NHL Player Power Rankings: Top 50 Defensemen Under 25 Years Old
By Ryan Ritchie
NHL Player Power Rankings: Top 50 Defensemen Under 25 (50-41)
50. Trevor van Riemsdyk, Chicago Blackhawks (24 years old) 1991-07-24
van Riemsdyk plays a no-frills, defense-first style — using his size and positioning to support his partner and prevent scoring chances. He displayed puck moving ability and playmaking at the junior and college levels so there could be some upside in that area. The strength of his game at the pro level to this point has been responsible play in his own end of the rink. [Hockey’s Future]
Younger brother of Maple Leafs F James van Riemsdyk, Trevor was signed as a college free agent in March 2014 from the University of New Hampshire. He was a near point-per-game player over his last two seasons playing in college’s hockey tough H-East division.
He missed significant time in 2014-15 and split games between Chicago and AHL Rockford. He had three assists in eight contests of AHL action, followed by one assists in 18 games with Chicago. He also played in four postseason games for the Blackhawks. Earning full-time duties in 2015-16, van Riemsdyk has emerged on Chicago’s back-end, gradually earning more ice-time as the season progresses. He’s got three goals and six assists in 62 games so far.
49. Josh Manson, Anaheim Ducks (24 years old) 1991-10-07
Manson attended his first training camp with the Ducks before being assigned to Anaheim AHL affiliate Norfolk at the start of the 2014-15 season. He was re-called at the end of October and saw significant ice time in 18 NHL games with Anaheim before being returned to the Admirals in December. Manson has some offensive skills and a likes to shoot the puck from the point but his calling card at the pro level is likely to be his physicality and willingness to engage opponents. Long-term he projects as a lower pairing defenseman at the NHL level. [Hockey’s Future]
Son of former NHLer Dave Manson, Josh was selected 160th overall (6th round) in 2011. He is a converted forward who made the switch to defense. After being drafted, Josh spent the next three seasons at Northeastern University (H-East).
After a short nine game stint, and playoff run with AHL Norfolk in 2013-14, Manson began his pro career in 2014-15. He split time between Norfolk and Anaheim, appearing in 36 games (nine points) for the Admirals. He had three assists in 28 games with the Ducks.
In 2015-16, Manson has nine points in 48 games so far. Widely regarded as a stay-at-home defenseman, Manson is more of a physical presence. Long-term, Manson makes for a quality bottom pair defender that can log extra minutes for stretches of time.
48. Eric Gelinas, New Jersey Devils (24 years old) 1991-05-08
Gelinas is blessed with a tantalizing size/skill combination. There is still a little bit of rawness to his game, much of which can be traced to the fact that he is a converted forward. A strong skating, mobile defenseman, Gelinas loves to lead the rush up the ice and involve himself in the play offensively. He also has a bomb of a slap-shot. His defense and physical play is still a work in progress, but after his first pro season, he showed significant improvement in both of those areas. [Hockey’s Future]
After being selected 54th overall (2nd round) back in 2009, Gelinas spent the next two seasons with three different QMJHL teams (Lewiston, Chicoutimi, Saint John). He was producing slightly below a point-per-game pace from the back-end his last year of junior.
He made the jump to AHL Albany is 2011-12, posting 37 points in 75 games as a rookie defender.
Injuries derailed his 2012-13 sophomore season, only appearing in 57 games, with 22 points for Albany. He made his NHL debut, playing one game for New Jersey during the lock-out shortened season.
He spent most of 2013-14 with the big club, posting 29 points in 60 games his NHL rookie season. During his 2014-15 sophomore campaign, Gelinas appeared in 61 games, tallying 19 points. So far in 2015-16, Eric Gelinas has six points in 34 games.
47. Viktor Svedberg, Chicago Blackhawks (24 years old) 1991-05-24
A giant with incredible reach. Svedberg is among the very largest players in Swedish hockey today. A two-way defenseman in the Swedish junior league, but likely to develop into a more defensive minded type of player in the future. Skating and mobility is not impressive, but not as bad as someone would expect for a player of his large stature. He has average hockey sense, but decent enough positioning. Plays the body to some extent, but gets penalized a bit too much. A project that could turn out well if he continues to work on his mobility. Pretty active stick. [Elite Prospects]
After two and a half years of AHL service down in Rockford, the big 6’8 238lbs Swedish defenseman made his NHL debut this season. Since, he’s got four points in 18 games with the Blackhawks.
