The NHL’s high 10 most underrated defensemen and why they’re so precious

Who’re probably the most underrated defensemen within the NHL?

It’s a subject certain to create ferocious debate due to its subjective nature. We now have to inherently assume how extremely the hockey world/public sphere charges each defenseman after which decide which gamers deserve extra recognition.

In an train like this, we’ve got to pay attention to the Aleksander Barkov impact, the place if a participant has been unanimously dubbed as underrated for a few years, they’re most likely not underrated anymore. With that in thoughts, we’re going to keep away from names like Jaccob Slavin, Devon Toews, Miro Heiskanen and Shea Theodore.

I’d additionally argue that Chris Tanev has lastly gotten his flowers as an elite shutdown defenseman after final yr’s super playoff run with the Dallas Stars. Thomas Harley would have been good for an inventory like this, however I imagine he turned heads and landed on the informal fan’s radar together with his spectacular play subbing in for Staff Canada on the 4 Nations Face-Off.

I debated whether or not MacKenzie Weegar has flown below the radar sufficient to be on this record, but fans voted him one of the game’s most underrated players just a few years ago, and I noticed plenty of folks clamoring for him to be introduced in as an harm alternative for Staff Canada at 4 Nations, so I leaned towards him being nearer to being pretty rated now and left him off.

I haven’t included Josh Morrissey or Rasmus Dahlin, both. You possibly can argue each deserve extra consideration, however they’re nonetheless typically acknowledged as bona fide stars.

Lastly, I made the same list a couple of years ago. I received’t be repeating names from that story, which suggests no Mikey Anderson, Gustav Forsling, Jonas Brodin, Nick Jensen, Vince Dunn or Jake Walman, amongst others.

Right here’s my private tackle the ten most underrated defensemen within the NHL, offered in no explicit order.

Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Geese

LaCombe, a 6-foot-2 left-shot defenseman taking part in in his second NHL season, has blossomed because the Geese’ undisputed No. 1 defenseman.

The sleek-skating 24-year-old is averaging a team-leading 21:58 per recreation this season. He’s a budding offensive star, rating within the high 20 amongst all NHL defensemen with 14 objectives and 43 factors in 67 video games (a 52-point tempo prorated over 82 video games).

It’s extraordinarily spectacular that he’s racked up these varieties of level totals contemplating how lackluster the Geese are offensively and the way abysmal their energy play has been. LaCombe ranks sixth amongst all NHL blueliners in scoring 1.51 factors per 60 at five-on-five (minimal 1000 minutes), behind solely Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, Rasmus Dahlin and Adam Fox.

Minimal 1,000 five-on-five minutes

LaCombe is a dynamic, elite puck transporter. Along with his confidence and poise speeding the puck, he singlehandedly drives managed breakouts and offensive entries. His zone exit numbers are in the identical neighborhood because the league’s finest puck-moving defensemen, based on Corey Sznajder’s monitoring mission.

Listed below are two examples of him effortlessly beating heavy forecheck stress to engineer breakouts with velocity:

Jackson LaCombe is enjoyable to observe. pic.twitter.com/l9UHTs4EZQ

— Félix Sicard (@Felix_Sicard) March 15, 2025

LaCombe’s terrific play with the puck hasn’t come on the expense of defensive warts, both. He breaks up performs defending the push due to his capability to aggressively shut gaps together with his skating, he’s positionally sound, and he logs main minutes on the penalty kill. Anaheim’s two-way outcomes by way of controlling photographs, scoring probabilities and precise objectives considerably enhance when LaCombe is on the ice.

He’s breaking out as one of many league’s premier top-pair puck-moving/offensive defensemen with out a lot fanfare outdoors of SoCal.

Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg Jets

Samberg is having fun with a monster breakout season by which he’s emerged because the Jets’ clear-cut second-best defenseman.

The 26-year-old left shot is averaging 21:25 per recreation and has been trusted by the teaching employees to eat the hardest matchups towards high forwards of all Winnipeg blueliners. The Jets have managed practically 55 p.c of anticipated objectives and outscored opponents by a whopping 20 objectives throughout his five-on-five shifts.

Samberg is driving stellar short-handed outcomes whereas averaging probably the most PK minutes per recreation on the group. He checks many packing containers for a modern-day elite shutdown participant: he’s 6-foot-4 which provides him an enormous attain/wingspan, he skates nicely which allows him to rapidly hole as much as get rid of time and area, his anticipation is impeccable and his lively defensive stick is continually breaking performs up.

