He has decent quickness with an 80 in acceleration, agility, and speed. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. His mobility and puck-handling skills earned him three Stanley Cup rings and placed him among the league's highest-scoring defensemen. 10 Best Perks For Defensemen In NHL 21. While things like body checking and stick checking wellare both important for defensemen, the ability to successfully transition the puck up the ice can be just as effective in reducing shots and goals against. The previous season, he split time between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and the Sherbrooke Phoenix. However, his output fell to just 27 points in 56 games last season, the lowest since his 12-point performance in 2007-08. This perk will increase the player's Stick Checking, Def. Hedman, 30, has played every season with the Lightning since coming into the NHL as a 19-year-old in 2009-10. David Pastrnak, like Gaudreau, has a 93 rating in acceleration, agility, and speed. Now 30, the long-time Lightning rearguard shows no sign of slowing down. Awareness and Agility by 4 and 2 points. Potential is not all that he possesses, though. His highest ratings come in deking and discipline, both of which sit at 95. The previous season with the Ottawa 67s, he had 25 assists and six goals in 54 games. The Calder Memorial Trophy winner in2014-15, Aaron Ekblad has five seasons with at least 36 points, including a career-best 41 points in 2019-20. Oilers get: Defenseman Mattias Ekholm (4 percent of salary retained by the Predators ), 2024 sixth-round pick. However, even with that poise, his faceoffs are only a 77. Inject some speed into your NHL 22 lines to get an edge against all of your opponents. Defensively, Montgomery needs a lot of fine-tuning as his stick checking is 71, shot blocking a 68, and awareness a 67. That includes a career-high 72 points (along with 20 goals) in 2018-19. In 20 I used a 59 186 Sniper so I could still pose a threat offensively and be big enough to knock most builds off the puck, this year it doesnt stand a chance Im curious to find a versatile build appreciate anyone who responds NHL 21 Hockey video game Sports video game Gaming . Ryan Graves, NJD48. Charlie McAvoy, BOS9. He has good puck and shooting skills. The first version will reduce the player's Strengthby 5 points instead of Balance, andStrength is more valuable to defensemen, as it willincrease the power ofnot only body checks, but also shots. Thanks to his powerful shot, he sits fourth among all rearguards with 94 total goals. Good offensively too but nobody really talks about how good he is in his own end. Bruce holds a Ph.D. in Education and formerly taught undergraduates as an adjunct instructor. Despite missing time because of injuries throughout his career, the 34-year-oldsits sixthin pointsamong NHL blueliners since his debut, with 582 in 853 games. The seventh overall pick from 2018 has more than just speed. The Oilers have previously been linked to a series of skilled mostly offensive defencemen Erik Karlsson and John Klingberg, to name just two. The 6'6", 241-pound Hedman is the complete package of size and overall skills. He is a ridiculously talented player. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, reached the Cup Final in 2015 and won the 2019 Presidents' Trophy with a, . That suggests he still has some productive seasons left in him. Josh Traits come in versions one or two and will decrease other attributes depending on which version is chosen. The fastest line to play in NHL 22 is as follows, with each player selected on their speed score and preferred position: Johnny Gaudreau (93) Connor McDavid (96) Nikita Kucherov (93) Quinn Hughes (93) Cale Makar (93.33). It will also decrease the player's Wrist Shot Accuracy and Slap Shot Accuracy by 4 and 3 points. This perk will increase the player's Body Checking and Balance by 4 and 3 points. I once asked Hockey Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom how he evaluates other defensemen. Poke checking isn't typically the most effective method of defending in NHL 21, as it makes the user highly susceptible to tripping penalties if not executed properly. Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, leading the Lightning to their Stanley Cup championship with 22 points in 25 games and 26 minutes, 28 seconds of average ice time. Ignore the fact that they used one of their three salary retention slots to absorb a whole 4 percent of Ekholms deal; they got out from under most of it, and good as Ekholm still is, he had zero functional value for a franchise that is moving into the next phase of his existence. It feels as if the Predators could potentially flip Barrie at some point. "He's just a hell of a player," said one NHL coach. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. While younger defensemen like the New York Rangers' Adam Fox and Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar are on the rise, Hedman's consistency makes him the league's best offensive blueliner. Last season with the Hershey Bears, Fehervary had 14 assists and three goals across 24 games. Defensemen are relied upon to patrol the blue line where they'll likely be taking most of their shots, and slap shots are most effective from that range. The 29-year-old became the Dallas Stars' highest-scoring blueliner over thepast seven seasonswith 327 career points and is ninth overall amongall NHL rearguardsduring that period. If he can stay healthy, he should remain a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. His 107 goals since 2013-14 rank. Fast forward two years, and Seelers reputation and status around the league has changed