NHL Player Power Rankings: Top 50 Defensemen Under 25 Years Old
By Ryan Ritchie
NHL Player Power Rankings: Top 50 Defensemen Under 25 (40-31)
40. Klas Dahlbeck, Arizona Coyotes (24 years old) 1991-07-06
A defensive minded and very solid defenseman. Dahlbeck has good size, plays with nice determination and has good positioning. Does not contribute much offensively, but thanks to his smarts in his own end and his simple play, he is quite valuable for any team. [Elite Prospects]
This 6’3 207lbs Swedish defenseman was originally selected 79th overall (3rd round) by Chicago back in 2011. After two and a half seasons with AHL Rockford, Dahlbeck made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks, appearing in four games before being dealt at last year’s deadline. He was shipped to Arizona in exchange for Antoine Vermette. Following the trade, Dahlbeck appeared in 19 games, tallying three helpers. Earning full-time NHL duties in 2015-16, Dahlbeck has six points in 52 games so far.
39. Jake McCabe, Buffalo Sabres (22 years old) 1993-10-12
McCabe thinks the game remarkably well for a young player. He has excellent vision and anticipates/follows the play quite well. While his decision-making does need to improve, it should come with development and maturity. What makes McCabe so effective in defensive situations are his stick work and grit. McCabe is a strong skater who has good agility and moves well both north-south and laterally. [Hockey’s Future]
Taken 44th overall (2nd round) back in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin. He spent the next two seasons playing college hockey before joining the Sabres for a seven game stint in 2013-14. He suited up for AHL Rochester in 2014-15, producing 29 points in 57 games – also appearing in two NHL games for Buffalo. Earning full-time NHL duties in 2015-16, McCabe is part of a trio of young Sabres defenders that look to be the future core pieces. He has 11 points in 55 games so far.
38. Nikita Nesterov, Tampa Bay Lightning (22 years old) 1993-03-28
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Nesterov made his NHL debut with Tampa Bay at the end of December after opening the 2014-15 season with Lightning AHL affiliate Syracuse. He has steadily earned the trust of Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper and the coaching staff and was seeing ice time during the 2015 NHL playoffs. Long-term Nesterov has the skating ability and exuberance to see a more consistent role at the NHL level. His positional game should improve with experience and is a key to him reaching his potential. [Hockey’s Future]
This 5’11 191lbs Russian defender was selected 148th overall (5th round) back in 2011. After spending the next two seasons in the KHL, Nesterov joined AHL Syracuse back in 2013-14 – producing 16 points in 54 games.
He split time between the AHL and NHL in 2014-15, producing seven points in 27 games with Tampa Bay, adding four points in 10 games with Syracuse. He added six points in 17 playoff games during Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup final run. He’s seen a bit of time in the AHL in 2015-16 – now with the big club, Nesterov has seven points in 37 games.
37. Brett Pesce, Carolina Hurricanes (21 years old) 1994-11-15
Pesce was a do-everything number-one defender at UNH, combining size and skill to play in every situation for the Wildcats. Pesce is not a big-time scorer (37 points in 72 collegiate games the past two seasons), but he is a capable puck mover who can also hold his own in the defensive end. [Hockey’s Future]
Selected 66th overall (3rd round) back in 2013, Pesce made his pro appearance as a 20-year-old in a four game stint with AHL Charlotte last season. After producing three points in three games to open 2015-16 with the Checkers, his performance prompted a call-up from the Hurricanes. He’s since appeared in 48 games, adding 14 points.
Between Justin Faulk, Noah Nanifin, Brett Pesce, Jaccob Slavin, Ryan Murphy, Haydn Fleury, Roland McKeown, among others – Carolina promises to boast one of the NHL’s top defensive groups for years to come.