Right here’s an instance of him making a defensive cease on Aliaksei Protas, the Caps’ monster 6-foot-6 energy ahead:

The superb factor about Samberg is his passing and decision-making with the puck are very sharp and superior for a participant who’s primarily centered on the defensive facet of the sport. You’ll be able to all the time depend on him to make poised, environment friendly choices with the puck to attach performs in all three zones.

In reality, based on Sznajder’s monitoring, Samberg has created extra zone exits with possession per hour this season in comparison with his traditional protection accomplice Neal Pionk, regardless of the latter having the popularity for being extra dynamic and offensively concerned.

And as his confidence has grown, Samberg has turn into extra formidable together with his playmaking. What number of shutdown defensemen can be a part of the push and make a play just like the one beneath, resulting in a scoring probability?

Samberg is the indispensable two-way linchpin of the Jets’ second pairing.

Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings

Gavrikov has lengthy been a defensive dynamo, however he’s placing collectively an particularly excellent marketing campaign this season.

The 29-year-old Russian was an enormous motive why the Kings’ blue line held its personal for 47 video games with out Drew Doughty. Gavrikov averaged 23:56 via late January, which led the Kings and ranked high 20 amongst all defensemen. Regardless of being compelled to recurrently play the proper facet as a left-shot defenseman, he decisively received his minutes on the highest pair taking part in with Mikey Anderson.

With Doughty again, Gavrikov is now driving the second pair on his pure left facet. He’s nonetheless accountable, nonetheless, for absorbing the hardest defensive matchups towards high competitors, with Doughty’s pair dealing with barely simpler assignments.

This season, Gavrikov helps the Kings management practically 56 p.c of anticipated objectives and has a plus-13 aim differential throughout his five-on-five minutes. Practically all of that success comes from his elite defensive influence.

Evolving-Hockey RAPM chart

Gavrikov suffocates opponents’ time and area offensively. He’s a giant physique (6-foot-3 and 220 kilos) and leverages his huge wingspan and powerful positional play to masterfully clog passing and capturing lanes on the within. He additionally eats probably the most short-handed minutes on the Kings’ top-10 penalty kill. Gavrikov is a below-average puck-mover, however the Kings have the proper setting to insulate that.

Cam Fowler, St. Louis Blues

Fowler had been a terrific participant in his prime however seemed to be quickly declining when the Blues acquired him in mid-December at a decreased $4 million cap hit. His underlying metrics have been ugly, with nearly each public analytical mannequin suggesting his defensive recreation had fallen off a cliff and that he shouldn’t be counted on for high-end top-four outcomes. Fowler’s level manufacturing had cratered to only 4 factors in 17 video games on the time of the commerce, too.

It’s superb, nonetheless, what a change within the on-ice setting can do to revitalize some defensemen.

Fowler has scored 9 objectives and 30 factors in 45 video games (a 54-point tempo prorated over 82 video games) since becoming a member of the Blues. Twenty-five of these 30 factors have come at even energy, which ranks high 5 amongst all NHL defensemen because the commerce.

Colton Parayko additionally benefited enormously from Fowler’s arrival; 40-year-old Ryan Suter was struggling as Parayko’s accomplice early within the season, and the five-on-five outcomes immediately flipped as soon as Fowler took that function.

The Blues misplaced Parayko, their No. 1 defenseman, to harm in early March. Regardless of that, they’ve gone 11-1-1, with Fowler stepping up massively in Parayko’s absence. He’s pushed a commanding 58.1 p.c of scoring probabilities and helped the Blues outscore opponents 14-7 throughout his five-on-five minutes since Parayko went down.

Including Fowler has been among the best bang-for-buck strikes any group has made this season.

Ryan McDonagh, Tampa Bay Lightning

All people focuses on the Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei signings when discussing the Nashville Predators’ surprisingly catastrophic 2024-25 season. The massive offseason change folks hardly ever discuss — one which gutted the defensive solidity of Nashville’s high 4 this season — is the lack of Ryan McDonagh. That, in a nutshell, completely captures McDonagh’s underrated popularity: Folks have all the time identified he’s a very good top-four participant, however you don’t notice precisely how precious and irreplaceable he’s till he’s gone.

It’s a lesson the Lightning skilled firsthand over the last two seasons with out McDonagh, when the membership’s blue line and total defensive construction suffered considerably in his absence.

Even at 35, McDonagh is among the finest shutdown defensemen within the NHL. The Lightning have managed 58 p.c of high-danger probabilities and surrendered simply 1.85 objectives towards per 60 throughout his five-on-five shifts this season, which is among the finest marks within the league. Tampa Bay has outscored opponents by a whopping 23 objectives when McDonagh is on the ice at five-on-five.