dramatically. They have the best all-around defenseman in hockey in Victor Hedman, so that is always a big plus in giving your blue line an edge. Still, his point-per-game percentage over the. Noah Dobson, NYI21. His puck skills range from 66-69. Cale Makar Colorado Avalanche. His 0.67 points-per-game average is second to Erik Karlsson (0.79)during that period. But the poke check is back and actually useful/pretty balanced. Hes an ideal short-term piece with a problematic short-term contract ($6.25 million AAV for three seasons after this one). The rise of the Florida Panthers among the NHL's top teams since last season can be attributed in part to their first defensive pairing of MacKenzie Weegar and Aaron Ekblad. Montgomery did not appear for the London Knights last season, but during 2019-2020, he had two assists in 33 games. Bruce holds a Ph.D. in Education and formerly taught undergraduates as an adjunct instructor. Stretch passes are long passes from the defensive zone into the neutral zone. Age: 22Rating: 88Position: Right DefenseType: Offensive DefensemanTeam: Colorado AvalancheShoots: RightBest Attributes: 94 Agility, 93 Deking, 93 Passing. This does not apply when both teams have taken a penalty (4-on-4 or 3-on-3). Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.) It is also something that cannot be taught. among defensemen, and he's fifth in total points with 412 over the same period. He changes the complexion of the Oilers blue line and furthers their bid as a legit Stanley Cup contender. It didn't take Cale Makar long to secure his spot among the NHL's top stars. As a sniper, if he has the puck, he will most likely accomplish his task, whether that be a pass or a shot. At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of the best young defensive defensemen in NHL 22. Traits and Specialties will make or break a build NHL 21's online modes. The former Stanley Cup champion had 20 assists and nine goals across 41 games during the 2020-2021 season. Kucherovs biggest area of improvement in-game should be the physical side. 1 in that span, ahead of Zdeno Chara (+82). Hampus Lindholm, BOS18. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF (INJ.)4. While injuries limited Matt Grzelcyk to 37 games last season, he wound up seeing more playing time with McAvoy than any other Bruins blueliner. He maintains that Chrono Trigger is still the best game ever made, though the games hes played the most are Ogre Battle 64 and MLB The Show. If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so. Truth be told: The two guys in the top spots are really in a 1A He netted 33 points during his 2018-19 NHL debut, 35 points 68 games as a sophomore and 27 points in 55 games last season. Carve your path to superstardom in an expanded Be A Pro mode and go down as one of the leagues greatest. In just three seasons, the 22-year-old Heiskanen blossomed into the Stars' best all-around defenseman. Bowen Byram, COL25. In those eight seasons, he'sthird overallbehind Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson in total points among defensemen with 429. 1 earned 10 points, No. Stylistically, Ekholm is just what the Oilers need a big body that can play hard defensive minutes on the left side of the top pair, and take some of the pressure away from Darnell Nurse, who is currently eating probably too many minutes per night (23:51). His defensive skills are good with an 85 in both shot blocking and stick checking and an 81 in awareness. His two-career game-winning goals came during the 2019-20 season when he had eight goals and 45 assists over 68 games, pitching in 14 assists and two goals over 17 playoff games in his only postseason experience. Those abilities would make him the top defenseman in this year's NHL free-agent market, earning him a seven-year, The 6'6", 230-pounder isn't a physical blueliner, but he uses his long reach to strip opposing players of the puck and his big strides to move the puck up the ice. Josh Morrissey, WPG6. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad8882951d244e308d463714f1cc5337" );document.getElementById("b90191b810").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He became a key cog in their offensive attack last season, especially on. Your email address will not be published. Yes that is true the poke checks are OP. WebWho are the top defensemen in NHL 21. Which non-quarterback group will define each top-25 team's season? The Predators listened on Ekholm, but ultimately decided he had more value to them going forward. Team: Carolina HurricanesAge: 18Position: Right Defense/Left DefenseType: Defensive DefensemanShoots: RightContract: $0.750M, 0 Years Left, Two-WayBest Attributes: 82 Slap Shot Power, 81 Wrist Shot Power, 80 Durability. The season before with Cushing Academy, a prep school, he had seven assists in 33 games. With his team off to stumbling start to this season, New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz separated his top defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock by moving the latter to the second pairing to skate alongside Zdeno Chara. If you want to inject more speed and quickness to your team for more goal scoring opportunities, acquire some of these players for your franchise in NHL 22. Fact-Checking, Corrections & DMCA Takedowns, NHL 22 X-Factors Explained: Zone and Superstar Abilities, All X-Factor Players Lists, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensive Defensemen, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Goalies, NHL 22 Be A Pro: How to Build the Best Two-Way Center, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Defensemen, 95 Acceleration, 94 Hand-Eye, 94 Off. Barrie might be flippable