NHL Power Rankings: Ranking the Top 10 NHL Defensive Pairs

As the old saying goes, "offense wins games, but defense wins championships." This saying held true in last year's World Series, where the San Francisco Giants combined stellar pitching with a sub-par offense to capture the World Series title.

This saying also applies to hockey. If the defense shuts down the opposing team, then all the offense has to do is score one goal to win. One part of playing great defense in hockey is matching up the right defensive lines. During the course of the season, a coach will often mix-and-match his defensive pairings in order to find the right chemistry and production. Here are the top 10 defensive pairs in the NHL. 

10. Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuck: Boston Bruins

This pairing proved to be pivotal in the Stanley Cup Finals against Vancouver. 

Boychuk started the year as the seventh defenseman, but played his way in to the starting lineup and ended up on the top defensive pair with Norris Trophy Winner Zdeno Chara. He averaged 20:38 in ice time in the postseason and continued to play physically, as he was second on the team with 62 hits and third with 34 blocked shots while also chipping in some timely offense. He matched his regular-season total with three goals, including the game-winner in Game 4 to complete the sweep of the Flyers in the second round.

Chara, one of the premier defensemen in the league, solidified his spot among the game's elite defensemen with his strong play on the ice and finally received some recognition for his steady leadership. Chara again led the league in plus/minus and was fifth in ice time (27:39), and he played at least twice as many games as the four players ahead of him. After collecting 153 hits and 111 blocked shots in the regular season, he added another 64 hits and 32 blocks in the postseason.

Read more: http://www.nesn.com/2011/08/johnny-boychuk-rallies-from-rocky-regular-season-to-put-up-solid-showing-in-playoffs-heading-into-fi.html

9. Sergei Gonchar and Erik Karlsson: Ottawa Senators

With all-star Erik Karlsson and Sergei Gonchar, hoping to rebound from a disappointing year, the Sens will have one of the most dynamic offenses on the back-end in the entire league. 

Karlsson is one of the game's top stars. He finished with 13 goals last year on a struggling Ottawa team. He's got a great shot, a bomb from the point and the ability to get it through traffic on net. He has good offensive instincts.

Match him up with Sergei Gonchar, an experienced defensemen who plays hard and skates well, and you've got a star-studded defensive pairing. If Gonchar can return to his 2009 form, then we could be looking at one of the top defenses in the league.

8. Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom: Winnipeg Jets

These are two all-stars who could blossom into superstars. 

Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien are two of the more offensively talented defensemen in the league.  Byfuglien is a risk taker, and Enstrom is a set up man who could provide adding scoring from the blue line. 

“You’re certainly counting (Dustin) Byfuglien as part of that committee. With Byfuglien and (Tobias) Enstrom, you’ve got a lock, stock, ready-made, No. 1 power play pairing," said one rival NHL executive

I wouldn't be surprised if these two put up 120-plus combined points this season. They could really provide some jump to the Winnipeg Jets.

7. Matt Carle and Chris Pronger: Philadelphia Flyers

Carle averaged 32 points per season over the last five years. Many of his detractors point to his pairing with Pronger as the reason he has flourished in Philadelphia.

These two work perfectly as a tandem. Carle provides good skating ability with terrific offensive awareness and the ability to make a pinpoint pass across the ice. Pronger is, well, just Chris Pronger. A gritty, antagonizing player that you love to hate but have to respect. 

Keep these two working together, and Philly has themselves a top defensive pairing. 

6. Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson: Los Angeles Kings

The offensive-minded Jack Johnson led the Kings' defense in points last season with 42, and when the strong defense of youngster Drew Doughty is added into the mix, nobody should be worried about L.A.'s defensive presence. 

Doughty is an offensively skilled young rear-guard with great instincts for creating scoring chances and break-outs. Team him up with Jack Johnson, an ultra-physical defenseman with a very nasty edge, and that's a dynamic duo.

With these two anchoring the blue line, it may seem impossible to even get a shot on net against the Kings. Both Doughty and Johnson play the passing lanes beautifully and are terrific at breakout passes.  

