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BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3:  Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers positions himsself to stop a shot from Tyler Myers #57 of the Buffalo Sabres as Andrej Meszaros #41 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on during their NHL preseason game at HSBC Arena Oct
BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers positions himsself to stop a shot from Tyler Myers #57 of the Buffalo Sabres as Andrej Meszaros #41 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on during their NHL preseason game at HSBC Arena OctDave Sandford/Getty Images

NHL 2010-11: Ranking The 30 NHL Defenses

Michael StuartOct 12, 2010

It's hockey season folks! 

The 2010-11 NHL season is well underway.  We have already seen some highlight reel goals, some great saves and other things that make this year special.  With the rosters set, I am going to rank the 30 NHL defenses from worst (No. 30) to best (No. 1).  Be sure to read all of the slides as there is sure to be some surprises. 

We'll look at each team's defensive roster and give a reason why said team received the ranking that it did.  Every team has their strengths, and every team has their weaknesses.  In this slideshow we will focus on the D-men that each team has on their roster.

I'll take a look at who is on the roster, and let you know what I think of the team's defense as a whole.  Some of my rankings may surprise you, but it's all just my opinion.  Please let me know what you think.  I love to hear from my readers.

Hope you enjoy!

Follow me on Twitter:  @michaelstuart93

No. 30: Columbus Blue Jackets

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 23:  Fedor Tyutin #51 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 23, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 23: Fedor Tyutin #51 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 23, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets

#22 - Mike Commodore
#35 - Jan Hejda
#97 - Rostislav Klesla
#3 - Marc Methot
#10 - Kris Russell
#6 - Anton Stralman
#51 - Fedor Tyutin

Why the Blue Jackets are No. 30

I think that a lot of people will disagree with me on this one.  Look at the names above.  Is there anyone there that really jumps out at you? 

Regardless of what you think of Sheldon Souray right now, the trade rumors of him heading to Columbus could really help the Blue Jackets.  They really don't have anyone that is stellar offensively, or stellar defensively.  They have a few guys who are solid, but not great.  The Blue Jackets are my pick as the 30th ranked defense in the NHL.

No. 29: Carolina Hurricanes

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BOSTON - MAY 03:  Anton Babchuk #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot in the second period against the Boston Bruins during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2009 at the TD Banknorth Garden
BOSTON - MAY 03: Anton Babchuk #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes takes a shot in the second period against the Boston Bruins during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2009 at the TD Banknorth Garden

The Carolina Hurricanes

#33 - Anton Babchuk
#27 - Brett Carson
#77 - Joe Corvo
#6 - Gleason
#44 - Jay Harrison
#4 - Jamie McBain
#25 - Joni Pitkanen
#24 - Bobby Sanguinetti

Why The Hurricanes Are No. 29

I wouldn't say that the Hurricanes are all that bad on D.  The problem I ran into was trying to put them ahead of someone else.  Anton Babchuk is going to help them get a lot more offense from the back end. 

As we saw in the first two wins of the season, this group has potential.  My problem is that I really don't see people that are going to stand up and take charge here.  There's good players, but not great players.  I had the same problem with the Canes that I did with the Jackets.  There wasn't anyone that I could really put behind them.

No. 28: Atlanta Thrashers

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NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 28:  Zach Bogosian #4 of the Atlanta Thrashers warms up before playing against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 28, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 28: Zach Bogosian #4 of the Atlanta Thrashers warms up before playing against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 28, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Thrashers

#4 - Zach Bogosian
#33 - Dustin Byfuglien
#39 - Tobias Enstrom
#6 - Ron Hainsey
#24 - Freddy Meyer
#29 - Johnny Oduya
#3 - Brent Sopel
#5 - Boris Valabik

Why The Thrashers Are No. 28

The Thrashers are one of the more interesting teams in the National Hockey League in my opinion.  They made a lot of moves in this offseason.

Off topic here, but I really find it hard to believe that they will be able to replace Kovalchuk.  Anyways, back to the defense. 

The Thrashers have a lot of good pieces here.  Zach Bogosian is going to be a great defenseman in this league.  My problem here is that his development has seemed a little bit slow.  Other than that, losing Pavel Kubina is going to hurt!  The Thrashers are full of serviceable players, but none that really knock your socks off.

