With the news that LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty had been rated the highest among defenseman in EA’s NHL 19, came a huge backlash on Twitter. A lot of people agreed with the decision, but a large number of people believed that Erik Karlsson should have held the honor. That led me to search for the best defenseman in the NHL right now.
We live in an age where defense is extremely important. If you look at the last decade (or more) of Stanley Cup champion teams, you will see that each had a major defenseman/defensemen play a huge role. Just a few examples are:
2018: Capitals – John Carlson
2017: Penguins – Justin Schultz
2016: Penguins – Kris Letang
2015: Blackhawks – Duncan Keith
Because every player has highs and lows, I refuse to base concept of “the best” on a sample size of only one or two seasons. Checking all major and relevant stats in hockey, I’ve set out to find the best defenseman currently playing in the NHL. To do this, I’ve selected defensemen who: have played crucial roles on their respective teams, are undisputed number 1 defensemen in the NHL, have finished in the top 10 in Norris voting, and are respected league wide for their contributions from the back-end. But for this list, I’m focusing on contributions within the last four years.
Here are the candidates:
Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings
Achievements: Two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2012, 2014), 2016 Norris winner, 4-time all-star, played in/was elected to 4 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 328
Points: 201
Points Per Game: .6128
Point Shares: 42.4
+/-: +58
Corsi: Corsi For: 7277, Corsi Against: 5839, 55.48%
PDO (mean): 100.125
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 46.375%
Average time on ice (career): 26.15
PK Subban – Nashville Predators
Achievements: 2013 Norris winner, 3-time all-star, played in/elected to 3 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 298
Points: 210
Points per game: .7046
Point Shares: 37.3
+/-: + 35
Corsi: Corsi For: 5842, Corsi Against:5276, 52.545%
PDO (mean): 100.55
Defensive Zone starts (mean):52.125 %
Average time on ice (career): 24:29
Erik Karlsson – Ottawa Senators
Achievements: Two-time Norris winner (2012, 2015), 4-time all-star, played in/elected to 5 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 312
Points: 281
PPG: .9006
Point Shares: 43.7
+/-: -10
Corsi: CF: 6888, CA: 6432, 51.71%
PDO (mean): 99.475
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 45.85%
Average time on ice (career): 25:58
Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks
Achievements: 2017 Norris winner, 2-time all-star, played in/elected to 5 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 328
Points: 278
PPG: .8476
Point Shares: 46.8
+/-: -11
Corsi: CF: 7115, CA: 6108, 53.807%
PDO (mean): 98.775
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 44.4%
Average time on ice (career): 21:30
Victor Hedman – Tampa Bay Lightning
Achievements: 2018 Norris winner, 2-time all-star, played in/elected to 2 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 293
Points: 220
PPG: .7509
Point Shares: 40.1
+/-: +68
Corsi: CF: 5643, CA: 4843, 53.815%
PDO (mean): 101.5
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 43.075%
Average time on ice (career): 22:56
John Carlson – Washington Capitals
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 292
Points: 199
PPG: .6815
Point Shares: 34
+/-: +34
Corsi: CF: 5152, CA: 5208, 49.729%
PDO (mean): 101.525
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 50.725%
Average time on ice (career): 23:00
Roman Josi – Nashville Predators
Achievements: Played in/elected to 1 all-star game
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 309
Points: 218
PPG: .7055
Point Shares: 39.9
+/-: +43
Corsi: CF: 6312, CA: 5970, 51.392%
PDO (mean): 100.625
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 50.4 %
Average time on ice (career): 24:37
Dustin Byfuglien – Winnipeg Jets
Achievements: 2010 Stanley Cup champion, played in/elected to 3 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 299
Points: 195
PPG: .65217
Point Shares: 34.7
+/-: +34
Corsi: CF: 5749, CA: 5172, 52.64%
PDO (mean): 100.55
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 48.625%
Average time on ice (career): 21:48
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Arizona Coyotes
Achievements: Played in/elected to 2 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 318
Points: 179
PPG: .5629
Point Shares: 30
+/-: -77
Corsi: CF:5665, CA:5703, 49.8%
PDO (mean): 98.2
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 53.6%
Average time on ice (career): 23:39
Seth Jones – Columbus Blue Jackets
Achievements: 1-time all-star, played in/elected to 2 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 316
Points: 157
PPG: .4968
Point Shares: 27.3
+/-: +5
Corsi: CF: 5812, CA: 5078, 53.37 %
PDO (mean): 98.975
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 44.9%
Average time on ice (career): 21:54
Kris Letang – Pittsburgh Penguins