5. Toni Lydman and Lubomir Visnovsky: Anaheim Ducks

This is perhaps the most underrated defensive pair in hockey. Both Toni Lydman and Lubomir Visnovsky are talened, veteran defensemen who have a few good years left in them. They both had excellent years with the Ducks in 2010-2011.

Visnovsky had 18 goals, providing the offense and the jump, while Lydman provided the defense and hard work on the boards. He is a sound defender who is more a tactician than he is a physical presence 

The point is, these are two experienced defenseman who know what they're doing on the ice. Even at their age (both well into their mid-30s), they can still contribute to an NHL team at a high level.

4. Niklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Ericsson: Detroit Rafalski

With the retirement of Brian Ralfalski, Niklas Lidstrom has himself a new defense partner: Jonathon Ericsoon. Since we already know what Lidstrom is capable of doing on the ice, let's focus on Ericsson.

Ericsson is flying under the radar because he has played down the lineup in Detroit and has not posted big offensive numbers. He had three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 74 games last year. But could he do more?

He is 6'4", 220 and a defensive defenseman by nature, But, he also had 10 goals and 24 assists in 69 games for Grand Rapids in 2007-08 and had four goals and four assists for Detroit in 22 playoff games in 2009.

A young player like Ericsson would definitely flourish while playing with a future Hall of Famer in Niklas Lidstrom (anybody would).

And, of course, any defensive pairing that has Lidstrom in it is one of the top defensive pairings in hockey. 

Read more: http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/06/could-stars-target-a-defenseman-like-jon.html

3. Ryan Suter and Shea Weber: Nashville Predators

Think of the combo of Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom of the Winnipeg Jets. Now think of a pair that's two times better. (No offense to Byfuglien or Enstrom)

Since earning only one fifth-place vote for the Norris in 2008, Weber's been fourth, seventh and second in voting for each year after. Not bad for a guy within a week of his 26th birthday and about a year from his true prime as an NHL defenseman. It's pretty safe to say that he's eventually going to win at least one. Big, skilled, tough and good on the point, the young defenseman has become one of the NHL's best all-around blue-liners.

If Weber provides the offense, then it's Suter that provides the defense. A tough, gritty defensemen who doesn't back down from a fight, Suter is a staple in the Predator blue line.

It's pretty safe to say that these two will be anchoring the Nashville Predators' blue line for years to come. 

2. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith: Chicago Blackhawks

This tandem was key in leading the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Finals in 09-10. Who can forget Duncan Keith's front teeth? Keith is a steady and poised defensive-minded defenseman, also adept at moving the puck.

"Keith's an exciting guy to watch," says one impressed Eastern Conference scout, "he's not only a great skater, he's a fluid and effortless one as well. His acceleration allows him to join the rush, and his passing will bring a solid transition game to any team he's on."

Seabrook has tremendous offensive upside. He is a great passer and is a versatile power play quarterback as well. 

With Seabrook being offensive-minded, and Keith being defensive-minded, you can count on a shutdown shift and maybe a few good scoring opportunities whenever these two are on the ice together.

1. Dan Boyle and Brent Burns: San Jose Sharks

Since we haven't seen Brent Burns play in a Shark uniform yet, we don't know who he will be playing with. But there is a good chance that we will see him pair up with Dan Boyle, making this the most potent and dangerous defensive pairing in the NHL. 

There is no doubt that Dan Boyle's presence makes everyone a better player on the ice. Ever since joining the Sharks in 2008, Boyle has blossomed into a trusted, offensive-minded defensemen. Patrick Marleau has had several career years since 2008, and Joe Thornton is dishing out assists like crazy. Boyle's uncanny ability to see the ice, analyze the situation and then make the best play that benefits his team has been well documented. However, what the Sharks have been lacking is that second offensive-minded defenseman, that 1-2 punch that would blow opponents away.

They got that with Burns, who plays a similar game to Boyle. Burns notched 17 goals last year, more than any defenseman on the Sharks. If matched up on a defensive pairing with Boyle, these two could go on to have career years. Can you imagine a power play with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Martin Havlat, with Burns and Boyle at the point positions? Just thinking about it gives me the chills. 

There is no doubt that the duo of Brent Burns and Dan Boyle make up the best defensive pairing in all of hockey.