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No. 27: Anaheim Ducks

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ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 03:  Cam Fowler #54 of the Anaheim Ducks warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center on October 3, 2010 in Anaheim, California.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 03: Cam Fowler #54 of the Anaheim Ducks warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center on October 3, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Anaheim Ducks

#21 - Sheldon Brookbank
#54 - Cam Fowler
#23 - Paul Mara
#60 - Brendan Mikkelson
#5 - Luca Sbisa
#25 - Andy Sutton
#17 - Lubomir Visnovsky

Why The Ducks Are No. 27

Imagine if your team lost Scott Niedermayer.  Unless you are a Devils fan, this is a real hard thing to picture.  You don't just lose a guy like him and remain at that same elite level. 

Drafting Cam Fowler (could work out to be a steal at 12th overall) was the first step in this defense's rebuilding process.  When I look at their roster above, I don't see that many great NHL defensemen.  Visnovsky is a high risk, high reward player, Andy Sutton is big but slow, Luca Sbisa is young and developing, the list goes on. 

For these reasons, the Ducks have the 27th best defense in the league.

No. 26: Florida Panthers

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SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 6: Bryan McCabe #24 of the Florida Panthers clears the puck from behind the Panther net against the Ottawa Senators on April 6, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Senators defeated the Panthers 5-2. (Photo by Joel
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 6: Bryan McCabe #24 of the Florida Panthers clears the puck from behind the Panther net against the Ottawa Senators on April 6, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Senators defeated the Panthers 5-2. (Photo by Joel

The Florida Panthers

#5 - Bryan Allen
#52 - Jason Garrison
#7 - Dmitry Kulikov
#24 - Bryan McCabe
#43 - Mike Weaver
#6 - Dennis Wideman

Why The Panthers Are No. 26

Dale Tallon's master plan hard at work here!  Need I say more? 

This team is in complete rebuild mode. They've got three guys there that are serviceable NHL players.  Drafting third overall this past summer will help their defense in the long run, but it doesn't look like it will this season. 

There's really not a lot to say about the Panthers.  Tomas Vokoun makes this defense look a lot better than it really is.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30th place finish out of the Panthers this year.  If you are a Panther fan, I really hope that Dale can work some magic for you.

No. 25: Minnesota Wild

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 4:  Brent Burns #8 of the Minnesota Wild skates with the puck up ice during the NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 04, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Im
VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 4: Brent Burns #8 of the Minnesota Wild skates with the puck up ice during the NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks on April 04, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Im

The Minnesota Wild

#5 - Greg Zanon
#3 - Marek Zidlicky
#8 - Brent Burns
#55 - Nick Schultz
#25 - Cam Barker
#41 - Justin Falk
#4 - Clayton Stoner

Why The Wild Are No. 25

It's tough to go through a rebuild like the Wild are.  They aren't really rebuilding their roster, but they are rebuilding their off-ice staff and their style.  Going from the defensive minded system of Jacques Lemaire, to the fast paced style of Todd Richards wasn't easy last year. 

Anyway, the point is that the Wild just aren't what they used to be defensively.  Brent Burns is a great player, but can he stay healthy?  That's always a big question.  I liked the Cam Barker trade last season.  He has the opportunity to play a much bigger role than he did in Chicago.  It could serve him well. 

This defense just isn't what it used to be.  That's why the Wild are ranked No. 25.

No. 24: New York Rangers

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23:  Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during a preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 23, 2010 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during a preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 23, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The New York Rangers

#4 - Michael Del Zotto
#44 - Steve Eminger
#97 - Matt Gilroy
#5 - Dan Girardi
#33 - Michael Rozsival
#38 - Michael Sauer
#18 - Marc Staal

Why The Rangers Are No. 24

I wish I could put them higher, I really do.  The fact of the matter is, without Marc Staal, this defense would be even lower. 

Signing a guy like Steve Eminger to plug your holes make sense, but at some point you actually need to make this defense a lot better.  With Wade Redden, they weren't great.  Without Wade Redden, they certainly aren't great.  Redden became a cap casualty.  It's not that he's not a good player, but he wasn't living up to his price tag. 

Hopefully Sather can pull something out of his hat during the year, or it could be a very long year for Ranger fans.

