Can Makar make it four straight years<\/a> as the league\u2019s #1 defenseman? Where does polarizing talent Evan Bouchard fit among the game\u2019s best? How high will blossoming defenders Thomas Harley and Jake Sanderson ascend after statement seasons? We\u2019re ranking the top 40 defensemen, debating the #1 spot, analyzing the surprises, and highlighting the biggest movers in the NHL\u2019s positional pecking order.<\/p>\n Part two of our three-part series by position: the top 40 defensemen in the NHL today.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd5b High Noon Background<\/p>\n Before we begin, here\u2019s a reminder on the methodology. Originally a Hall of Fame tool, you can read about High Noon\u2019s mechanics in this original post<\/a>. It uses a weighted three-year average: 2024-25 counts 50% of a player\u2019s score; 2023-24 gets one-third (33%); 2022-23 is one-sixth (17%). The split allows a long-range view of performance. One great season won\u2019t rank a player among the game\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n Here is some additional background on the approach:<\/p>\n By leveraging point shares, the High Noon system is driven by box score stats, not advanced data. The rankings reflect production over process.<\/p>\n The methodology does not project. The rankings cover what a player has done, not what they might do. If a 23-year-old and 36-year-old perform similarly over three seasons, they will rank similarly.<\/p>\n Goals are more valuable than assists, having a more direct impact on scoring overall.<\/p>\n Players are broadly assigned credit for a team\u2019s defense using ice time and team-relative plus-minus.<\/p>\n Playoffs aren\u2019t factored, as post-season opportunities are too arbitrary and team dependent.<\/p>\n Players that haven\u2019t played half the schedule each of the last three seasons are included but are penalized. Each season\u2019s divisor is 41 games. In previous versions, players needed to participate in three seasons to be eligible. That\u2019s since changed. Rookies now enter the rankings in their debut seasons and gradually build a score, which becomes complete after three full seasons.<\/p>\n Despite the word \u2018defense\u2019 being in the name of a defenseman\u2019s job, contract values, Norris Trophy voting, and Hall of Fame inductions more heavily reward offense. This methodology also favors offensive defensemen, which fairly or not, aligns with how the public tends to tier the position\u2019s best.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc51 The Top 40<\/p>\n How to Read the Rankings: Roman Josi\u2019s score in the High Noon system below is 8.7, ranking him the NHL\u2019s #9 defenseman in 2025. The Change column (-6) shows his drop from #3 to #9 since last summer. Josi\u2019s career peak \u2014 his High Noon \u2014 is #1, the highest he\u2019s been ranked previously (2020).<\/p>\n 1\ufe0f\u20e3 Who\u2019s #1?<\/p>\n That\u2019s four straight years at #1 for Makar. Rarified air. Since expansion, only three other defensemen have kept the crown longer than three consecutive years: Bobby Orr (nine, 1968-1976); Ray Bourque (eight, 1988-1995); and Denis Potvin (five, 1978-1982). Even Nicklas Lidstrom\u2019s legendary dominance was occasionally interrupted in High Noon by one of Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, or Scott Niedermayer.<\/p>\n Over the last two seasons, Makar\u2019s 82-game pace \u2014 27 goals, 68 assists, 95 points, plus-23 \u2014 would be elite for a forward, let alone a defenseman with above-average defensive chops. Hughes, meanwhile, continues to outperform everyone not named Makar. The 2023-24 Norris winner is easily #2 \u2014 his High Noon score a comfortable 2.0 ahead of the rest of the pack. For perspective, Hughes\u2019 gap on #3 Josh Morrissey is wider than Morrissey\u2019s gap on #13 Gustav Forsling.<\/p>\n How about some love for Morrissey? Three years ago, the late bloomer was ranked #62. Now, he\u2019s scored at least 62 points and finished top-seven in Norris balloting for three straight years. His defensive game continues to evolve as a key contributor on the Presidents\u2019 Trophy-winning Jets<\/a>. Fox holds down the #4 spot despite nagging injuries and dysfunction on Broadway hindering his season for stretches. Still, that\u2019s a four-year run in the top five for the underappreciated Fox: #5, #3, #2, #4.