My Top 10 NHL Defenseman

I thought I’d give a top 10 list a shot, and I thought defenseman was the place to start. I’ve noticed that the thoughts regarding the top 10 defenseman in the league are quite erratic, and there doesn’t seem to be a widely accepted pecking order. So I present you with mine. I’ve taken all around play into consideration. Both defensive and offensive abilities have been considered.

1)      Zdeno Chara
Chara is just the most dominant force in the game in my opinion. He is so big players just can’t match up with him. He skates very well for being so big, and it’s damn near impossible to beat him one on one. He can swallow you up physically, and nearly reach from board to board, so he plays incredible defense. He’s a physical presence, and he puts up great offensive numbers, with the NHL’s hardest slapshot this past season. He is currently a nominee for the 2008-2009 Norris Trophy (as the league’s best defenseman).

2)      Nicklas Lidstrom
What can be said about Nicklas Lidstrom? One of the greatest defenseman of All-Time, and he’s been doing it for…well, forever. The guy is 39 years old and has won the Norris Trophy 6 of the past 7 years; with no hockey being played in 2004-2005 due to the lockout. The guy just does it all. He is also currently a nominee (AGAIN) for the Norris Trophy; however, I see Chara taking it from him.

3)      Chris Pronger
Chris Pronger is a guy you either love or hate. If you’re a fan of a team from the West, you probably hate him because he’s been punishing, annoying, and playing stellar defense against your team for years. He is a hard nosed, and frankly, probably a pretty annoying guy, but that is what makes him such a great player. He’s physically imposing, plays fantastic defense, and puts up offensive numbers. As a Flyers fan, he is exactly the kind of player I’d love to see in Orange and Black.

4)      Shea Weber
At only 23 years old, Shea Weber had a breakout year in 2008-2009. The 2^nd leading player in ice time for a Nashville team that has a great defensive core. He scored 23 goals as a defenseman and plays in every situation for Nashville. Another big man, that can skate, and put up offensive numbers, while playing great defense…see a trend forming?

5)      Duncan Keith
Duncan Keith is my favorite defenseman in the league. Clearly, I don’t think he is the best or he’d be at #1, but he is my favorite. Unlike the previously mentioned, Chara, Pronger, and Weber Keith is on the smaller side, although he isn’t small by any means at 6’ 187 lbs. Duncan Keith is just a pleasure to watch skate. He is arguably the best skater in the league, and I’ve adopted the Blackhawks as my team out West, because I enjoy watching Duncan Keith play so much. He is the best skater I’ve seen since Scott Niedermeyer. Without the size advantage most of the previous players have, Keith relies on his skating ability to put him in the right position, and he excels at it, while putting up admirable offensive numbers as well.

6)      Scott Niedermeyer
Previously, I mentioned that Nicklas Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy in 6 of the last 7 years. Well the one year he didn’t, Scott Niedermeyer won it. He then took the Anaheim Ducks to the Stanley Cup two years after the lockout, as well as winning it three different times with New Jersey. An incredible skater, even at 35 years old.

7)      Jay Bouwmeester
The prize of this year’s upcoming free agent market. It isn’t everyday that a 6’4’’, 25 year old defenseman that has been in the league for 6 years hits the free agent market. Not only that but he was 2^nd in the entire league in ice time this past season, while leading the league the year before. This guy literally does it all. Whichever team manages to sign him is going to really pay for this guy, but it is well worth it. He will anchor a blue line for the next 10 years, and aside from Keith, I don’t think you can say that about anyone else on this list.

8)      Kimmo Timonen
Kimmo Timonen is the MVP of the Philadelphia Flyers; not Richards, or Carter, or Gagne. Without Kimmo Timonen our defense is completely lost. We saw that in the Eastern Conference Finals last year against Pittsburgh. Being the only elder statesmen on the Flyers blue line, Timonen brings a calming presence and allows young guys like Coburn, Parent, and Carle the ability to just react and play, rather than think. He plays in every situation for the Flyers, and he excels at it. I fear what the Flyers would be like without Kimmo Timonen.

9)      Andrei Markov
I think Markov is a bit underappreciated throughout the league. He is the glue that holds the Canadiens together. We saw how that team played without him in the playoffs. He is an exceptional offensive player, and does it all for Montreal.

10)   Mike Green
Mike Green is the black sheep of this list. At times he makes defensive plays that are laughable, and makes you question how this guy is an NHL defenseman. However, he has made strides in that part of his game this past season; which is probably why he was the third nominee for the Norris Trophy along with Chara and Lidstrom. The reason Mike Green is on this list, as well as a nominee for the Norris Trophy is that he is, without a doubt, the most dynamic defenseman in the game. He skates like the wind, has hands as smooth as silk, and he potted 31 goals…as a defenseman. It’s a skill set that comes around once a decade or two.

Honorable Mentions:

Brian Rafalski
An older, unappreciated defenseman who does nothing but play great hockey. A small guy that can do whatever is asked of him, including put up points. He has over 50 pts in the past 3 years, and he is 35 years old.

Tomas Kaberle
Kaberle had a bit of a down year this past season, but has a world of talent. He’s still relatively young, and on a great contract so he’s a guy almost any team would love to have.

Dan Boyle
Boyle flourished after his trade from Tampa Bay to San Jose, and some people thought he might get a Norris Trophy nomination. A fantastic offensive defenseman that isn’t too shabby defensively as well. You’ll notice all of my honorable mentions are extremely gifted skaters, and Boyle is no exception.

Mark Streit
The best player on an awful team.  The Islanders had to overpay a bit to get Mark Streit, but it was worth it. The former forward is certainly their best player and a calming influence on a very young team.