Top NHL Defensemen – 2016

January 20, 2016
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Top NHL Defensemen – 2016

Continuing our series on top NHL players by position, today we are looking at some of the top defensemen in the National Hockey League.  Again the criteria we use in our selection process is quite simple.  For skaters that means looking at statistics such as points and time on ice.   We also gave players a Hockey Fan rating which denotes value to their respective teams (which is why you may see a player such as Connor McDavid higher up on the list of centers even though he has only played 12 games in the NHL).  From that analysis, The Hockey Fanatic has then compiled the top players by position for 2016. Check out our top 100 NHL centermen for 2016 as well as our top 100 left-wingers and top 100 right-wingers.

Top 50 Defensemen Based on Time on Ice

So just as we did with our top 100 centermen and left wingers, lets begin the first part of our analysis based on time spent on ice.  This is a key indicator of how important these players can be to their respective teams.  Just because a given player at his respective position does not always put up the highest point totals, that does not mean that he should not be considered as the top player at his position.  Some players play against tougher competition on a given night so they still provide great value to their teams although they may not be putting up the points as some of their other counterparts at their position.  With 28:36 in ice-time per game, Ottawa Senators D-Man Erik Karlsson leads all NHL defensemen in ice time.

Rank Player Team Pos GP G A P +/- PIM TOI/GP Shifts/GP
1 Erik Karlsson OTT D 42 9 36 45 5 24 28:36:00 27
2 Ryan Suter MIN D 41 5 22 27 11 16 28:23:00 31.5
3 Drew Doughty LAK D 41 7 17 24 16 32 27:59:00 34
4 Alex Pietrangelo STL D 45 3 15 18 -6 8 26:42:00 30.8
5 Brent Burns SJS D 39 17 20 37 -12 26 26:14:00 28.4
6 Kris Letang PIT D 32 4 21 25 -12 32 26:07:00 30.1
7 P.K. Subban MTL D 43 2 27 29 11 43 25:42:00 28
8 Duncan Keith CHI D 33 7 19 26 6 8 25:39:00 31.2
9 TJ Brodie CGY D 31 4 17 21 7 12 25:33:00 31.4
10 Jack Johnson CBJ D 41 5 7 12 -15 19 25:15:00 28.9
11 Oliver Ekman-Larsson ARI D 41 11 17 28 -4 34 25:06:00 28.6
12 Justin Faulk CAR D 43 14 17 31 -13 23 24:53:00 29.2
13 Rasmus Ristolainen BUF D 41 7 19 26 -10 4 24:43:00 31
14 Francois Beauchemin COL D 42 5 17 22 4 18 24:43:00 29.6
15 Roman Josi NSH D 42 9 22 31 -5 25 24:41:00 29.2
16 David Savard CBJ D 37 0 15 15 -13 31 24:36:00 28.2
17 Alexander Edler VAN D 41 6 11 17 -5 40 24:35:00 30.9
18 Shea Weber NSH D 42 11 15 26 -6 10 24:30:00 29.4
19 John Carlson WSH D 34 6 21 27 5 12 24:28:00 28.9
20 Matt Niskanen WSH D 41 2 16 18 11 14 24:23:00 28.9
21 Zdeno Chara BOS D 38 5 16 21 9 30 24:19:00 28.9
22 Mark Giordano CGY D 40 10 14 24 -7 24 24:18:00 31.3
23 Dustin Byfuglien WPG D 41 9 14 23 6 60 24:01:00 26.9
24 Michael Del Zotto PHI D 38 3 8 11 -6 12 23:57 29.7
25 Travis Hamonic NYI D 41 2 6 8 0 22 23:47 25.7
26 Brent Seabrook CHI D 43 6 21 27 7 14 23:34 31
27 Alex Goligoski DAL D 44 3 17 20 12 20 23:32 29.1
28 Erik Johnson COL D 40 7 9 16 -1 25 23:29 29
29 John Klingberg DAL D 44 6 32 38 10 14 23:24 27.1
30 Tyson Barrie COL D 38 7 22 29 -4 10 23:17 27.7
31 Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJS D 36 4 15 19 4 10 23:13 27.6
32 Jay Bouwmeester STL D 44 1 10 11 -4 16 23:08 29.4
33 Andy Greene NJD D 42 3 4 7 -2 20 23:07 28.4
34 Andrei Markov MTL D 43 2 20 22 4 14 22:58 27.5
35 Ryan McDonagh NYR D 41 5 14 19 9 16 22:54 30
36 Niklas Kronwall DET D 41 2 14 16 -11 12 22:50 30
37 Victor Hedman TBL D 41 3 18 21 10 24 22:45 25.8
38 Kris Russell CGY D 37 2 10 12 -4 6 22:45 31.7
39 Jared Spurgeon MIN D 41 6 12 18 8 10 22:42 29.6
40 Jake Muzzin LAK D 41 5 15 20 8 38 22:41 30.7
41 Cam Fowler ANA D 34 3 9 12 -11 13 22:38 26.5
42 Nick Leddy NYI D 42 1 14 15 -11 19 22:37 24.3
43 Matt Hunwick TOR D 39 0 5 5 -6 20 22:26 30.6
44 Niklas Hjalmarsson CHI D 43 2 10 12 5 20 22:24 30.6
45 Anton Stralman TBL D 42 4 16 20 6 12 22:22 25
46 Ron Hainsey CAR D 43 3 8 11 -14 19 22:15 27.8
47 Dion Phaneuf TOR D 40 3 17 20 -4 45 22:13 31.1
48 Hampus Lindholm ANA D 39 2 7 9 -9 10 22:12 26.4
49 Morgan Rielly TOR D 40 4 14 18 -1 6 22:08 30.4
50 Tyler Myers WPG D 41 5 13 18 5 36 22:06 26.7