No. 23: Ottawa Senators

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KANATA, ON - OCTOBER 02:  Sergei Gonchar #55 of the Ottawa Senators skates in a game against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Place on October 2, 2010 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada.  The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers 8-5.  (Photo by Phillip
KANATA, ON - OCTOBER 02: Sergei Gonchar #55 of the Ottawa Senators skates in a game against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Place on October 2, 2010 in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. The Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Rangers 8-5. (Photo by Phillip

The Ottawa Senators

#4 - Chris Phillips
#5 - Brian Lee
#14 - Chris Campoli
#39 - Matt Carkner
#55 - Sergei Gonchar
#65 - Erik Karlsson

Why The Senators Are No. 23

A lot of you are probably thinking that this is a pretty low ranking.  They've got Phillips, Gonchar and a rising star in Karlsson.  What could go wrong? 

Losing Volchenkov really hurts.  People often forget about him in other markets because he doesn't show up on the stats sheet like Gonchar does.  It's the defensive things that Volchenkov does.  If you don't think he'll be missed, tune in to a New Jersey Devils game this season.  Brian Murray made it clear he wanted a better power play.  He definitely got that when he signed Gonchar to the big contract.  He may have sacrificed a lot of defense though.

Can the Senators really rely on Chris Phillips to handle all of the defensive responsibility on this team?  I don't think so. 

No. 22: St. Louis Blues

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 20:  Eric Brewer #4 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 20, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Blues defeated the Devils 1-0.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 20: Eric Brewer #4 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 20, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Blues defeated the Devils 1-0. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The St. Louis Blues

#4 - Eric Brewer
#28 - Carlo Colaiacovo
#5 - Barret Jackman
#6 - Erik Johnson
#27 - Alex Pietrangelo
#46 - Roman Polak
#33 - Tyson Strachan

Why The Blues Are No. 22

They have a decently good top three, but it tails off after that.  Johnson, Jackman and Brewer have all proven that they are good NHL defenders.  The Blues are putting a lot of pressure on Alex Pietrangelo to finally step up and show that his skills in junior can be transferred to the big league. 

As we move down the depth chart, the Blues are pretty weak.  They don't have a lot of guys there that really make you think that this team has what it takes to go far.  One thing that we saw last season—depth wins championships.  On defense, I think it's safe to say that the Blues don't have a lot of depth.

No. 21: Tampa Bay Lightning

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SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates prior to the pre season game against the Florida Panthers on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1 in overtime.
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates prior to the pre season game against the Florida Panthers on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1 in overtime.

The Tampa Bay Lightning

#7 - Brett Clark
#77 - Victor Hedman
#8 - Randy Jones
#13 - Pavel Kubina
#39 - Mike Lundin
#5 - Mattias Ohlund
#32 - Matt Smaby
#48 - Michael Vernace

Why The Lightning Are No. 21

I have the same problem with the Lightning that I do with the Blues.  They have a solid top three, and then it gets pretty weak. 

For me, the difference between these two teams is the quality of the top three.  I would take Hedman, Kubina and Ohlund over Jackman, Johnson and Brewer.  I could be alone in that though.  With the continued development of Hedman, the return of Kubina, and hopefully a bounce back year for Ohlund, this defense could end up being a lot better than it looks on paper.

No. 20: Edmonton Oilers

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03:  Ryan Whitney #3 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on April 3, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.  The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 3-2 in an overtime shootout.  (Pho
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: Ryan Whitney #3 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on April 3, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Oilers 3-2 in an overtime shootout. (Pho

The Edmonton Oilers

#26 - Kurtis Foster
#77 - Tom Gilbert
#49 - Theo Peckham
#5 - Ladislav Smid
#43 - Jason Strudwick
#2 - Jim Vandermeer
#6 - Ryan Whitney

Why The Oilers Are No. 20

In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated D cores in the entire league.  You've got guys that can move the puck, guys that can defend and guys that can hit.  It's not a spectacular group, but it will get the job done. 

Tambellini has done a wonderful job of shaping this Oilers defense (thus far).  I wouldn't be surprised to see him take a defenseman in next year's draft.  The Oilers are loaded with young talent up front.  Now it's time to shore up that back end.  There is a solid group of guys here. 

