines, or your team is doomed to failure. Unlike Burns and Karlsson, his point-per-game (0.83) over thepast two seasonsremains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. 2022-23 Mayfield 2022-23 Pulock 2022-23 Forsling 2022-23 Staal 2022 Player stats (accurate as of Oct. 29) viaNHL.com. Good offensively too but nobody really talks about how good he is in his own end. He needs vast improvement in his senses and puck skills, and a bit more focus on his skating. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially onthe power play. 10 Best Perks For Defensemen In NHL 21. Adam Fox, NYR3. Lindgren is also fourth at even-strength time per contest (17:16) and in blocked shots with 66. Awareness by 4 points each. Part of the New York Rangers' recent rebuilding process, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox have been together since their first full seasons in 2019-20. Barrie is a necessary piece going the other way. RELATED:NHL 21, 10 Prospects To Draft In Franchise Mode. WebAt Odds Shark, we rank the best defensive teams in the NHL in several important handicapping categories. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. Favorite additions though are adding practice for your club and a free skate mode when editing/testing different load outs. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. He led the Stars in playoff scoring with 26 points during their run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Hes able to score from the dots and around the net. Required fields are marked *. If Smid continues to improve, and young defenseman Justin Schultz makes an impact in his first NHL season, the Oilers' defense will take great strides in 2012-13. The primary role of NHL defensemen is to prevent their opponents from scoring. Check out all the fastest players in NHL 22 in the table below. Those abilities would make him the top defenseman in this year's NHL free-agent market, earning him a seven-year, The 6'6", 230-pounder isn't a physical blueliner, but he uses his long reach to strip opposing players of the puck and his big strides to move the puck up the ice. His three highlighted attributes are his best, which should help keep him on the ice. Last season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he had eight assists and six goals over 24 games. NHL 21 player ratings: The best defensemen - Gamepur With a minimum of twenty game played, here is a look at the top 10 NHL defenseman based on a PPG %. However, the offensive-minded Klingberg now skates alongside offseason acquisition Ryan Suter. He combines those with his 92 in passing, puck control, and offensive awareness, making him a fulcrum of any offensive attack hence why he is a playmaker. Ranking the 10 Best Offensive Defenseman in the NHL Today NEXT:NHL 21, 10 Tips To Win The Stanley Cup In Franchise Mode, Shawn is a Canadian writer for ScreenRant who studied Communications and Philosophy at The University of Ottawa. His defense is adequate, but still needs improvement. Ranking the NHL's top defensemen: Why Victor Hedman is so far ahead of his peers, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Garber: MLS would be flexible for Messi move, Shiffrin, in fifth, gets 'big goal' with overall title, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Cale Makar zooms onto the list with his 94 in agility and 93 in acceleration and speed, making him the fastest defenseman by speed score. 1.00 PPG average. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy last season, becoming the only sophomore other than Hall of Famer Bobby Orr to take home that honor. He said the best of the best play instinctually, like he did. His 85 in durability should keep him on the ice to learn and grow, and his 84 in both slap and wrist shot power makes him a good offensive force from the right defense. The first-round pick is the prize, and Schafer sounds like an interesting piece to have around, too. Awareness and Balance by 3 and 5. Signed to a newsix-year contract, Hughes will be a significant contributor to the Canucks' offensive punch. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. This perk will increase the player's Slap Shot Accuracy and Slap Shot Power by 4 and 2 points. If not, oh well youve got to ice a full lineup. He followed that up by becoming a finalist last season for the, Only 22, Makar possesses the speed and offensive skills of a more seasoned NHL veteran. . Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Age: 22Rating: 88Position: Right DefenseType: Offensive DefensemanTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 94 Agility, 93 Deking, 93 Passing. No defenseman has as many as Karlsson's 468 assists since he entered the league in 2009-10. This perk will increase the player's Def. He can use improvement in all aspects, particularly puck skills and defense. His awareness is only a 77, and both shot blocking and stick checking are 80. Vince Dunn, SEA14. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Dmitry Orlov, BOS (NEW)30. Shore up his physical ratings and he could be the best player in NHL 22 for your team. He's ledall NHL defensemenin total points over the past four seasons with 257. Victor Hedman, TBL11. After ranking the wingers last week, here are the positional rankings for defensemen for the 2020-21 season, according to those in the NHL we surveyed. Your email address will not be published. Shawn enjoys discovering engaging stories, whether they be from movies, video games, books, or any other form in which they may be told. He recently returned to practice and could make his season debut soon. This is a great deal for both sides. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.) The 25 best NHL defensemen of all time | Yardbarker Aaron Ekblad, FLA47. Which non-quarterback group will define each top-25 team's season? He is also one of five players with a speed score of 93, so the order of these five are interchangeable. David Pastrnak, like Gaudreau, has a 93 rating in acceleration, agility, and speed. Another big defender at 6'3" and 205 pounds, Pelech tends to play a more defensive role. Matt Grzelcyk, BOS42. If you want to still be able to bang some bodies, but not sacrifice a ton of speed/athleticism. The 30-year-old Barrie's offensive skills put him seventhamong NHL defensemensince 2013-14 with 381 career points. The Oilers can stick him on the left side of their second pair, where he can help eat some tough minutes and lighten the load on Darnell Nurse, and forget about him. Ekholm was finally getting paid for a decade of quiet, effective service to the Preds. Given the effectiveness of Pelech and Pulock as a shutdown blue-line tandem, however, don't be surprised if they're reunited at some point this season. Adam Larsson, SEA39. If you want to inject more speed and quickness to your team for more goal scoring opportunities, acquire some of these players for your franchise in NHL 22. 2 earned nine points and so on. In NHL 21, players can choose from a varied selection of Traits and Specialties that will boost the attributes of their player loadout for online World of CHEL modes. He is decent enough at defense with an 83 in shot blocking, 81 in stick checking, and 79 in awareness. Samuel Girard, COL28. Winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi is among the NHL's best defensemen. Top Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-oldsits sixthin pointsamong NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Best Defense The 35-year-old Yandle sitsfourth overallamong defensemen with 600 points since his NHL debut in 2006-07. While Kukkonen does have good durability (85) and shot power (82 for both), he is a prospect in every sense of the word in that he needs plenty of time to develop. Nevertheless, Hughes finished thirdamong Canucks scorerswith 41 points in 56 games.