Ranking the NHL's Top 10 Workhorse Defensemen

What makes a workhorse NHL defenseman? It's not just about overall minutes, otherwise the ranking you're about to read would be a copy-and-paste version of the league's leaders in that category. No, it's about hard and meaningful minutes.

The top 10 workhorse defensemen share some common traits. They contribute offensively but aren't exclusively relied upon for their scoring prowess. They play in all situations—even strength, shorthanded, power play—and are most often matched against the best forwards the other teams have to offer.

They are among their teams' most valuable players. They're difference-makers and anchors of their respective franchises.

These rankings are based on their minutes played—you won't find one who averages fewer than 24 a game—with a special emphasis on those who are on the wrong end of five-on-four action as penalty-killers. They all get their time on the power play as well. Those minutes may not be as difficult to play, but they have value.

They're the best of the best of the workhorse defensemen this season. Click ahead to see how the top 10 rank.

10. Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

By the minutes: 25:20 minutes per game; 19:36 even strength; 2:41 shorthanded; 3:02 power play

His importance to the team: Rasmus Ristolainen has quickly become the Buffalo Sabres' top defenseman in just his second full season. He's their leader in points from the blue line with 35 through 60 games and leads every other Sabre in average minutes per game by more than three. His combination of size, mobility and vision makes him a special player capable of joining the elite long-term.

The bottom line: The Finn has been fantastic all year and a pleasant surprise for the rebuilding squad. At 21, Ristolainen has made a speedy transition from freshman to potential All-Star. He is in no way sheltered, starting in the defensive zone more than 36 percent of the time and playing against top competition. He ranks 10th in average ice time among defenders and 14th at five-on-five.

9. Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

By the minutes: 24:09 minutes per game; 19:09 even strength; 3:23 shorthanded; 1:36 power play

His importance to the team: Zdeno Chara has bounced back in a big way from his injury-riddled 2014-15 season. He is quietly having a stellar season in line with his career averages, with eight goals and 32 points through 58 games. The 38-year-old is leading the Boston Bruins in ice time again this year by nearly three minutes. The giant is still physically and defensively dominant, and he is a big reason the Bruins are looking like a playoff team again after missing last season.

The bottom line: Chara is averaging almost three-and-a-half minutes of ice time per game when the team is shorthanded—fifth-most in the NHL and second-most among those on this list. He isn't nearly as active on the power play but is in the top 30 in even-strength minutes. Chara faces a far better quality of competition than any other Bruins blueliner and has the 32nd-highest average relative plus-minus of opposing players. Any thoughts of his inevitable decline as a top workhorse defender are still very much premature.

8. Francois Beauchemin, Colorado Avalanche

Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

By the minutes: 25:14 minutes per game; 19:20 even strength; 3:27 shorthanded; 2:26 power play

His importance to the team: There may not have been a better value signing in the offseason than that of Francois Beauchemin by the Colorado Avalanche, with the 35-year-old veteran immediately slotting into the top pairing on the blue line. He's helped solidify a sketchy defense in Denver and leads the Avs in average ice time while taking on big roles in shorthanded play and on the second power-play unit.

The bottom line: The team signed Beauchemin to improve defensively, but the player is on pace for a career year offensively as well. He's underrated as a passer and puck-mover. Consider it an added bonus to the package because he is doing exactly what was expected of him as a physical defender who makes most of his starts in the defensive zone and is always matched up against the best the opposition has to offer.

7. P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

By the minutes: 26:08 minutes per game; 19:15 even strength; 2:17 shorthanded; 4:35 power play

His importance to the team: There's no question with Carey Price hurt for so much of this season that P.K. Subban has been the most important player on the team. But Montreal's lack of success isn't a reflection of his passion or effort even though he's a lightning rod for controversy. He's tied for fourth in scoring among NHL defensemen with 46 points in 60 games and leads the Canadiens in that category.

The bottom line: Subban is among the best and hardest-working defensemen in the league, but his minutes are bolstered by his considerable time on the man advantage. If you combine five-on-five time and shorthanded minutes and ignore the power play, Subban is actually last on this list. Not to diminish the importance of his offensive prowess in his overall game, but in terms of hard minutes, his take a bit of a hit. He does play against quality competition but has the advantage of starting a large number of shifts in the offensive zone.

6. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

By the minutes: 25:31 minutes per game; 20:01 even strength; 2:40 shorthanded; 2:49 power play

His importance to the team: The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner does it all for the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Duncan Keith is on pace for more than 50 points and is fourth on the team in scoring. Despite his offensive reputation, the 32-year-old makes the majority of his starts in the defensive zone.