No. 19: Buffalo Sabres

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BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3:  Tyler Myers #57 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during their NHL game at HSBC Arena October 3, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 9-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
BUFFALO - OCTOBER 3: Tyler Myers #57 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during their NHL game at HSBC Arena October 3, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 9-3. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres

#34 - Chris Butler
#3 - Jordan Leopold
#4 - Steve Montador
#27 - Shaone Morrisonn
#57 - Tyler Myers
#52 - Craig Rivet
#44 - Andrej Sekera
#6 - Mike Weber

Why The Sabres Are No. 19

The Buffalo Sabres are a good team.  They aren't great, but they are good.  Backed up by a solid goaltender, the Sabres defense probably has inflated stats. 

With names like Leopold, Montador, Morrisonn, Myers and Rivet, the Sabres are a solid team on the back end.  Other than Myers, they aren't overly spectacular.  This Tyler Myers kid is the real deal.  He has the size, skill and skating ability to be one of the greatest defensemen in his era.  I look forward to watching him play this year. 

In short, the Sabres are solid, but not great.

No. 18: Colorado Avalanche

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 22:  Adam Foote #52 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during preseason NHL action at the Pepsi Center on September 22, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Kings defeated the Avalanche 4-2.  (Photo by Do
DENVER - SEPTEMBER 22: Adam Foote #52 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during preseason NHL action at the Pepsi Center on September 22, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Kings defeated the Avalanche 4-2. (Photo by Do

The Colorado Avalanche

#10 - Kyle Cumiskey
#52 - Adam Foote
#22 - Scott Hannan
#6 - Jonas Holos
#4 - John-Michael Liles
#27 - Kyle Quincey
#44 - Ryan Wilson

Why The Avalanche Are No. 18

The Avalanche are solid on the back end.  They aren't going to do anything in spectacular fashion, but they are going to get the job done. 

You've got a veteran group of guys here led by captain Adam Foote.  Scott Hannan and John-Michael Liles also compliment the team nicely.  Below that veteran group you have young developing guys. 

I think this team has got a lot more potential on the back end than a lot of people think.

No. 17: Dallas Stars

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 28:  Stephane Robidas #3 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Colorado Avalanche during preseason NHL action at the Pepsi Center on September 28, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Stars 2-1.  (Photo by Doug Pensinge
DENVER - SEPTEMBER 28: Stephane Robidas #3 of the Dallas Stars skates against the Colorado Avalanche during preseason NHL action at the Pepsi Center on September 28, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Stars 2-1. (Photo by Doug Pensinge

The Dallas Stars

#6 - Trevor Daley
#28 - Marc Fistric
#2 - Nicklas Grossman
#5 - Matt Niskanen
#3 - Stephane Robidas
#37 - Karlis Skrastins
#44 - Jeff Woywitka

Why The Stars Are No. 17

The Stars are deep.  They are a team that really has a lot of skill (in my opinion more than they show).  When you have guys like Grossman, Niskanen and Robidas manning your back end, you should be in pretty good shape. 

To me, they are an incredibly underwhelming team though.  They never perform up to the level that they can, and they really don't give you a full 60 minutes.  It must be tough to be Marc Crawford.  I can just imagine him pulling his hair out trying to get this group to perform up to the level that it can.

No. 16: New York Islanders

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 10:  Mark Streit #2 of the New York Islanders warms up before playing against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 10, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 10: Mark Streit #2 of the New York Islanders warms up before playing against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 10, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The New York Islanders

#4 - Mark Eaton
#8 - Bruno Gervais
#38 - Jack Hillen
#27 - Milan Jurcina
#47 - Andrew Macdonald
#24 - Radek Martinek
#10 - Mike Mottau
#2 - Mark Streit
#20 - James Wisniewski

Why The Islanders Are No. 16

I bet you are all shocked that the Islanders made it up this high at my list.  Before you call me a complete lunatic, take a look at some of the names up there.  You've got a few great defenders. 

Mark Streit deserves even more credit than he already gets.  Eaton, Jurcina, Mottau and Wisniewski are all established NHL defenders.  The list can really go on and on.  This team has a lot more depth on the back end than people give them credit for. 

In my opinion the Islanders need a lot more help up front (perhaps that's an idea for another slideshow).