 

Top NHL Defensemen by Point Production

Next we evaluated the stats.  As of January 10, 2016, here is a look at the top 50 point producers at the defense position.  Of course Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators leads all defensemen in points as he is looking like a modern day Paul Coffey averaging over one point per game.

Rank Player Team Pos GP G A P
1 Erik Karlsson OTT D 42 9 36 45
2 John Klingberg DAL D 44 6 32 38
3 Brent Burns SJS D 39 17 20 37
4 Roman Josi NSH D 42 9 22 31
5 Justin Faulk CAR D 43 14 17 31
6 Tyson Barrie COL D 38 7 22 29
7 P.K. Subban MTL D 43 2 27 29
8 Oliver Ekman-Larsson ARI D 41 11 17 28
9 Brent Seabrook CHI D 43 6 21 27
10 Ryan Suter MIN D 41 5 22 27
11 John Carlson WSH D 34 6 21 27
12 Duncan Keith CHI D 33 7 19 26
13 Shea Weber NSH D 42 11 15 26
14 Rasmus Ristolainen BUF D 41 7 19 26
15 Kevin Shattenkirk STL D 35 8 17 25
16 Kris Letang PIT D 32 4 21 25
17 Drew Doughty LAK D 41 7 17 24
18 Mark Giordano CGY D 40 10 14 24
19 Dustin Byfuglien WPG D 41 9 14 23
20 Keith Yandle NYR D 41 2 20 22
21 Francois Beauchemin COL D 42 5 17 22
22 Andrei Markov MTL D 43 2 20 22
23 Zdeno Chara BOS D 38 5 16 21
24 TJ Brodie CGY D 31 4 17 21
25 Victor Hedman TBL D 41 3 18 21
26 Alex Goligoski DAL D 44 3 17 20
27 Jake Muzzin LAK D 41 5 15 20
28 Torey Krug BOS D 39 3 17 20
29 Sami Vatanen ANA D 40 5 15 20
30 Anton Stralman TBL D 42 4 16 20
31 Dion Phaneuf TOR D 40 3 17 20
32 Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJS D 36 4 15 19
33 Aaron Ekblad FLA D 41 9 10 19
34 Ryan McDonagh NYR D 41 5 14 19
35 Jared Spurgeon MIN D 41 6 12 18
36 Matt Niskanen WSH D 41 2 16 18
37 Dennis Wideman CGY D 40 1 17 18
38 Alex Pietrangelo STL D 45 3 15 18
39 Tyler Myers WPG D 41 5 13 18
40 Ryan Ellis NSH D 41 5 13 18
41 Morgan Rielly TOR D 40 4 14 18
42 Justin Braun SJS D 37 1 16 17
43 Alexander Edler VAN D 41 6 11 17
44 Mattias Ekholm NSH D 42 5 11 16
45 Erik Johnson COL D 40 7 9 16
46 Niklas Kronwall DET D 41 2 14 16
47 Colton Parayko STL D 43 6 10 16
48 Andrej Sekera EDM D 41 5 11 16
49 Michael Stone ARI D 41 3 13 16
50 Shayne Gostisbehere PHI D 23 7 9 16