by the offseason, especially if they eat a bit of his $4.5 million AAV through next season. Another big defender at 6'3" and 205 pounds, Pelech tends to play a more defensive role. Cale Makar zooms onto the list with his 94 in agility and 93 in acceleration and speed, making him the fastest defenseman by speed score. The list of defenders in NHL history with two Norris Trophies and a Conn Smythe Trophy includes only Bobby Orr, Larry Robinson, Brian Leetch, Nicklas Lidstrom The Lead Editor at OG, Bruce has been an avid gamer since childhood, owning the NES, SNES, N64, PS one, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, and Switch throughout his life. remains among the top 10, sitting fourth overall. Tyson Barrie Edmonton Oilers. February 28, 2022 by Marko Zlomislic. Makar's point totals would have been higher if not for injuries. Though sidelined by a recent injury, the 30-year-old has four points in his first three games whileaveraging 24:09 minutes per game. Awareness and Def. His 107 goals since 2013-14 rankfourth overallamong defensemen, and he's fifth in total points with 412 over the same period. Theyre blowing things up. Remember how that looked: Nashville was a borderline playoff team and Ekholm looked like one of the most-cost effective adds out there a player earning $3.75 million in the next-to-last year of a six-year, $22.5 million contract hed signed with the Predators, a deal that was proving to be a massive bargain. "I've seen players where their ice time goes up and their performance declines. Aaron Ekblad, FLA47. 1.00 PPG average. You can weigh in on this topic in the comments section below. It will also decrease the Nevertheless, he. The physical blueliner is also their leader with 96 blocked shots and 52 takeaways, and he's second in hits with 136. Barrie is signed for the rest of this year and next for a reasonable $4.5 million. Thats a down-the-road problem for a team currently out of the playoff picture. Erik Karlsson, SJS. Kris Letang, PIT15. This perk will increase the player's Shot Blocking, Stick Checking, and Def. Chychrun is an extremely underrated but extremely good shutdown guy. It will be interesting seeing who runs the Oilers two power play units now with Barrie out. Expect him to be reunited with Cale Makar and for the duo pick up where they left off last season as one of the NHL's best defensive pairings. His puck-moving abilities and offensive instincts make him among the league's top rearguards. Look at who gets paired with Norris nominees. He has been on the plus side of puck possession in eight straight seasons. His defense is adequate, but still needs improvement. Sometimes a duo that works well together can be split up to address weaknesses elsewhere on the blue line. Zdeno Chara's departure last winter via free agency left the Bruins without a regular defense partner for rising star Charlie McAvoy. This perk will increase the player's passing power and accuracy for stretch passes. Last season proved more difficult for Hughes and the Canucks as they, due in part to a slow start and a COVID-19 outbreak. A strong skater who logs big minutes for the Maple Leafs, the 27-year-old Rielly reached or exceeded 27 points in each of his eight NHL campaigns. NHLs Best Defense Pairs of 2021-22. Here, you will find the fastest forwards and defensemen to add to your team. He does have good defensive ratings otherwise with an 87 in stick checking and 85 in awareness, which may help mitigate his lower rating in shot blocking. Awareness and Durability by 6, 3, and 4 points. Where he does lack as evidenced by the sub-80 rating is in faceoffs, where he has a career 44.8 win percentage, though he won a career-high 49.53 in 2020-21. However, the offensive-minded Klingberg now skates alongside offseason acquisition Ryan Suter. Dougie Hamilton's offensive skills were apparent early in his NHL career with the Boston Bruins, exceeding 40 points for the first time in 2014-15. Samuel Girard, COL28. He and his teammates also struggled defensively, giving up the third-highest, (33.4) and sixth-most goals-against per game (3.34). Like his counterpart from Edmonton, MacKinnon excels in every aspect of the game. With his size, speed, hockey smarts and booming shot, he remains among the NHL's top offensive rearguards. Fehervary is already a solid all-around player. Instead of being a contractual bargain, he was now pricey and any contender looking to add him needed to consider his salary, his age, now 32, and decide if he was the same effective hard-nosed defender he was in his minute-munching prime. He is decent enough at defense with an 83 in shot blocking, 81 in stick checking, and 79 in awareness. He leads the Panthers since 2020-21 in short-handed ice time per contest (2:46), while his 22:15 of time on ice per game ranks behind only Ekblad. NHL 22: Fastest Players (Forwards and Defensemen), NHL 22 Strategies: Complete Team Strategies Guide, Line Strategies & Best Team Strategies, NHL 22 Franchise Mode: Best Young Players, NHL 22 Franchise Mode Draft: Best Prospects and Top Draft Steals 2022 (First Draft), NHL 22: Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode, NHL 22 Player Ratings: Best Young Centers. Webname season tm gp g a p +/-pim ppg ppa shg sha gwg otg s s% toi/gp; tyson barrie: 2022-23 Two more had him His puck skills need a lot of work, too, but that can be saved for later. Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for skaters. Jett Woo, former second round pick of Vancouver, finds himself atop this list thanks to his Top 4 D Med potential grade. Awareness, 95 Wrist Shot Accuracy. In just two seasons, Adam Fox has joined the ranks of the NHL's elite defensemen.