He’s helped revitalize longtime accomplice Erik Cernak, whose recreation had regressed arduous through the two years when the hard-nosed veteran was in Nashville. He’s additionally the spine of Tampa Bay’s elite penalty kill.

Dom Luszczyszyn’s participant card

McDonagh is liable for absorbing the toughest defensive matchups on Tampa Bay’s blue line. His success in that daunting function has freed up Victor Hedman to spend about 20 p.c fewer minutes towards elite competitors in comparison with final season, based on PuckIQ’s information. And Hedman’s two-way numbers have improved a ton now that he isn’t carrying as giant a defensive burden.

Michael Kesselring, Utah Hockey Membership

Kesselring first caught my eye as a rookie final season. The 6-foot-5 proper shot skated nicely, made poised choices towards heavy forechecking stress on breakouts and had good puck expertise for such a giant physique. He was comparatively sheltered as a third-pair contributor and his recreation was nonetheless uncooked, however his bodily attributes and ability hinted at intriguing upside.

With John Marino and Sean Durzi injured on the proper facet, Kesselring took on a a lot larger function within the first half of the season and largely excelled in it. Kesselring averaged 19:04 of ice time via the primary 48 video games of the season. He was profitable these matchups, with Utah controlling about 52 p.c of high-danger probabilities and outscoring opponents 31-18 throughout his five-on-five shifts.

Within the clip beneath, you may see an instance of Kesselring’s mobility, vary and underrated offensive chops. He begins the play by making a pleasant move, carries the puck via the impartial zone when he will get it again, dishes it out to a ahead after which drives to the online the place he creates a Grade-An opportunity.

Kesselring has confronted challenges down the stretch since Marino and Durzi returned. The 25-year-old’s ice time has been reduce to the 15-to-16-minute vary over the past couple of months, and he’s made some defensive errors right here and there.

None of that ought to be overly alarming, nonetheless. It’s regular for sophomore defensemen to face bumps within the street as they achieve expertise. Most encouragingly, his play-driving metrics have been dominant on this decreased workload, with Utah controlling a team-high 57 p.c of shot makes an attempt and 66 p.c of high-danger probabilities throughout his five-on-five minutes since late January.

Kesselring proved within the first half that he can achieve a top-four function, but he’s largely nameless outdoors of Utah. He’ll end with simply shy of 30 factors this season, with 22 of these factors coming at five-on-five, which ranks high 50 amongst all NHL defensemen.

Huge right-shot defenders who can skate nicely and make performs are fairly uncommon commodities. As he matures, improves his positioning and learns leverage his measurement to defend higher, he might develop right into a precious, full-time top-four defenseman.

Jake McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs

I do know what you’re most likely pondering: How can a participant in a market as monumental as Toronto be underrated? McCabe deserves extra consideration across the league, nonetheless, for a way indispensable he’s been as a top-four workhorse. His rugged, hard-to-play-against, stingy defensive recreation has changed a number of the essential traits the Leafs misplaced when Jake Muzzin’s profession was derailed by accidents.

McCabe’s capability to munch large minutes (second amongst Leafs defensemen in common five-on-five ice-time) and win robust matchups (most minutes towards “elite” competitors of all Leafs defensemen, based on PuckIQ) has been particularly essential this season as a result of Morgan Rielly hasn’t performed like a top-pair-caliber defenseman.

Tanev and McCabe have been among the best shutdown pairs within the NHL, serving to the Leafs management practically 57 p.c of high-danger probabilities and 62.9 p.c of objectives of their shifts collectively. They’ve surrendered a minuscule 1.76 objectives towards per 60 regardless of defending towards high strains.

Right here’s an instance of McCabe bodying Connor McDavid on a full-speed rush this season.

McCabe will get the physique on a dashing McDavid pic.twitter.com/uskmIG9ior

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 2, 2025

Tanev is clearly an enormous a part of that pair’s success, however whereas he’s universally acknowledged as a top-flight participant, McCabe’s title is usually ignored. And for individuals who assume McCabe is being carried by Tanev, bear in mind McCabe was nonetheless profitable his top-four matchups final season when his major accomplice was Simon Benoit, a fringe NHL participant. Oh, and Toronto’s document has taken an enormous hit anytime McCabe has been out of the lineup.

The Leafs have struggled with out Jake McCabe within the lineup pic.twitter.com/30lJMHjtpG

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 15, 2025

Brett Kulak, Edmonton Oilers

Kulak has lengthy been one in all my favourite third-pair defensemen within the NHL.

