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7. Edmonton Oilers
Justin Schlutz, Ladislav Smid, Nick Schultz, Andrew Ference, Jeff Petry, Anton Belov, Denis Grebeshkov, Corey Potter

After Smid and Petry I have to look really hard to find a defencman that isn't a bottom pairing guy on any other team. Schultz can play the PP but that's about it, Ference is a product of the Bruins' system and the rest, well, I won't even go there.


6. Anaheim Ducks
Cam Fowler, Sheldon Souray, Francois Beauchemin, Bryan Allen, Luca Sbisa, Sami Vantanen, Ben Lovejoy

I honestly don't know how the Ducks had such a good season last year with this patchwork defence. I love the way Sbisa plays and think he is a star on the rise. Beauchemin played way over his head last year and I don't suspect he will do that again, but He's still a real solid player. Fowler has some upside and is a player to watch this season. After those three they have a couple of cast-offs in Allen and Souray who played over their heads as well. I think the Ducks D caught lightning in a bottle and really can't see most of these guys having the same season.


5. Calgary Flames
Dennis Wideman, Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Shane O'Brien, Chris Butler, Kris Russell, Derek Smith

While they aren't as deep as some of the teams, I really like Calgary's top-4 guys. I've always like Giordano and I think he'll bounce back this season. Brodie is emerging as a solid player and Wideman is a good puck-mover. Rounding out the top-4 is one tough SOB. The bottom pair will be an adventure, but they won't play much.


4. San Jose Sharks
Dan Boyle, Brad Stuart, Jason Demers, Justin Braun, Scott Hannan, Matt Irwin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns?

Honestly, I look at this defence on paper and don't see a heck of a lot after the top-3 guys, but they did player very well in the playoffs, so it's not always about what's on paper. The Sharks have a real good mix of young and old guys and I'm curious to see how they play this season. Watch for one of the young guys (Demers, Braun or Irwin) to take that next step this year.


3. Vancouver Canucks
Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Jason Garrison, Yannick Weber, Frank Corrado, Chris Tanev (I suspect he gives in soon)

One of the most steady top-4's in the division, Vancouver has a lot of guys who go quietly unnoticed. Dan Hamhuis might be the most underrated player in the NHL. Alex Edler can score, but is inconsistent. Garrison and Bieksa are solid players. I also believe that Frank Corrado is going to have a stellar rookie year, along the same lines of Jonas Brodin. And with a new coach adding some bite to this group, I think you will be seeing a whole new Canucks D.


2. Los Angeles Kings
Drew Doughty, Slava Voynov, Robyn Regehr, Matt Greene, Jake Muzzin, Jeff Schultz, Alec Martinez, Keaton Ellerby, Willie Mitchell (maybe)

Maybe the deepest group in the division, the Kings have about eight or nine good NHL defenceman on their roster. As much as I don't like Doughty, he is one of better defencman in the NHL and Voynov looks ready to follow in his footsteps. After those two, the Kings have a lot of tough, physical guys, who are not fun to line up against.


1. Phoenix Coyotes
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Keith Yandle, Zbynek Michalek, Rostislav, Klesla, Derek Morris, David Rundblad, Michael Stone, David Schlemko, Brandon Gormley

This is the ranking that might shock people the most, but any team that has the two best defencmen in the division on it I have to rank No. 1. Either one of Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Keith Yandle could be in the running for the Norris this season. After them, the Coyotes have three fairly steady guys in Klesla, Michalek and Morris, with a bunch of young guys waiting to take that next step.



Who do you have 1-7 in terms of D?


Until tomorrow my friends, stay classy

Ian

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