Which Teams Have The NHL's Best Defense Corps?
The NHL's regular season is nearly here, and Adam Proteau ranks which clubs he thinks has the best defense groups in the league based on top talent, depth and overall abilities.
As we get closer to the start of the NHL’s 2024-25 season, it’s a perfect time to take a step back and evaluate which teams have the best collection of talent at each major position.
We will kick off this brief THN.com series by examining the NHL’s best defense corps in reverse order, according to this writer's opinion.
Honorary Mentions: New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs
5. Carolina Hurricanes
Top six defensemen: Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield
The Hurricanes had arguably the best group of defensemen in the NHL last season, but there’s been major turnover on Carolina’s back end, They lost veterans Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce to free agency, and they brought in Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker.
The end result is a Hurricanes defense corps that may not be as effective as it was last season but can still do great damage this coming year. They have an enticing mix of offensive production and defensive strength, recording the fifth-most points in the NHL among defensemen and allowing the fourth-fewest goals against last season.
Veterans Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov are entering the final year of their contracts, so more change could be coming next summer. But for now, Carolina once again will be able to rely on their blueliners at both ends of the ice.
4. Boston Bruins
Top six defensemen: Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Brandon Carlo, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke
Boston also already had a solid ‘D’ core, with Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Hampus Lindholm, but Bruins GM Don Sweeney upgraded his group by signing rugged, big-bodied veteran Nikita Zadorov.
Boston’s final projected pairing of youngster Mason Lohrei and Andrew Peeke is the most vulnerable of the three pairings, but the B’s commitment to responsible defense should help them thrive with the rest of the group.
The Bruins now have the size and smarts to shut down almost any opponent, and their blueliners are either at their prime, near it or showing promising potential. The Bruins know what type of defense has to be in place to win playoff games, and Sweeney’s upgrade with Zadorov can only help them improve this year.
3. Colorado Avalanche
Top six defensemen: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, Josh Manson, Oliver Kylington, Erik Brannstrom
When you start out the season with not just one perennial all-star talent on ‘D’ but two, you’re far ahead of the rest of the NHL. That’s the case in Colorado, where superstar Cale Makar and the responsible Devon Toews are on board. Samuel Girard and Josh Manson make for a great second pair, while Oliver Kylington and Erik Brannstrom will be fine in limited minutes.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar can sleep well at night knowing Makar and Toews can reliably set the bar for Colorado’s blueliners. The rest of the unit should follow their lead to make a terrific defense group in Denver.
The Avs are still driven primarily by their outstanding first forward line, but their defense is a close second in overall talent.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Top six defensemen: Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, Brayden McNabb, Zach Whitecloud, Nicolas Hague
The Golden Knights’ prowess at building a Stanley Cup contender is well-known throughout the hockey world. That said, Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon wasn’t satisfied with his ‘D’ group last season, moving many parts to acquire former Calgary Flames blueliner Noah Hanifin by the trade deadline and signing him to a lucrative contract extension.
As a result, Vegas’ defense corps is one of the deepest, biggest and strongest in the league. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy can roll out all three defense pairings confident in their ability to evolve and adapt. If McCrimmon can figure out a way to add some secondary talent by this year’s deadline, the Knights might just have the top defense corps in practice this year.
1. New Jersey Devils
Top six defensemen: Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Luke Hughes, Brenden Dillon, Jonas Siegenthaler, Simon Nemec
New Jersey took big swings on the free-agent market this summer and brought in two very capable blueliners in Pesce and former Jets D-man Brenden Dillon. Combine those two with returning Devils blueliners Dougie Hamilton, sophomore NHLer Luke Hughes, Jonas Siegenthaler and Simon Nemec, and you have yourself the best collection of defensemen in the league.
The Devils had a small setback when Hughes injured his shoulder in September, but it’s a measure of New Jersey’s defensive depth that the team can still thrive in Hughes’ absence. When he does return in a few weeks, Hughes will elevate the Devils’ defense corps to the top of the mountain. There’s loads to like in New Jersey, and the Devils’ defensemen should shine this season.
Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.