Ranking the 10 Most Trusted Defensemen in the NHL

One of the most valuable players in the game today is the 25-minute-a-night defender. These men cut the game in half for their teams, giving an enormous advantage over the opposition. NHL head coaches usually deploy them in all three disciplines—even strength, penalty killing, power play—but that is not a hard and fast rule.

Many of these defensemen have the complete range of skills and post point totals of 40 or beyond, while others contribute offensively but much of their value comes in the defensive zone.

Here are the 10 most reliable defensemen in the NHL this season, ranked based on time on ice per game at even strength.

10. P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators

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How Much Does He Play? P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators is playing less than 25 minutes a night, a strong reduction from his previous season with the Montreal Canadiens. He ranks No. 10 among defensemen in even-strength ice time.

What Makes Him Successful? Subban is probably the most entertaining defenseman in the league and also one of the most effective. His offensive acumen comes from an explosive shot, aggressive and effective puck movement and creativity. He is pure dynamite at even strength and on the power play.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? Subban is a bona fide impact defenseman and is absolutely championship quality. His move to the Nashville Predators may be a godsend, allowing him to wheel and take offensive risks. He was effective in Montreal and will be in Nashville, and if the Predators can build top quality around him, a Stanley Cup is possible.

9. Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres

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How Much Does He Play? Rasmus Ristolainen of the Buffalo Sabres plays 26 minutes a night, continuing a strong spike in playing time over the last two seasons. He ranks No. 9 among NHL defensemen in even-strength time.

What Makes Him Successful? Ristolainen is a brilliant and chaotic defenseman with incredible tools for the game. He is a fine skater, has quality offensive instincts and a strong shot. He also has substantial defensive potential, but that side of the game is lagging.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? He should not be considered championship quality at this time. Ristolainen makes this list due to time on ice, but there is some evidence that Buffalo is not deploying him in the best possible way. He and partner Josh Gorges are not strong in possession, but away from the veteran Gorges, Ristolainen displays real ability. A new partner is best for Ristolainen and that should come soon.

8. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

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How Much Does He Play? Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks is being deployed over 26 minutes a night, an increase over recent seasons. He ranks No. 8 among NHL blue at even strength, partly because he plays so much on both special teams.

What Makes Him Successful? Keith is a strong two-way player with the complete range of skills. He is equally at home in all three game states and is both a rugged defender and a talented puck mover. There is no part of the game in which Keith would be considered a poor option.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? Chicago has won three Stanley Cups during Keith's career and he has been a major force in all three victories. The question now surrounds his ability to play at such a high level at age 33. So far this season, he and partners Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson have been very effective at even strength, and the offense remains quality.

7. Mike Green, Detroit Red Wings

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How Much Does He Play? Mike Green of the Detroit Red Wings is playing 24 minutes a night this year, a major increase from usage one year ago. He ranks No. 7 in even-strength ice time.

What Makes Him Successful? Green is one of the top offensive defensemen of the century, having scored over 100 goals and 400 points in his career. He delivers even-strength and power-play offense and is a capable defender without the puck.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? Green is 31 and no longer at his peak and may not be able to drive results at a championship level. He had three deep playoff runs earlier in the century as a member of the Washington Capitals, but age and erosion have had an impact. He is currently struggling with partner Danny DeKeyser in this role, and the Red Wings need the pairing to deliver better results.

6. Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets

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How Much Does He Play? Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets is playing about 24 minutes a night this year, a substantial increase from last season. Jones has been in a more prominent role since coming over from the Nashville Predators. He ranks No. 6 in even-strength time this year.

What Makes Him Successful? Jones is an emerging talent, so there are things we are finding out about his game. He is a solid offensive player, but his coverage ability and gritty play are the hallmarks of his game. He has been very successful this year with rookie Zach Werenski.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? It is difficult to project Jones—and Werenski—into that kind of situation, as there are likely to be a few more years of development before the Blue Jackets can be expected to push for a championship. Jones has many of the elements we associate with quality top-pairing defenders, but we need to see it over a longer period to be certain that is his future.

5. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins

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How Much Does He Play? Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins is averaging about 26 minutes a night this season, about one minute less than a year ago. He ranks No. 5 in even-strength time.

What Makes Him Successful? Letang is a wizard with the puck, a slick passer and incredibly creative in the offensive zone. He gives opponents fits and is one of the few defensemen in the game who can drive even-strength results—he had 37 even-strength points last year.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? The Penguins have won two Stanley Cups with Letang as a key member of the team. His ability to jump into the play, to become a fourth forward on a rush, is a key element for Pittsburgh offensively. He is also one of the most consistent players in the game, with only health holding back his production.

4. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

How Much Does He Play? Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings is playing just over 27 minutes a night this season, down one minute from last year. He ranks No. 4 in even-strength ice time.

What Makes Him Successful? Doughty has the complete range of skills. He combines grit and physical play with a hammer shot and enough finesse in passing to post over 35 assists in each of the last two seasons. Doughty turns 27 in December and won the Norris Trophy last season.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? The Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 with Doughty in this role—in fact, it could be argued that Doughty is having more overall impact now than two years ago. Los Angeles is going through some challenges, but the top pairing is not a concern. Drew Doughty ranks No. 4 on this list, but the gap between the top four is narrow.

3. Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

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How Much Does He Play? Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets is playing almost 28 minutes a night so far this season. That represents an increase of over two minutes a game compared to one year ago. He is No. 3 in ice time at even strength.

What Makes Him Successful? He is one of the truly unique players in the history of the game. He currently plays at a listed weight—260 lbs—that makes him dangerous in collisions at high speed. Byfuglien is also fast, meaning his hits carry extra wallop. He can pass the puck well, has a cannon of a shot and is a major concern for the opposition every shift.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? The one area Byfuglien has a weakness is in defensive coverage, so the Jets need a strong defensive partner for him at all times. So far this season, he has been placed with youngster Josh Morrissey with interesting results. Winnipeg would probably need a more experienced partner for a successful playoff run, but this pairing has been effective in possession.

2. Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

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How Much Does He Play? Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild is playing over 27 minutes a game this season. He is No. 2 in even-strength ice this year.

What Makes Him Successful? Suter plays big minutes against tough opposition, as shown via NaturalStatTrick.com. He also plays in all three game disciplines and is successful as a power-play option. He is also the only defender with size and rugged style who can manage these major minutes and has been doing it for years.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? The Wild could win a Stanley Cup with Suter as the top defenseman. The team is built to win now but have encountered some difficulty in taking that next step. Suter is 31 and should have two or three more years left at this level before some erosion offensively should be expected. The window of opportunity for Minnesota to win with Suter is now, but the team is struggling to make it happen.

1. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

How Much Does He Play? Erik Karlsson is playing 27 minutes a night so far this year for the Ottawa Senators, down almost two minutes a night from one year ago. He leads all NHL defenders in even strength time.

What Makes Him Successful? Karlsson is an amazing player, driving offense like no other in the game today. His transition by pass or carry is quick and effective, turning defense to offense in the wink of an eye.

Can His Team Win a Stanley Cup with Him in This Role? He is absolutely a championship calibre player in this spot in the lineup, but the rest of the team has some distance to go. Karlsson has played 29 playoff games in the four seasons Ottawa has been in the playoffs since arrival. The player will have to wait for his chance to win with the Senators, and management will need to shore up the rest of the defense before a serious run at the Stanley Cup is possible.

All advanced stats via Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com.