No. 15: Boston Bruins

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PHILADELPHIA - MAY 05:  Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center on May 5, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylv
PHILADELPHIA - MAY 05: Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wachovia Center on May 5, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylv

The Boston Bruins

#52 - Adam McQuaid
#44 - Dennis Seidenburg
#55 - Johnny Boychuk
#33 - Zdeno Chara
#21 - Andrew Ference
#48 - Matt Hunwick
#45 - Mark Stuart

Why The Bruins Are No. 15

Look at the names above.  Do any of them (other than Chara) make you think of words such as great or amazing?  Probably not. 

The only reason the Bruins are ranked this high is Zdeno Chara.  He is one of the premier defenders in the game, and he is consistent year after year.  I will be really interested to see whether or not the Bruins will be able to keep their goals against total down this year.  There is a lot of weight being placed on this D core (especially Chara).  Without Chara, this team would be down at the bottom of my rankings.  It was recently brought to my attention that I needed to make a couple changes to my Bruins roster.  I have made them, and elected to move them up a few spots. 

No. 14: Nashville Predators

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GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 07:  Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators in action during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on April 7, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Predators 5-2.  (Photo by Christian Petersen/G
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 07: Shea Weber #6 of the Nashville Predators in action during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on April 7, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Predators 5-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/G

The Nashville Predators

#51 - Francis Bouillon
#4 - Cody Franson
#8 - Kevin Klein
#55 - Shane O'Brien
#52 - Alexander Sulzer
#20 - Ryan Suter
#6 - Shea Weber

Why The Predators Are No. 14

This is another one of those teams that really gets ranked based on the play of its top dog.  In the Predators' case, that player is Shea Weber. 

What doesn't this guy do?  He hits, he scores, he defends and he wins Olympic gold.  This guy is one of the premier defenders in the entire league. 

With Weber alone, the Predators are way up this list.  Add Suter and the rising Franson and you have one of the best D-cores in the league.  It's a shame that they had to lose Dan Hamhuis this past offseason.  They could be even higher up this list. 

I have to commend the Predators.  They continue to develop defensemen at a rapid pace. 

No. 13: San Jose Sharks

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SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 25:  Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks waits for a face-off against the Phoenix Coyotes in a preseason split-squad game at HP Pavilion on September 25, 2010 in San Jose, California.  The Sharks won 3-1.  (Photo by Brian Bahr/Ge
SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks waits for a face-off against the Phoenix Coyotes in a preseason split-squad game at HP Pavilion on September 25, 2010 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won 3-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Ge

The San Jose Sharks

#22 - Dan Boyle
#60 - Jason Demers
#40 - Kent Huskins
#55 - Mike Moore
#3 - Douglas Murray
#44 - Marc-Edouard Vlasic
#7 - Niclas Wallin

Why The Sharks Are No. 13

The Sharks blue line has a lot going for it.  You've got the smooth skating Dan Boyle, the hard-hitting Douglas Murray and the ever-solid Marc-Edouard Vlasic. 

The Sharks are another team that has done a wonderful job of developing defensemen.  I am really intrigued to see this young Jason Demers play.  He has all the tools to be a great player in the league.  I hope that learning from the veteran guys I listed above will really help him develop into a wonderful NHL player. 

One of my favorite things about the Sharks blue line is its versatility.  They have a little bit of everything.

No. 12: Washington Capitals

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WASHINGTON DC, DC - MARCH 08:  Mike Green #52 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Dallas Stars on March 8, 2010 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Stars defeated the Caps 4-3 after a shootout.  (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON DC, DC - MARCH 08: Mike Green #52 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Dallas Stars on March 8, 2010 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Stars defeated the Caps 4-3 after a shootout. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals

#27 - Karl Alzner
#74 - John Carlson
#4 - John Erskine
#52 - Mike Green
#3 - Tom Poti
#55 - Jeff Schultz
#89 - Tyler Sloan

Why The Capitals Are No. 12

The roster may not look spectacular to you, but the Capitals know how to get the job done behind the blue line.  Having Mike Green as your offensive specialist really helps compensate for the wealth of defensive guys they have on the back end. 

It's interesting because this team probably shouldn't be as good on the back end as they are.  Finally, we are seeing young guys come up and fight for spots.  Hopefully this year the Capitals are taken by their young d-men.  I would really love to see guys like Alzner and Carlson succeed.  This team could be very interesting to watch.