<\/p>\n High Noon: Top 3 Defensemen, Last 15 Years<\/p>\n Year #1 (# of times)#2#32011Green (2)VisnovskyChara2012CharaWeberLetang2013LetangKarlssonSubban2014KarlssonLetangSubban2015SubbanKarlssonLetang2016Letang (2)KarlssonBurns2017BurnsKarlssonHedman2018Burns (2)HedmanDoughty2019Burns (3)HedmanGiordano2020JosiCarlsonHamilton2021HamiltonHedmanCarlson2022MakarHedmanJosi2023Makar (2)JosiFox2024Makar (3)FoxJosi2025Makar (4)HughesMorrissey<\/p>\n \u2b06\ufe0f Too High?<\/p>\n Evan Bouchard (#5), Edmonton<\/a>: Bouchard\u2019s net impact continues to be divisive. It shouldn\u2019t be. The 25-year-old is worthy of his first turn in the top five. Bouchard\u2019s aggressive style creates the odd memorable error. Visually, we often prefer \u2018safe\u2019 defensemen. But they quietly create turnovers the old-fashioned way \u2013 by rifling pucks off the glass or firing grenades in forwards\u2019 skates. With Bouchard on the ice, the play overwhelmingly tilts in Edmonton\u2019s favor. Counting the playoffs, he\u2019s plus-68 with 204 points in his last 210 games. The contributions of dynamic players of his unique archetype remain undervalued.<\/p>\n Vince Dunn (#11), Seattle<\/a>: Playing in a newer market for a Kraken team that\u2019s crashed back to reality, Dunn\u2019s subtle stardom hasn\u2019t gotten much light. By missing 43 games over the last two seasons, it\u2019s been even easier to miss Dunn\u2019s elite scoring punch. Since 2022-23, he\u2019s 10th in goals-per-game and 14th in points-per-game among defensemen, quietly producing a 15-goal, 60-point pace despite modest power play success.<\/p>\n Thomas Chabot (#18), Ottawa<\/a>: Was there a more forgotten man than Chabot the last few years? Once an exciting prospect, Chabot was badly over-relied upon in his early 20s, eating huge minutes on helpless teams. He then endured a three-year run of frustrating injuries. But 2024-25 represented redemption. At 28, the longest-serving Senator enjoyed a healthy season on an improving roster. Aided by the emergence of Sanderson, Chabot thrived, hitting 45 points for the first time since 2018-19, and finally seeing postseason hockey nine years into his career.<\/p>\n \u2b07\ufe0f Too Low?<\/p>\n Zach Werenski (#12), Columbus<\/a>: How is the Norris runner-up and seventh-place finisher for the Hart Trophy only the #12 defenseman in hockey? Werenski\u2019s ranking is sure to offend. But let\u2019s walk through why. In the first season of this three-year weighted cycle, Werenski played only 13 games. Season-ending surgery in 2022-23 dropped his ranking to #99 at the time. So, he\u2019s playing catch-up. Werenski was very good in 2023-24, but not the flat-out weapon that dominated last season. This is why multiple seasons are factored \u2014 when career 51-point players suddenly score 82 points, we need to chill. Werenski\u2019s 2024-25 season in isolation was #3 with a score of 11.0, trailing only Makar (15.0) and Hughes (13.1). A strong follow-up and he\u2019ll rocket upward in 2026.<\/p>\n Miro Heiskanen (#17), Dallas<\/a>: Heiskanen remains an offensive and defensive play driver with few equals. But the Stars\u2019 workhorse has dealt with injuries and a significant drop in production. His 82-game point pace fell from 76 to 62 to just 41 last season. Some of the trend relates to puck luck, but Heiskanen is unlikely to see High Noon\u2019s top 10 (or meaningful Norris love) until his counting stats rise again. I\u2019m expecting a Victor Hedman-like career ascent at age 26, projecting him the NHL\u2019s #7 defenseman in 2030<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jaccob Slavin (#36), Carolina<\/a>: What do we want? Justice for Jaccob! When do we want it? Now! Players like Slavin are underrated in High Noon\u2019s methodology, the nuance in his game unseen by traditional stats. He is the rarest of finds \u2014 a defensive savant that plays brutal minutes, kills penalties brilliantly, rarely takes a penalty, and drives five-on-five offense. If the NHL had a Selke for defensemen, Slavin\u2019s reputation might conjure future Hall of Famer Patrice Bergeron\u2019s. But by averaging just nine seconds of power play time last season, Slavin\u2019s 27 points were 71st in the league among defenders. Despite his absence from the scoresheet, Slavin\u2019s analytical profile makes a legitimate case for top-10 status.