Best Defensive Defensemen in the league? Rep.

[2014olympicgold]

Vlasic is the best DD in real hockey. He’s been on that level for a long time too. The obvious guys like Suter, Doughty, and Weber also bring the offensive stats as well as being solid in their own zone, but you couldn’t get them cheaply.

Orpik, McNabb, Larsson, K. Miller (Boston), Connor Murphy (2% owned), or Dahlbeck (0% owned) get a good amount of hits. 2-3/game.

[J0e Th0rnton]

In the literal sense guys who control the puck the most are the best defensive defensemen in the league

*Shrugs*
He plays errorless defense, ala Lidstrom without the offense. Always makes the correct play and is terrific at retrieving and transitioning the puck the other way. Plays a "Bend, don't break" style that just doesn't stand out, but has long been underrated around the league until Babcock made the rest of the league aware of just how good he is by selecting him for the Olympics.

This year, a new coach has allowed him to show what he can do on the offensive side of the puck and he has done it without sacrificing his perfect defensive play. Ill take it. Best bang for buck contract on the Sharks by a country Mile.

[Goldendelicious]

K. Miller (Boston), Connor Murphy (2% owned), or Dahlbeck (0% owned)

Three great buy-low candidates for next season right there. I would also add Greg Pateryn to that list as well as I think he sticks with the Habs next year and has been a solid presence on the right side for them. Koekkoek in TB would be another solid pick-up now that he's seeing some NHL action.

[Daydream Nation]

In the literal sense, Vlasic is the best defensive defenseman in the league and has been for years. But he is not a fantasy category power by any means

I can definitely get behind Vlasic.

In the literal sense I think it would be the dman you play for the majority of the penalty kill and when protecting the lead with 30 s left.

[Big Ev]

I can definitely get behind Vlasic.

In the literal sense I think it would be the dman you play for the majority of the penalty kill and when protecting the lead with 30 s left.

yeah which should be the guy who controls the puck the most on your team. Otherwise coaches just use big dmen so they get in the way of shots. Not really a skill.

[Laendarian]

with your cats, easily Beauchemin is my pick. huge TOI, huge SHTOI and big numbers for blocked shots.

[Eskimo Brother]

Wideman should be undervalued going into next season. Guys like Barrett Jackman, Mark Stuart and Roman Polak are always undervalued for the amount of hits/blocks they brink. Mark Borowiecki has been running away with hits categories all year. Gudas is one that most here on the forums know as a Dobber favourite, and he has been earning some more trust from Hakstol based on his recent play.

[chuckcouples]

From a who's the best defensive dmen in the NHL perspective as opposed to who's going to help your fantasy team the most based on the stats, here are my top 5.

Drew Doughty
Marc Edouard Vlasic
Chris Tanev
Hampus Lindholm
Justin Braun

[hockeymanG23]

For those cats my top 3 would be

Beauchemin who takes it by a good stretch

Girardi/Alzner

[RizzeeDizzee]

with your cats, easily Beauchemin is my pick. huge TOI, huge SHTOI and big numbers for blocked shots.

This. Beauch and Pietrangelo are the only two d-men this season to get 25+ minutes of total ice time with 3+ minutes of that being on the PK. And Pietrangelo will be valued too high.

Other decent guys this season with over 20:00 per game and 3:00 PK are Matt Hunwick (22:33 overall, 3:42 PK), Andy Greene (23:03, 3:24), Erik Gundbranson (20:05, 3:15).

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

yeah which should be the guy who controls the puck the most on your team. Otherwise coaches just use big dmen so they get in the way of shots. Not really a skill.

You want to say Erik Karlsson, just say it.

[tgraveline]

I came in here to mention Vlasic as well. His ice-time is usually pretty high.

[nickchau2000]

based on what your describing for stats, esp you pointing out TOI, PK time and Shots blocked, another very under the radar would be Chris Tanev