Miro Heiskanen near the top – here are the 20 best defensemen in the NHL
The experts at NHL Network have listed the current top 20 defensemen in the league.
At the top of the list is Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar. He recorded 79 points in 75 games last season with 20 goals and 59 assists. Makar has reached the 90-point mark in a season twice in his NHL career and has won a Stanley Cup and two Norris Trophies.
Completing the top three are Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hughes, who moved from the Vancouver Canucks to Minnesota during last season, scored 53 points in 48 games after the trade with 5 goals and 48 assists. Werenski finished the season with 81 points in 75 games, tallying 22 goals and 59 assists.
Among Finnish players, Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars ranks fifth on the list. Heiskanen recorded 63 points in 77 games last season with 9 goals and 54 assists. This was his second most productive season in the NHL.
NHL Network’s TOP 20 Defensemen:
- Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
- Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
- Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
- Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
- Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
- Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
- Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
- Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
- Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
- Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
- Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
- Adam Fox, New York Rangers
- Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
- Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
- Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
- Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks
- Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
- Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
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