Follow @james_tanner123 Who are the best defenseman in the NHL? How would we even quantify such a list? Most points? Best Corsi? Best defense? Some unscientific combination of that?
Do you go with current output, recent success or reputation / pedigree?
Probably some combination of that.
Three years ago I wrote a similar argument and came up with this list:
1. Erik karlsson 2. Drew Doughty 3. PK Subban 4. Shea Weber 5. Duncan Keith / Kris Letang
Another time I think I did one that had Jared Spurgeon on it. Once Todd asked me for the hotstove and I said Mattias Ekholm was the best in the West. (This year, give her English Muffins!).
If history has taught us anything, it's that these lists are always pretty stupid. The NHL Network puts out the worst ones, but mine are pretty bad. It all depends on what stats you like, who you watch the most and what you had for breakfast that day.
So for a new tactic, I thought I'd just list a bunch of qualifiers and see if the comments section can come to some kind of consensus.
2018 Potential Top Ten Defenseman in the NHL
Victor Hedman Dougie Hamilton Seth Jones Erik Karlsson
----------- (No debates above this line)
Morgan Rielly (I almost put him above the line, he's pretty clearly the early Norris favorite and has to carry Ron Hainsey around with him wherever he goes). John Klingberg Hampus Lindholm (He should probably be above the line too, but this is a democracy). Josh Manson Mark Giordano PK Subban Mattias Ekholm Ryan Ellis Roman Josi Adam Larsson Hahahahahahhahah Just kidding Ivan Provorov Shane G Oliver Ekman Larsson John Carlsson Brent Burns Drew Doughty Jake Gardiner Colton Parayko Kris Letang Zack Werenski
So: Which six make the cut into the top ten? Who'd I forget?