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc8 Trending Up<\/p>\n Four Biggest Jumps Into the Top 40: 2. Thomas Harley, Dallas: +47 spots (from #62 to #15)<\/p>\n 3. Jake Sanderson, Ottawa: +39 spots (from #70 to #31)<\/p>\n 4. Jake Walman, Edmonton: +34 spots (from #74 to #40)<\/p>\n Four Biggest Jumps Into the Top 80: 2. Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg: +90 spots (from #139 to #49)<\/p>\n 3. Brock Faber, Minnesota<\/a>: +73 spots (from #138 to #65)<\/p>\n 4. Dante Fabbro, Columbus: +45 spots (from #122 to #77)<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcc9 Trending Down<\/p>\n Eight Biggest Drops Among Last Year\u2019s Top 80: 2. Jacob Trouba, Anaheim<\/a>: -83 spots (from #60 to #143)<\/p>\n 3. Timothy Liljegren, San Jose<\/a>: -67 spots (from #68 to #135)<\/p>\n 4. Erik Gustafsson, Detroit<\/a>: -64 spots (from #47 to #111)<\/p>\n 5. Hampus Lindholm, Boston<\/a>: -56 spots (from #25 to #81)<\/p>\n 6. Brandon Carlo, Toronto<\/a>: -45 spots (from #63 to #108)<\/p>\n 7. Tony DeAngelo, NY Islanders<\/a>: -44 spots (from #73 to #117)<\/p>\n 8. Rasmus Andersson, Calgary<\/a>: -41 spots (from #34 to #75)<\/p>\n \u23f3 Young Gun Watch<\/p>\n Players don\u2019t earn a full High Noon score until they play half the schedule in three consecutive seasons. So, recent rookies and sophomores will only have begun their ascents up the ladder. Here\u2019s a check-in on three young, high-profile defensemen who were Calder finalists in the last two seasons.<\/p>\n Luke Hughes (#64), New Jersey: Hughes has been deployed charitably, leading to a career 49-point pace and this generous ranking. Ranking if based on 2024-25 alone: #31<\/p>\n Brock Faber (#65), Minnesota: Unlike Hughes, Faber was forced into heavy, challenging minutes. He took a step backward from his rookie year. Expect a rebound. Ranking if based on 2024-25 alone: #62<\/p>\n Lane Hutson (#99), Montreal<\/a>: Remember, this is a three-season weighted average and Hutson has just one season under his belt. In isolation, the Calder winner\u2019s season scores 8.1. That\u2019s second-best by a rookie defenseman aged 20 or younger in a decade, trailing only Werenski (8.5 in 2016-17). Ranking if based on 2024-25 alone: #18<\/p>\n \ud83d\udca5 Feature Player<\/p>\n Both Charlie McAvoy\u2019s career trajectory and Boston\u2019s relevance are facing crossroads. Door #1? Optimism. Under this scenario, McAvoy\u2019s nightmare season, featuring a serious shoulder injury and scary infection, proves only that\u2026 a nightmare. The Bruins manage to avoid a full rebuild and McAvoy returns to top-10 form. After missing the 4 Nations Face-Off finals, a motivated player comes out hot and plays a central role for U.S. Olympic coach (and father-in-law) Mike Sullivan. Door #2? In this version, Boston\u2019s wasting its time, their competitive window already sealed shut. McAvoy\u2019s solid but unexceptional, the effects of major surgery limiting his game, the days of Norris votes in the past.<\/p>\n Most of the time, we get something in between such extreme outcomes. Here\u2019s hoping McAvoy makes a full recovery and his High Noon arc above swings back north.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for next week\u2019s third and final segment in the 2025 High Noon series: Goaltenders.<\/p>\n Follow\u00a0@AdjustedHockey<\/a>\u00a0on X; visit\u00a0www.adjustedhockey.com<\/a>; data from\u00a0Hockey-Reference<\/a><\/p>\n SPONSORED BY bet365<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\n1. Colton Parayko, St. Louis<\/a>: +48 spots (from #83 to #35)<\/p>\n
\n1. Luke Hughes, New Jersey<\/a>: +104 spots (from #168 to #64)<\/p>\n
\n1. Ryan Graves, Pittsburgh<\/a>: -96 spots (from #77 to #173)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n