The 31-year-old left shot is a simple skater, breaks the puck out effectively and is dependable defensively. Watch how he breaks a play up within the impartial zone and flips the puck forward to his forwards, resulting in a Grade-An opportunity.

Kulak can singlehandedly win his minutes additional down the lineup — final yr he was posting terrific outcomes regardless of being saddled with Vincent Desharnais, a gradual skater who’s actually restricted with the puck. He’s been a robust playoff performer, comfortably dealing with 16-17 minutes in high-leverage video games, which issues as a result of coaches typically really feel the necessity to shelter a few of their bottom-four defensemen through the postseason.

This yr, Kulak has been elevated to top-four utilization and is averaging a career-high 20:08 per recreation. He hasn’t skipped a beat on this higher-leverage function. The Oilers have pushed practically 54 p.c of scoring probabilities in Kulak’s five-on-five minutes this season. That’s included spectacular work taking part in his off facet with Darnell Nurse at occasions.

Kulak is an underrated, versatile participant whose puck-moving acumen permits him to thrive wherever on a group’s backside 4.

Brayden McNabb, Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas’ blue line has lengthy been thought-about among the best within the NHL. It’s a deep, well-rounded group that may transfer the puck, play a heavy defensive fashion and chip in with offense. Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin get the vast majority of the highlight on the again finish, however McNabb’s regular contributions as a defensive stopper typically fly below the radar.

McNabb is leaned on because the clear No. 4 on the blue line. He’s constantly averaged 20 minutes per recreation and is tasked with dealing with tougher-than-league-average matchups. The 6-foot-4 defender is a dying breed/fashion of participant in a few methods. Firstly, he’s a punishing, explosive open-ice hitter.

Alex Laferrier takes a crushing hit from Brayden McNabb.#GoKingsGo #VegasBorn #LAKvsVGK pic.twitter.com/AVqDx43MgW

— LA Royalty (@LARoyalty1967) October 29, 2023

Secondly, and most significantly, he’s discovered a strategy to drive efficient defensive outcomes regardless of being a extremely gradual skater, which is spectacular contemplating how briskly and expert the sport is as we speak. He protects the within defensively together with his good reads, positioning, capability to clog passing and capturing lanes and the way in which he leverages his measurement to win battles down low and on the web entrance.

McNabb is driving 54.8 p.c of scoring probabilities and a plus-23 aim differential throughout his five-on-five shifts this season. He’s surrendered simply 1.71 objectives towards per 60, which ranks high 10 amongst all defensemen who’ve performed in a full-time top-four function this season.

Theodore is the proper stylistic match for McNabb as a accomplice due to his dynamic puck-moving and offensive expertise. McNabb isn’t only a Theodore service provider, nonetheless — he’s performed a ton of time away from him over the past three seasons due to Theodore’s accidents, and his underlying numbers have nonetheless been fairly respectable.

Making simply $2.85 million towards the cap for 2024-25 (with a brand new extension kicking in subsequent season), McNabb has among the best defenseman contracts within the league.

Jalen Chatfield, Carolina Hurricanes

Chatfield has blossomed right into a succesful second-pair choice on a contending group with none fanfare outdoors of Carolina.

Carolina misplaced Skjei and Brett Pesce in the summertime. Basic supervisor Eric Tulsky signed Sean Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere in free company, however each have performed collectively on the underside pair. The Canes have weathered the top-four departures comparatively nicely due to the success Dmitry Orlov and Chatfield have had getting into a much bigger function this season.

Chatfield’s rise in Carolina is a terrific story. The scrappy, hard-nosed 28-year-old proper shot went undrafted and initially signed as a free-agent prospect in Vancouver. The Canucks let him stroll in 2021 after a largely underwhelming NHL marketing campaign. He signed with the Hurricanes and has since developed right into a strong defensive-minded No. 4/5 defenseman.

Chatfield is ultra-reliable defensively. He’s cell and has a tenacious work price, which permits him to aggressively kill performs and win battles. He defends the push nicely, forcing dump-ins and breaking apart entries at above-average charges based on Sznajder’s monitoring. He could make a clear first move to drive high quality zone exits, too. The Canes have managed 56 p.c of scoring probabilities and personal a plus-10 aim differential throughout Chatfield’s five-on-five minutes this season.

The large key this yr is he’s proving he can preserve that success in a higher-leverage function. He’s averaging practically 19 minutes per recreation and dealing with considerably tougher matchups in comparison with final season.

— All stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, collected previous to April 2 video games

(Picture of Michael Kesselring and Jackson LaCombe: Rob Grey / Imagn Pictures)