 

Top 100 NHL Defensemen

So after applying our Hockey Fan Weighting to the players, here is a look at your top 100 Defensemen in the NHL in 2016.  Any of the top ten could be considered a Norris Trophy candidate.

Rank Player Team Pos GP G A P +/- PIM
1 Erik Karlsson OTT D 42 9 36 45 5 24
2 Brent Burns SJS D 39 17 20 37 -12 26
3 Duncan Keith CHI D 33 7 19 26 6 8
4 Roman Josi NSH D 42 9 22 31 -5 25
5 Oliver Ekman-Larsson ARI D 41 11 17 28 -4 34
6 Brent Seabrook CHI D 43 6 21 27 7 14
7 P.K. Subban MTL D 43 2 27 29 11 43
8 John Klingberg DAL D 44 6 32 38 10 14
9 Shea Weber NSH D 42 11 15 26 -6 10
10 Drew Doughty LAK D 41 7 17 24 16 32
11 Dustin Byfuglien WPG D 41 9 14 23 6 60
12 John Carlson WSH D 34 6 21 27 5 12
13 Victor Hedman TBL D 41 3 18 21 10 24
14 Justin Faulk CAR D 43 14 17 31 -13 23
15 Mark Giordano CGY D 40 10 14 24 -7 24
16 Rasmus Ristolainen BUF D 41 7 19 26 -10 4
17 Kevin Shattenkirk STL D 35 8 17 25 -12 14
18 Kris Letang PIT D 32 4 21 25 -12 32
19 Ryan Suter MIN D 41 5 22 27 11 16
20 Aaron Ekblad FLA D 41 9 10 19 17 18
21 Tyson Barrie COL D 38 7 22 29 -4 10
22 Keith Yandle NYR D 41 2 20 22 4 18
23 Andrei Markov MTL D 43 2 20 22 4 14
24 Zdeno Chara BOS D 38 5 16 21 9 30
25 TJ Brodie CGY D 31 4 17 21 7 12
26 Marc-Edouard Vlasic SJS D 36 4 15 19 4 10
27 Jake Muzzin LAK D 41 5 15 20 8 38
28 Torey Krug BOS D 39 3 17 20 3 18
29 Tyler Myers WPG D 41 5 13 18 5 36
30 Dion Phaneuf TOR D 40 3 17 20 -4 45
31 Dennis Wideman CGY D 40 1 17 18 -11 26
32 Francois Beauchemin COL D 42 5 17 22 4 18
33 Ryan McDonagh NYR D 41 5 14 19 9 16
34 Alex Pietrangelo STL D 45 3 15 18 -6 8
35 Jared Spurgeon MIN D 41 6 12 18 8 10
36 Matt Niskanen WSH D 41 2 16 18 11 14
37 Seth Jones CBJ D 42 1 10 11 -7 10
38 Mattias Ekholm NSH D 42 5 11 16 2 20
39 Sami Vatanen ANA D 40 5 15 20 -5 14
40 Ryan Ellis NSH D 41 5 13 18 5 20
41 Jason Demers DAL D 38 4 10 14 15 46
42 Justin Braun SJS D 37 1 16 17 5 18
43 Alexander Edler VAN D 41 6 11 17 -5 40
44 Morgan Rielly TOR D 40 4 14 18 -1 6
45 Erik Johnson COL D 40 7 9 16 -1 25
46 Niklas Kronwall DET D 41 2 14 16 -11 12