No. 11: Detroit Red Wings

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DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 03:  Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates with the puck in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 3, 2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 5-2. (Phot
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 03: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings skates with the puck in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 3, 2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 5-2. (Phot

The Detroit Red Wings

#52 - Jonathan Ericsson
#4 - Jakub Kindl
#55 - Niklas Kronwall
#5 - Nicklas Lidstrom
#28 - Brian Rafalski
#24 - Ruslan Salei
#23 - Brad Stuart

Why The Red Wings Are No. 11

The Red Wings have been one of the most consistent teams over the last decade.  Defense is a big part of that statement.  You've got Lidstrom, Kronwall and Rafalski leading the way. 

They aren't backed up by slouches either.  Brad Stuart is a very solid defender, Ruslan Salei gets the job done and then you have young guys that help out too.  This is one of the deepest D-cores in the league. 

Its only problem is that age may not be on its side.  Hopefully Lidstrom can keep up his stellar play this season.

No. 10: Montreal Canadiens

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MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 24:  P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on September 24, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Senators 4-2.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 24: P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre on September 24, 2010 in Montreal, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Senators 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Montreal Canadiens

#75 - Hal Gill
#26 - Josh Gorges
#44 - Roman Hamrlik
#79 - Andrei Markov
#20 - Ryan O'Byrne
#45 - Alexandre Picard
#6 - Jaroslav Spacek
#76 - P.K. Subban

Why The Canadiens Are No. 10

They aren't spectacular, but boy do they get the job done.  You saw it last year against Washington and Pittsburgh. Yes, Jaro Halak played a major role in the Canadiens' success, but did you see where those shots were coming from?  They were coming from the outside. 

This group has a little bit of everything.  You've got size in Gill, skill in Markov, youth in Subban and then a bunch of well-rounded players like Gorges and Hamrlik.  This group of guys feeds off each other in such a way that makes them one of the most effective defenses in the entire league.  I think that a lot of people will be surprised that I have them rated this high though.

No. 9: New Jersey Devils

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NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28:  Anton Volchenkov #28 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Prudential Center on September 28, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 28: Anton Volchenkov #28 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Prudential Center on September 28, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New Jersey Devils

#2 - Mark Fraser
#6 - Andy Greene
#33 - Anssi Salmela
#24 - Bryce Salvador
#7 - Henrik Tallinder
#20 - Matt Taormina
#29 - Alexander Urbom
#28 - Anton Volchenkov
#5 - Colin White

Why The Devils Are No. 9

You probably didn't pick him for your hockey pool, you probably don't know a lot about him, but boy can Anton Volchenkov defend.  He was one of the premier free agents out there and New Jersey was lucky enough to get him signed.  Anton compliments a solid group of guys that all work hard in front of Marty Brodeur. 

In my opinion, this wouldn't be one of the most skilled defenses in the league, but it is one that works together in the most effective way.  There are very few teams that get as much out of their players as the New Jersey Devils.  There are so many great things about this organization.  Replacing Martin with Volchenkov and Tallinder looks like a great move for New Jersey.  I am excited to see what this season brings for the Devils and their defense.

No. 8: Phoenix Coyotes

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23:  Ed Jovanovski #55 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on September 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 3-1.  (Photo b
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ed Jovanovski #55 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates prior to the start of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on September 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 3-1. (Photo b

The Phoenix Coyotes

#33 - Adrian Aucoin
#23 - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
#55 - Ed Jovanovski
#18 - Sami Lepisto
#53 - Derek Morris
#6 - David Schlemko
#3 - Keith Yandle

Why The Coyotes Are No. 8

It seems as though Phoenix is the right place for a lot of players.  Look at Derek Morris, Adrian Aucoin and so many others before them.  These guys enjoy playing in the desert. 

In my opinion, there isn't a team in the league that works harder night in and night out than the Phoenix Coyotes.  This defense is one of the more solid defenses in the league.  You've got a little bit of everything: size, speed, grit, strength and youth.  It's tough to find a more well-rounded defense in the league.  If only Michalek were still a member of the Coyotes.  They could be a lot higher.