The bottom line: Keith spreads his minutes out so evenly, it should come as no surprise he has twice won the Norris Trophy and has helped the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles in the past six years. He is in the top 10 in the league in overall minutes and five-on-five minutes, and he spends nearly identical time on average on both the power play and penalty kill. He makes a sharp first pass, carries the puck with ease and is a big reason the Blackhawks are able to turn over so much of the roster and remain competitive.

5. TJ Brodie, Calgary Flames

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By the minutes: 25:30 minutes per game; 20:51 even strength; 2:16 shorthanded; 2:22 power play

His importance to the team: The Calgary Flames trot the smooth-skating TJ Brodie out against the other teams' top players night after night, and the 25-year-old is rarely outmatched. He was a rock when Mark Giordano was injured last year, and the team didn't miss a beat in making the playoffs in large part because of his performance as the team's top defenseman.

The bottom line: Brodie has become impossible to ignore when talking about the NHL's elite defensemen and is a workhorse the Flames put on par with captain and mentor Giordano. Brodie's minutes are in the top five in the NHL at five-on-five, and like Keith, he spends nearly as much time on the penalty kill as the power play. He's a cornerstone defenseman with the kind of vision and puck-moving skills that can drive possession and offense.

4. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

By the minutes: 29:08 minutes per game; 23:07 even strength; 1:10 shorthanded; 4:50 power play

His importance to the team: Not only is the 25-year-old Ottawa Senators captain the top scorer on his team, he's in the top three in the league and set to join a very exclusive club if his lead in the assists category holds—he could be the first blueliner to lead the NHL in assists since Bobby Orr. Without the two-time Norris Trophy winner, the Senators would hardly be watchable.

The bottom line: The reason Karlsson is not at the top of this list in spite of averaging more minutes than any other player in the league—nearly 30 minutes a night—is because his time is so tilted toward the offensive opportunities. He has grown into a much more responsible overall player the past couple of seasons but still has room to improve in that regard. He ranks fourth in average ice time when you ignore the nearly five minutes per game he puts in on the power play.

3. Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues

Bill Boyce/Associated Press

By the minutes: 26:40 minutes per game; 21:08 even strength; 3:16 shorthanded; 2:15 power play

His importance to the team: Because the St. Louis Blues are so stacked on the blue line, it's easy to overlook Alex Pietrangelo as a key cog. He's not the team's top defensive scorer, but he blows his teammates away when it comes to logging minutes as a workhorse—even partner Jay Bouwmeester. It's because of his heavy lifting the other Blues defenders are able to thrive against lesser opponents.

The bottom line: It's not like Pietrangelo's offensive numbers are poor. And he does so much in so many other areas of the game that the totals (23 points in 55 games so far) are fitting for a balanced game. He sits fourth in the league in even-strength minutes and eighth in shorthanded minutes, while his per-game average overall is fourth behind the Big Three of Karlsson, Ryan Suter and Drew Doughty.

2. Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Craig Lassig/Associated Press

By the minutes: 28:48 minutes per game; 23:07 even strength; 1:59 shorthanded; 3:40 power play

His importance to the team: Ryan Suter is the Minnesota Wild's MVP this season, which hasn't gone the way the Wild have hoped so far. Suter has been the most consistent player on the team this year, logging tough minutes, blocking shots and shutting down the other team's top forwards. It should be no surprise he faces top competition considering he plays nearly half of every game.

The bottom line: The 31-year-old is tied for first in five-on-five minutes with a full minute lead over third-place Drew Doughty. Suter is one of only two players over 25 minutes per game on average when you combine regular-strength minutes with shorthanded ice time. His possession numbers are the best among the regular Wild defenders.

1. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

By the minutes: 28:16 minutes per game; 22:07 even strength; 3:05 shorthanded; 3:03 power play

His importance to the team: The Los Angeles Kings dominate possession metrics, and a big reason for that is the mobile, confident, visionary defenseman named Drew Doughty who patrols the Kings blue line and at times seems as if he has total control of the entire ice surface. Head coach Darryl Sutter sums up his importance very simply, calling him the best defenseman in the league in a recent chat with Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times.

The bottom line: Considering the Kings' defensive system, Doughty contributes plenty of offense and plays more than three minutes per game on both the penalty kill and power play while averaging more than 22 minutes at five-on-five. He is the only defenseman in the league that can claim that balance. It's hard to believe he doesn't yet have a Norris Trophy. This year, he is on pace for his first 50-point season since 2010. If it wasn't for the impressive point totals being produced by Karlsson, Doughty would be a lock for the Norris.

Stats via NHL.com, with advanced stats from Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com, BehindTheNet.ca and Hockey-Reference.com.