47 Anton Stralman TBL D 42 4 16 20 6 12
48 Colton Parayko STL D 43 6 10 16 13 18
49 Alex Goligoski DAL D 44 3 17 20 12 20
50 Michael Stone ARI D 41 3 13 16 -6 30
51 Nick Holden COL D 42 3 12 15 7 10
52 Nick Leddy NYI D 42 1 14 15 -11 19
53 Mike Green DET D 35 2 13 15 -4 18
54 David Savard CBJ D 37 0 15 15 -13 31
55 Dougie Hamilton CGY D 40 6 8 14 -1 18
56 Johnny Boychuk NYI D 38 3 11 14 9 17
57 Andrej Sekera EDM D 41 5 11 16 -13 6
58 Alec Martinez LAK D 41 4 10 14 10 20
59 Johnny Oduya DAL D 44 4 10 14 15 14
60 Dmitry Orlov WSH D 41 3 11 14 6 8
61 Jake Gardiner TOR D 37 3 11 14 -1 16
62 Colin Miller BOS D 31 3 11 14 3 28
63 Dan Boyle NYR D 35 5 9 14 6 22
64 Brian Campbell FLA D 41 2 11 13 13 12
65 Jeff Petry MTL D 40 4 9 13 2 14
66 Damon Severson NJD D 41 1 10 11 -3 22
67 Ryan Murray CBJ D 43 3 10 13 -6 22
68 Shayne Gostisbehere PHI D 23 7 9 16 5 6
69 Cam Fowler ANA D 34 3 9 12 -11 13
70 Oscar Klefbom EDM D 30 4 8 12 -4 6
71 Kris Russell CGY D 37 2 10 12 -4 6
72 Jack Johnson CBJ D 41 5 7 12 -15 19
73 Nathan Beaulieu MTL D 42 2 10 12 2 34
74 Niklas Hjalmarsson CHI D 43 2 10 12 5 20
75 Karl Alzner WSH D 41 2 10 12 10 14
76 Marek Zidlicky NYI D 35 3 10 13 2 12
77 Cody Franson BUF D 41 3 10 13 -4 18
78 Marco Scandella MIN D 34 5 6 11 11 12
79 Matt Dumba MIN D 41 5 6 11 -2 12
80 Michael Del Zotto PHI D 38 3 8 11 -6 12
81 Dan Girardi NYR D 36 2 9 11 8 10
82 Marc Staal NYR D 41 1 10 11 0 18
83 Adam Larsson NJD D 42 1 7 8 6 44
84 Ron Hainsey CAR D 43 3 8 11 -14 19
85 Jay Bouwmeester STL D 44 1 10 11 -4 16
86 Mark Streit PHI D 21 3 7 10 -4 4
87 Travis Hamonic NYI D 41 2 6 8 0 22
88 Brendan Smith DET D 33 3 7 10 5 33
89 Nate Schmidt WSH D 36 2 8 10 11 9
90 Noah Hanifin CAR D 40 1 9 10 1 10
91 Danny DeKeyser DET D 37 3 7 10 6 16
92 Christian Ehrhoff LAK D 34 2 6 8 -8 24
93 John-Michael Liles CAR D 43 3 7 10 -3 8
94 Matt Bartkowski VAN D 41 2 8 10 -4 28
95 Olli Maatta PIT D 35 4 6 10 13 8
96 Willie Mitchell FLA D 41 1 6 7 5 16
97 Marc Methot OTT D 39 2 4 6 7 24
98 Dan Hamhuis VAN D 27 0 4 4 7 12
99 Tobias Enstrom WPG D 41 1 9 10 17 32
100 Hampus Lindholm ANA D 39 2 7 9 -9 10

 

NHL