No. 7: Calgary Flames

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WASHINGTON - MARCH 28:  Jay Bouwmeester #4 of the Calgary Flames handles the puck against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on March 28, 2010 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Jay Bouwmeester #4 of the Calgary Flames handles the puck against the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on March 28, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The Calgary Flames

#4 - Jay Bouwmeester
#66 - TJ Brodie
#5 - Mark Giordano
#7 - Adam Pardy
#28 - Robyn Regher
#6 - Cory Sarich
#27 - Steve Staios
#3 - Ian White

Why The Flames Are No. 7

On paper, it's tough to find a better defense in the entire league.  They have everything you could ever want in a defense group (on paper).  I would love to put them higher on this list, but unfortunately I can't. 

If last season were any indication of what is going to happen this year, this team could be a disaster.  Bouwmeester didn't perform, and they relied on Giordano for everything.  Hopefully, for Flames fans, this group will be able to turn it around and prove that they are one of the best defenses in the league. 

I really think they have the potential.  The question becomes, will they live up to it?

No. 6: Chicago Blackhawks

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DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 7: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks handles the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during both team's season openers at the Pepsi Center on October 7, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 7: Duncan Keith #2 of the Chicago Blackhawks handles the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during both team's season openers at the Pepsi Center on October 7, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks

#24 - Nick Boynton
#51 - Brian Campbell
#6 - Jordan Hendry
#4 - Niklas Hjalmarsson
#2 - Duncan Keith
#8 - Nick Leddy
#32 - John Scott
#7 - Brent Seabrook

Why The Blackhawks Are No. 6

Their top four gets them this high on its own.  The problem with the Blackhawks is that they are relying heavily on a bottom two that is largely unproven.  If John Scott couldn't really get it done in Minnesota, what makes the Blackhawks think that he is going to be capable of returning them to the Cup this year?

Now this isn't a knock against John because I happen to think that he can be a very effective player, but what I am saying is that this bottom two group is a rotating mess.  Is there really ever going to be any continuity there?  I'm not so sure about it.  That's the only reason why the Blackhawks aren't higher up on this list. 

No. 5: Pittsburgh Penguins

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NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils challenges Zbynek Michalek #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins for possession of the puck during the second period at the Prudential Center on October 11, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Penguins
NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Zach Parise #9 of the New Jersey Devils challenges Zbynek Michalek #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins for possession of the puck during the second period at the Prudential Center on October 11, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins

#5 - Deryk Engelland
#3 - Alex Goligoski
#58 - Kris Letang
#6 - Ben Lovejoy
#7 - Paul Martin
#4 - Zbynek Michalek
#44 - Brooks Orpik

Why The Penguins Are No. 5

A lot of people made a big deal about the Penguins losing Sergei Gonchar this past offseason.  How can you really make a big deal out of it when you look at what Ray Shero was able to do?  He lost Gonchar, then added Michael and Martin. 

The Penguins' problem isn't scoring goals, it's preventing them.  Adding two solid defensive presences in Martin and Michalek will help immensely. 

I can't say that there was any team that really did more to help its blue line this offseason.  Two key moves have helped bring the Penguins back up to that contender level.  Add the youth of Letang, the solid play of Goligoski and the physical presence of Orpik, and you have one of the best defenses in the league.

No. 4: Toronto Maple Leafs

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TORONTO - OCTOBER 7: First game as new Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots during warmup before playing the Montreal Canadiens during a regular season NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre October 7,
TORONTO - OCTOBER 7: First game as new Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs shoots during warmup before playing the Montreal Canadiens during a regular season NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre October 7,

The Toronto Maple Leafs

#22 - Francois Beauchemin
#36 - Carl Gunnarsson
#15 - Tomas Kaberle
#8 - Mike Komisarek
#23 - Brett Lebda
#3 - Dion Phaneuf
#2 - Luke Schenn

Why The Maple Leafs Are No. 4

Once again we have a case where the team on paper appears a lot better than the team on the ice. 

Even if Burke had traded Kaberle, this would still be one of the premier defenses in the league.  You have a premier young guy in Phaneuf, a strong developing kid in Schenn and then a lot of veterans like Kaberle, Komisarek and Beauchemin.  Add to that depth with the young star Gunnarsson and the very serviceable Lebda, and you have one of the deepest blue lines in the league. 

