Rank these young defensemen

[jshed2]

League Details: 32 team Dynasty, 81.5M Salary Cap, Start 3C, 6W, 3F, 6D, 2G, 3 Bench, 27 Minors
Skaters: G=5, A=3, D-PTS=1 (in addition), SHP=2, FOW=0.1 SOG/HITS/BLKS=0.5
Goalies: W=6, SHO=6, SV=0.3, GA=-1.5, OTL=3

How would you rank the following for this year?

Fox
Valimaki
Hronek
Sandin
Boqvist
Jokiharju
Smith
Fabbro

All seem to have a similar high end upside, so I'm more concerned with who sticks and succeeds in the NHL for this season

[mounD]

Hronek is the clear choice from this list for the short term. Nobody else has as clear a path to meaningful deployment and PP minutes.

[forsbergfan]

Hronek is the clear choice from this list for the short term. Nobody else has as clear a path to meaningful deployment and PP minutes.

I agree that Hronek is the clear choice for next year (and only next year), but I wouldn't totally discount Valimaki. He's already in the NHL so you never know what could happen. He definitely has the ability.
Poor Jokiharju, a few days ago he would have been at the top of this list! Now he's the Sabres' number 5 dman.

[VintageVibe]

For this season I'd go:

Hronek - 35+ pt potential
...
Fox - 25+ pt potential
Jokiharju - 20+ pt potential
Valimaki - 20+ pt potential

[mounD]

I agree that Hronek is the clear choice for next year (and only next year), but I wouldn't totally discount Valimaki. He's already in the NHL so you never know what could happen. He definitely has the ability.
Poor Jokiharju, a few days ago he would have been at the top of this list! Now he's the Sabres' number 5 dman.

Even if Jokiharju was still on the Hawks, I would still have Hronek ahead of everyone else on this list for next season. Sure, a few of these guys have significant upside in the future, but Hronek is the only guy who is even going to sniff PP1 minutes next season. Fantasy success, especially for defensemen, is so tied in with deployment that he's the only guy in whom I'm reasonably confident for the upcoming season. He's arguably already near the top of the pecking order for PP minutes, even before the inevitable Mike Green injury.

Nobody else is even remotely in the same neighborhood for proximity to PP minutes. Maybe Valimaki or Fox if everything breaks right in their favor, but it's still really unlikely. Hronek played a good chunk of PP1 down the stretch last year, and finished at 23 points in 46 NHL games. As far as a long-term ranking goes ... your guess is as good as mine, but Hronek is the man for next season.

[Eskimo Brother]

I'll add to the above that it looks like Fabbro will be sticking for the year, likely getting second pairing minutes. He played as the 5th Dman in the playoffs, and was part of the reason Poile felt comfortable enough to deal Subban. I'd expect some ups and downs, but something like 25 points in 75 games, mostly on the second pairing with Ekholm.

[Axeman33]

For me, for this upcoming season, the only three on that list I am even confident with that will play a regular role will be Hronek, Valimaki and Fabbro. Thats how I'd have them ranked for this year as well.