James Tanner: Who Are the Ten Best Defenseman in the NHL?

Thomas Chabot. 22 pts to lead all dmen

Nice list ... Martin Marancin has to above the line also.

Because points determine the best DEFENSEman....

whispers...Sam Girard will be in the conversation in 2 years

Jake Gardiner??????? The fact you mention this cream puff discredits anything you ever say.....EVER! OMFG

Adam Larson burn...
Tanner. Just when you couldn’t possibly do anything dumber, you have to go and pull a stunt like this....








...and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF.

No Trouba or Morrissey, I get it Tanner you have never played ice hockey.

No Trouba or Morrissey, I get it Tanner you have never played ice hockey.
- Leo_Union

There is no way either of those guys could be considered as a top 10, which makes your insult really weird.

Adam Larson burn...
Tanner. Just when you couldn’t possibly do anything dumber, you have to go and pull a stunt like this....








...and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF.
- The_Big_Heen

Love it.

Gardiner has 2 modes. “Awesome” or “giveaway guy”.

He doesnt score 50+ points as a fluke either.

Its just that the odd times he makes a mistake, it looks legendary.

Doesnt happen very often but when it does it sticks out like a sore thumb. Then he goes and scores 2 goals or gets 3-4 assists to make himself feel better. Such a puzzling player.

Defensive defenseman, he is not. Based on that fact, definitely not top 10 in the league but might get paid like one next year.

Gardiner has 2 modes. “Awesome” or “giveaway guy”.

He doesnt score 50+ points as a fluke either.

Its just that the odd times he makes a mistake, it looks legendary.

Doesnt happen very often but when it does it sticks out like a sore thumb. Then he goes and scores 2 goals or gets 3-4 assists to make himself feel better. Such a puzzling player.

Defensive defenseman, he is not. Based on that fact, definitely not top 10 in the league but might get paid like one next year.
- Buggy166

I can’t tell if you like Gardiner or not. If a defenseman rarely mistakes and makes up for them with 2 goals and 3-4 assists, he should be considered a good defenseman. If you look at a lot of Norris winners of the last little while, most of them fit that description.

Hi James,

Since this is all for fun, and lists are stupid, the top 10 dmen currently in my fantasy hockey league are:

1. Burns
2. Rielly
3. Byfuglien
4. Chabot
5. OEL
6. Giordano
7. Josi
8. Subban
9. Letang
10. Hagg

The top 10 from last season are:

1. Hedman
2. Subban
3. Doughty
4. Byfuglien
5. Burns
6. Josi
7. Jones
8. Carlson
9. Dumba
10. Gostisbehere

Gardiner has 2 modes. “Awesome” or “giveaway guy”.

He doesnt score 50+ points as a fluke either.

Its just that the odd times he makes a mistake, it looks legendary.

Doesnt happen very often but when it does it sticks out like a sore thumb. Then he goes and scores 2 goals or gets 3-4 assists to make himself feel better. Such a puzzling player.

Defensive defenseman, he is not. Based on that fact, definitely not top 10 in the league but might get paid like one next year.
- Buggy166

Wasn’t a fluke, but he was handed prime time ice ( with AM ) while Babs was giving Rielly life lessons playing him in the toughest spots. Gardiner has improved though...I’ll give him that.

Erik Karlsson.

Great numbers again this year..-10, best D man.

Wasn’t a fluke, but he was handed prime time ice ( with AM ) while Babs was giving Rielly life lessons playing him in the toughest spots. Gardiner has improved though...I’ll give him that.
- Garnie

Hey, Morning.

Hey, Morning.
- bixll

Mornin!!!!!

Mornin!!!!!
- Garnie

You must be looking for a quite place on HB if you are here.

Gotta love it.
I see the Columbus logo. An article about top defensemen. Start reading without looking at author. Get half way through. “Wtf? Did tanner write this?” Checks author. “Oh another comedy article by tanner”. This is my morning so far. What a great day. Thanks for the light reading.

You must be looking for a quite place on HB if you are here.
- bixll

Always looking for comedy and hot takes.

Always looking for comedy and hot takes.
- Garnie

Well you found the right place..

Erik Karlsson is not playing well defensively, nor scoring points. He hasn't been the same since his heel/foot problem/surgery. I wouldn't include him in the top ten at all these days. Not exactly in order, but only ten is tough to pick! Here are my 20... Erik Karlsson is playing worse than any of these guys, and has been for awhile.

1. Jones
2. Josi
3. Letang
4. Subban
5. Rielly
6. Giordano
7. Burns
8. Doughty
9. Hedman
10. Chabot
11. Werenski
12. Ekholm
13. H. Lindholm
14. OEL
15. Carlson
16. Krug
17. Klingburg
18. Gostisbehere
19. Byfuglien
20. Manson
HR's: Provorov, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Yandle, Ellis, McAvoy, Suter, Dumba.

Erik Karlsson is not playing well defensively, nor scoring points. He hasn't been the same since his heel/foot problem/surgery. I wouldn't include him in the top ten at all these days. Not exactly in order, but only ten is tough to pick! Here are my 20... Erik Karlsson is playing worse than any of these guys, and has been for awhile.

1. Jones
2. Josi
3. Letang
4. Subban
5. Rielly
6. Giordano
7. Burns
8. Doughty
9. Hedman
10. Chabot
11. Werenski
12. Ekholm
13. H. Lindholm
14. OEL
15. Carlson
16. Krug
17. Klingburg
18. Gostisbehere
19. Byfuglien
20. Manson
HR's: Provorov, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Yandle, Ellis, McAvoy, Suter, Dumba.
- quinneroma

We have a winner. I have been saying the same thing, his play has been terrible on the D side since he was hurt. No team is paying him 11 milly at the end of the season.

In no particular order: Doughty, Giordano, Josi, Carlson, Letang, and Subban.