When you think about it, they really should be one of the deepest as no team has more money sewn up in their blue line.  Sometimes you have to pay for greatness. 

No. 3: Los Angeles Kings

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28:  Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on September 28, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on September 28, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Kings

#8 - Drew Doughty
#44 - Davis Drewiske
#2 - Matt Greene
#5 - Peter Harrold
#3 - Jack Johnson
#33 - Willie Mitchell
#7 - Rob Scuderi
#79 - Colton Teubert

Why The Kings Are No. 3

I am a Kings fan, and I can tell you right now that I have never been so excited about a group of defensemen.  Wouldn't you love to have a rising star on your team?  The Kings have two in Doughty and Johnson. 

Last year in the playoffs we saw exactly what this group is capable of.  The signing of free agent Willie Mitchell may have been risky, but it could pay off in spades for Lombardi and the Kings.  This team is so deep on the back end, and full of youth ready to step up.  The Kings have never been stronger. 

With guys like Greene, Mitchell and Scuderi all bringing leadership and experience, this defense is poised to do great things in front of Quick and Bernier. 

No. 2: Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09:  Chris Pronger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers handles the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Six of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Wachovia Center on June 9, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Andre Ring
PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Chris Pronger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers handles the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Six of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Wachovia Center on June 9, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Andre Ring

The Philadelphia Flyers

#3 - Oskars Bartulis
#25 - Matt Carle
#5 - Braydon Coburn
#41 - Andrej Meszaros
#6 - Sean O'Donnell
#20 - Chris Pronger
#44 - Kimmo Timonen
#8 - Matt Walker

Why The Flyers Are No. 2

These last two teams were a real toss up.  You've got depth on both, and a lot of skill.  For me, the deciding factor was versatility.  I'm very impressed by all of the Flyers players that I have listed above.  Pronger brings so much to the table, Timonen is heavily underrated, Coburn is solid, Carle is solid, the list goes on. 

This team has so much within its defense.  It's almost scary. 

The thing about Philadelphia is that they need better goaltending.  It's a good thing their defense is so good, because they really do need it.  This team has depth, but not just depth, they have skilled depth.  They are most definitely in the top two defenses for the entire league.

No. 1: Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 22: Dan Hamhuis #2 of the Vancouver Canucks takes part in the team warm up prior to NHL pre-season action against the Edmonton Oilers on September 22, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  (Photo by Ri
VANCOUVER, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 22: Dan Hamhuis #2 of the Vancouver Canucks takes part in the team warm up prior to NHL pre-season action against the Edmonton Oilers on September 22, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Ri

The Vancouver Canucks

#41 - Andrew Alberts
#4 - Keith Ballard
#3 - Kevin Bieksa
#23 - Alexander Edler
#5 - Christian Ehrhoff
#2 - Dan Hamhuis
#6 - Sami Salo

Why The Canucks Are No. 1

The Vancouver Canucks have it all.  They have great goaltending, a great defense and a potent offensive line. 

What makes this team really special?  It's their ability to fill holes when needed.  This summer, Mike Gillis saw a hole.  What did he do?  He went out and filled that hole by acquiring Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis. 

The Canucks don't have a Norris Trophy candidate, but they have depth, and solid depth at that.  They are so well-rounded with size, grit, skill and speed.  No team really compares.  When Salo returns from injury, this may be one of the best defenses we've seen in the post lock-out era.  They are that good, folks. 

The reason I ranked the Canucks above the Flyers is due to the potential for greatness.  Vancouver has a lot more players that are poised to keep getting better.  I look to Alex Edler for a big season.  Congratulations to the Vancouver Canucks for having the best defense in the league.

Behind The Blue Line

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Michael Frolik #67 of the Florida Panthers tries to tie up Alexander Edler #23 of the Vancouver Canucks while chasing down a loose puck during the first period in NHL action on October 11, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver,
VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Michael Frolik #67 of the Florida Panthers tries to tie up Alexander Edler #23 of the Vancouver Canucks while chasing down a loose puck during the first period in NHL action on October 11, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver,

So there you have it!  There's my list of the 30 NHL defenses ranked from worst to best.  I hope you enjoyed the read whether you agree or not!  Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.  I would love to hear from my readers.

Follow me on Twitter: @michaelstuart93

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