Ranking the 10 Most Mobile Defensemen in the NHL for 2014-15 Season

The NHL's growing interest in puck-moving defensemen is now at obsession levels and is forcing many shutdown defenders into lesser roles. The result is more offense from the blue line and more mistakes because fewer defense-first players are on the ice.

A quality mobile defender can impact the game at both ends, but there are precious few truly capable of delivering at both ends of the ice.

Here are the 10 most mobile defensemen in the NHL for 2014-15.

Statistical evidence courtesy Behind the Net.

10. Justin Schultz, Edmonton Oilers

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His Offensive Performance: Justin Schultz is an emerging talent whose offensive ability comes from his speed and passing. He's an excellent power-play quarterback and scores many goals diving down from the point to be the late man in the slot.

His Defensive Performance: Schultz is a work in progress without the puck. His foot speed is an advantage, but coverage issues and lack of experience make him an uneven defender.

What Makes Him Special? All of the good things about Justin Schultz involve having the puck on his stick. From his passing, to puck-carrying skills, to his seeing-eye wrister from the point, it's all about offense so far for Schultz.

9. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes

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His Offensive Performance: Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a wonderful skater, which helps him on offense and defense. He enjoyed a productive season in 2013-14, finishing among the league's best in power-play points.

His Defensive Performance: Ekman-Larsson faces the toughest opposition and difficult zone starts, but he struggled this season as a possession player in those situations. Those numbers run counter to his reputation, but he may not be best suited for that role.

What Makes Him Special? There was a time when the perception of Ekman-Larsson was as a future shutdown defenseman with offensive ability. As his career rolls out, it appears he is not going to emerge as an elite defensive player. He is rather a player with significant offensive ability.

8. Keith Yandle, Arizona Coyotes

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His Offensive Performance: Keith Yandle is one of the best offensive defensemen in the game. Last season, he finished inside the top five overall in total points and tied for the league lead on the power play.

His Defensive Performance: The Coyotes employ Yandle against mid-level competition and give him lots of offensive-zone starts—consistent with his reputation as being an offense-first player. Yandle's defensive ability is best described as chaotic.

What Makes Him Special? Yandle is a sublime offensive player, a modern rover who can open up the offensive zone and help provide his team with multiple scoring opportunities. His mobility sets up the passing, and he's deadly in both areas.

7. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

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His Offensive Performance: Victor Hedman is a giant on skates with mobility and offensive acumen. At 23, he's just maturing as an offensive player with deft passing and a powerful shot.

His Defensive Performance: Hedman may be the next great shutdown defenseman. His speed and wingspan make him unique among his generation of defenders, and he's effective in reading and reacting to offensive sorties.

What Makes Him Special? The main item for Hedman is his massive size. Added to good speed and mobility, plus range and puck passing, and he's a load with a major future.

6. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

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His Offensive Performance: Letang's offensive numbers were off this season, after a stroke curtailed his performance. The ailment is explained via the Pittsburgh Penguins' website. When healthy, Letang delivered as an impressive player, both at even strength and on the power play.

His Defensive Performance: Letang is an undersized offensive defender, and as such he is not well equipped for the defensive game. Most of his overall value comes from the offensive side of the game.

What Makes Him Special? He is a stunning weapon who uses his speed and ability to deke opponents to full advantage. Letang is a formidable offensive player with a full arsenal.

5. Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues

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His Offensive Performance: Alex Pietrangelo is an excellent offensive player on several levels. He's an effective passer and puck-mover, and he has a good shot from the point. All deliver results at even strength and on the power play.

His Defensive Performance: Among the mobile defenders considered top-end NHL talents, Pietrangelo is a player who thrives on the physical aspects of the game. His wingspan is also an effective tool.

What Makes Him Special? Pietrangelo is a quality possession player despite playing the toughest opposition available. Those skills added to his offensive ability make him a special player.

4. Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames

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His Offensive Performance: Mark Giordano is an outstanding power-play performer and an effective puck-mover. Giordano is one of Calgary's quality offensive performers at even strength and can pass the puck with authority.

His Defensive Performance: Giordano has improved a great deal as a defender over the years. At this point, he is Calgary's best possession defender despite playing tough opposition and facing severe zone-starts. You can't do better than that, and Giordano does it consistently.

What Makes Him Special? The great thing about Giordano is that he possesses no dominant skill, no calling card, because he gets high marks across the board. That's also the downside of his game, as he gets far less attention than he's earned with his performance.

3. P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens

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His Offensive Performance: P.K. Subban is an intimidating offensive player, and much of his business is done on the power play. Subban ranked No. 2 in power-play points by a defenseman during the postseason.

His Defensive Performance: Subban was the most effective possession defender on the Canadiens a year ago. Montreal gave him a zone-start push and he faced mid-level competition in 2013-14. Subban delivered a quality season overall based on the situation the Canadiens employed him in.

What Makes Him Special? Subban is a splendid NHL defenseman with a complete skill set. He's a physical player, with mobility and a hammer from the blue line. He's also one of the most fun players in the league and has a phenomenal future.

2. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

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His Offensive Performance: Drew Doughty is a complete player who joins the rush expertly and makes outlet passes with aplomb. His totals don't approach the top-scoring defensemen in the game, partly because the Los Angeles system requires responsible positional play.

His Defensive Performance: Doughty is quality without the puck and is getting better as he matures. He can be caught out of position at times, but his mobility allows quick recovery. He plays against the toughest competition available and has tremendous possession stats.

What Makes Him Special? Los Angeles employs Doughty in all three disciplines and his range of skills makes him effective in all of them. He may be the best defenseman in the NHL.

1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

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His Offensive Performance: Erik Karlsson may end up being the best offensive defenseman of his generation. He led all defensemen in total points and even-strength points during 2013-14. 

His Defensive Performance: Although Karlsson is not considered a strong defender, his puck-possession ability is so strong the results are overwhelmingly positive. He does his business against tougher competition while receiving a zone-start push because of his offensive ability.

What Makes Him Special? The Ottawa Senators rely on Karlsson to move the puck out of the zone, via pass or carry, and to deliver offense in the other team's zone. A highly creative player, his elusive skating style and passing ability make him impossible to contain.