46. Ben Chiarot, Winnipeg Jets (24 years old) 1991-05-09
Chiarot has prototypical NHL size with the willingness to play a physical game. He has some offensive elements to his game but that is not the strength of his game. Chiarot has improved his positional play in his three seasons of pro hockey and was one of the better defensemen for St. John’s in the AHL playoffs. He will take inopportune penalties at times but his rugged nature fits in well with the tough-to-play-against mentality in the Jets organization. [Hockey’s Future]
Taken 120th overall (4th round) back in 2009 from OHL’s Guelph Storm. Chiarot didn’t produce much offensively, even back in junior. He’s always been more of a stay-at-home defenseman, who plays a physical style. Chiarot plays with that gritty edge the Jets organization identifies itself with. He’ll never be the type of player to tear up a scoresheet, but that’s a fair trade-off for what he offers defensively. Chiarot has six points in 47 games so far, adding 28 penalty minutes.
45. Simon Despres, Anaheim Ducks (24 years old) 1991-07-27
Simon Despres was one of the top rated draft-eligible North American skaters going into the 2008-09 season but injured his hip in December and played on it through the season as well as at the World U18s, causing his draft stock to plummet.
Despres possesses a blend of size and swift, fluid skating ability that makes him a special defensive player. He is also very unique in the sense that while his overall upside is largely unknown, particularly on the offensive side of the puck. [Hockey’s Future]
After being selected 30th overall by Pittsburgh back in 2009, and spending roughly three and a half seasons in the Penguins organization, Despres was shipped to Anaheim at last year’s deadline in exchange for D Ben Lovejoy (in what can only be called a very strange deal). He posted six points in 16 games after joining the Ducks, adding another seven in 16 postseason games. He’s struggled to stay healthy in 2015-16, and only has two points in 16 contests so far.
44. Mark Pysyk, Buffalo Sabres (24 years old) 1992-01-11
A defenseman with excellent skating and speed. Not very large. Smart on the ice. Has a decent shot. Lacks size, strength and physicality. (Matias Strozyk) http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=23154
The first ever draft pick of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Mark Pysyk was chosen in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.
Pysyk’s greatest strength is his ability to skate with the puck and make smart plays with it. Pysyk is not flashy, but he routinely makes excellent first passes and possesses a high hockey IQ. Even though Pysyk leans towards the more offensive side of the game, he does not have a good enough shot to quarterback the first unit powerplay. [Hockey’s Future]
Taken 23rd overall back in 2010, Pysyk is in his 4th year of pro hockey, joining the Sabres full-time in 2015-16. He has four assists in 33 games, and joins fellow blueliners Rasmus Ristolainen and Jake McCabe as the future wave on Buffalo’s back-end.
43. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes (21 years old) 1994-05-01
Slavin is a rangy, smooth-skating puckmover who can contribute in both ends of the ice. He proved to be an elite point producer in two seasons at Colorado College, leading the team in scoring as a freshman and earning all-conference first-team honors as a sophomore. Slavin played for Team USA at the 2014 World Junior Championships. [Hockey’s Future]
After being selected 120th overall (4th round) back in 2012 from USHL’s Chicago Steel, Slavin spent one more year in the USHL before playing his next two seasons with Colorado College. It only took seven points in 14 games of AHL service in 2015-16 before making his NHL debut. 13 points and 42 games later – Slavin locked down a full-time NHL roster spot.
42. Alex Petrovic, Florida Panthers (23 years old) 1992-03-03
He does not have some of the offensive instincts and high level skills of some of the other young defensemen with the Panthers but his size and willingness to take care of things in his own end should compliment those players. Petrovic projects as a valuable two-way defender and a core player on the Florida blue line. [Hockey’s Future]
Petrovic was selected 36th overall back in 2010 from WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. He’s in 4th season of pro hockey in 2015-16, and is bouncing back nicely after dealing with concussion issues. He’s managed to stay healthy this season, appearing in 46 games so far, adding 10 points.
More puck prose: NHL Trade Deadline: Top 15 Available Options
41. Brian Dumoulin, Pittsburgh Penguins (24 years old) 1991-09-06
Dumoulin is a big, smooth skating defenseman who is good at moving the puck. He is not overly physical for his size, but will use his large frame to protect the puck and help win battles in the corners and along the boards. He is a competent shot-blocker and is also good at retrieving the puck and starting the breakout. Dumoulin possesses a lot of natural talent, so it’s a matter of playing confidently and making smart decisions on a consistent basis. [Hockey’s Future]
Originally selected 51st overall (2nd round) by Carolina back in 2009, Dumoulin was eventually traded to Pittsburgh as part of the Jordan Staal deal. After three years playing with Boston College, Dumoulin joined AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton full-time back in 2012-13. He’s since playing in his 4th year of pro hockey, earning a full-time NHL roster spot in 2015-16. He has 12 assists in 58 games so far.
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