Achievements: Three time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016, 2017), 2-time all-star, played in/elected to 4 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 260
Points: 206
PPG: .7923
Point Shares: 33
+/-: +14
Corsi: CF: 5461, CA: 4483, 54.917%
PDO (mean): 99.05
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 45.2%
Average time on ice (career): 23:38
Shayne Gostisbehere – Philadelphia Flyers
Achievements:none
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 220
Points: 150
PPG: .6818
Point Shares: 23.8
+/-: -5
Corsi: CF: 3590, CA: 3328, 51.9%
PDO (mean): 99.9
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 37.5%
Average time on ice (career): 20:20
Alex Pietrangelo – St. Louis Blues
Achievements: 2-time all-star, played in/elected to 1 all-star game
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 312
Points: 185
PPG: .5929
Point Shares: 34.4
+/-: +19
Corsi: CF: 6016, CA: 5828, 50.79%
PDO (mean): 100.4
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 53.425%
Average time on ice (career): 24:44
John Klingberg – Dallas Stars
Achievements: Played in/elected to 1 all-star game
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 303
Points: 214
PPG: .7062
Point Shares: 35.5
+/-: +39
Corsi: CF: 6274, CA: 5570, 53.0%
PDO (mean): 101.3
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 48.5%
Average time on ice (career): 23:03
Ryan Suter – Minnesota Wild
Achievements: 1-time all-star, played in/elected to 3 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 319
Points: 180
PPG: .5943
Point Shares: 34.1
+/-: +50
Corsi: CF: 6602, CA: 6078, 52.07%
PDO (mean): 100.65
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 48.325%
Average time on ice (career): 25:05
Mark Giordano – Calgary Flames
Achievements: Played in/elected to 2 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 306
Points: 181
PPG: .5915
Point Shares: 35.3
+/-: +30
Corsi: CF: 5808, CA: 5142, 53.04%
PDO (mean): 99.7
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 51.7%
Average time on ice (career): 22:23
Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks
Achievements: Three time Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015), Two time Norris winner (2010, 2014), Conn Smythe winner, 3-time all-star, played in/elected to 3 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 309
Points: 173
PPG: .5599
Point Shares: 30.5
+/-: +18
Corsi: CF: 6275, CA: 5545, 53.09%
PDO (mean): 100.35
Defensive Zone starts (mean):46.35 %
Average time on ice (career): 25:13
Shea Weber – Montreal Canadiens
Achievements: 4-time all-star, played in/elected to 6 all-star games
Stats over last 4 seasons:
Games: 260
Points: 154
PPG: .5923
Point Shares: 31.6
+/-: +20
Corsi: CF: 5110, CA:4850, 51.31%
PDO (mean): 98.95
Defensive Zone starts (mean): 50.725%
Average time on ice (career): 24:10
How do we make sense of that data? Well, ideally you want your best defenseman to get you 45+ points, have solid possession numbers (corsi) over 51% or 52%, average over 20 minutes per night (the closer to 30 the better), maximize his point shares (over 30), and have a pdo (your team’s average shooting percentage + your team’s average save percentage when he’s on the ice) over 99.
Now, “the best” often comes down to which traits you value the most. For each major stat category, here are the top five players:
Possession (Corsi):
- Drew Doughty (55.48%)
- Kris Letang (54.92%)
- Victor Hedman (53.82%)
- Brent Burns (53.81%)
- Seth Jones (53.37%)
Points per game:
- Erik Karlsson (.9006)
- Brent Burns (.8476)
- Kris Letang (.7923)
- Victor Hedman (.7509)
- John Klingberg (.7062)
Point Shares:
- Brent Burns (46.8)
- Erik Karlsson (43.7)
- Drew Doughty (42.4)
- Victor Hedman (40.1)
- Roman Josi (39.9)
PDO:
- John Carlson (101.525)
- Victor Hedman (101.5)
- John Klingberg (101.3)
- Ryan Suter (100.65)
- Roman Josi (100.63)
As demonstrated, no individual defenseman led more than one category. However, the number of appearances for each defensemen are as follows:
Hedman: 4
Doughty: 2
Letang: 2
Karlsson: 2
Klingberg: 2
Josi: 2
Burns: 2
Jones: 1
Suter: 1
Carlson: 1
These stats confirm the general consensus that the four best defensemen in the league are Doughty, Burns, Karlsson, and Hedman. However, they also prove that Jones, Josi, and Klingberg are great up and coming defensemen.
My Conclusion:
While he doesn’t have the corsi of Doughty or produce points like Karlsson, Hedman shows himself to be one of the most reliable players in hockey.
As Victor Hedman is the only member to appear in all 4 categories (2nd in PDO, 4th in point shares, 3rd in possession, and 4th in points per game), clearly he is the best defenseman in the NHL. While he doesn’t lead these defensemen in any one category, his well-rounded game demonstrates that he is the most elite player in the league at his position. All of these categories are extremely important in being a number one defenseman and Hedman consistently contributes near the top of every one of them.
All stats calculated using hockey-reference.com
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