36. Erik Gudbranson, Florida Panthers (24 years old) 1992-01-07
A large defenseman with good leadership skills. Has a great shot. Gives a good opening pass and works hard in all three zones. A good skater considering his size. Could improve his physicality. [Matias Strozyk]
Taken 3rd overall back in 2010, Gudbranson was a highly touted defensive prospect. One of the CHL’s best defenders at the time – he’s never been known to light up the scoresheet. He’s best regarded for his play without the puck, and figures to be a core piece of the Panthers for the next decade or so. Playing in his fifth NHL season, Gudbranson has six points in 51 games, plus four (+4) with 38 penalty minutes.
35. Nate Schmidt, Washington Capitals (24 years old) 1991-07-16
Schmidt’s game screams “solid yet unspectacular”. He has decent size at 6’0, and 195, but plays a quality defensive game, controlling gaps and isolating opposing players away from the net. He is not physical by any sense of the imagination, but will play the body when necessary. Schmidt is a smooth skater and shows strong offensive tools, though does not necessarily qualify as a “puck-moving” defenseman. He plays a quiet, solid all-around game. [Hockey’s Future]
He spent three years at the University of Minnesota after going undrafted. Eventually signed as a college free agent, Schmidt’s spent much of the last three seasons bouncing between the AHL and NHL. He earned a full-time roster spot with Washington in 2015-16, and is playing extremely well, logging decent minutes. He has 14 points in 54 games so far this season.
34. Connor Murphy, Arizona Coyotes (22 years old) 1993-03-26
A rangy blueliner who is a very mobile skater, Murphy is still growing into his size and high potential. He is a smooth skater who gets around the ice and plays a smart, confident game with and without the puck. Plays with some good physicality and is very effective with a long reach and wing span. [Hockey’s Future]
After being selected 20th overall back in 2011, Murphy transferred from USA Hockey to join OHL’s Sarnia Sting for the next two seasons. He split his first year of pro between Portland and Arizona (Phoenix), producing eight points in 30 games in his NHL rookie season. Murphy earned full-time duties in 2014-15, tallying seven points in 73 games. So far in 2015-16, he has 12 points in 56 games, while logging bigger minutes, assuming a larger role.
33. Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders (24 years old) 1991-05-09
de Haan is a solid defenseman who makes an excellent first pass and runs the power play. De Haan’s greatest attribute is his outstanding skating. His fluid stride and quick feet allow him to play sound positional defense — and make up for any mistakes he may make. [Hockey’s Future]
Selected 12th overall back in 2009 from OHL’s Oshawa Generals, de Haan spent two more years in junior before joining AHL Bridgeport in 2011-12.
After splitting the 2013-14 season between Bridgeport and New York, de Haan went on to earn full-time NHL duties in 2014-15 – appearing in 65 games, producing 12 points. So far in 2015-16, he has nine points in 51 games.
32. Nathan Beaulieu, Montreal Canadiens (23 years old) 1992-12-05
A defenseman with fast, strong skating. Moves the puck well and is very useful as a playmaker on the powerplay. Has a strong shot and good vision. Uses his stick well defensively and can be physical, when needed. [Matias Strozyk]
Taken 17th overall back in 2011 from QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs as a highly productive CHL blueliner. He also posted an eye-popping plus-128 (+128) in three seasons with Saint John between 2009-10 and 2011-12. Impressive, but worth noting they were one of the CHL’s best teams over that period.
He appeared in 64 games for Montreal in 2014-15, tallying nine points. Beaulieu had 17 points in 56 games before going down with a recent injury.
More puck prose: 2016 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Rounds 1-3
31. Shea Theodore, Anaheim Ducks (20 years old) 1995-08-03
Theodore is a high-level offensive defenseman. He specializes in power play situations and is a smooth and agile skater. He has a very accurate and hard shot, and has been a dangerous point man at the junior level. His defensive zone play and physicality could improve but Theodore possesses good intelligence of the game and a very appealing offensive skill set. [Hockey’s Future]
Taken 26th overall back in 2013 from WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, Theodore was an extremely productive CHL defender. He posted 79 points in 70 games during the 2013-14 season, adding 48 points in 43 games in 2014-15.
Theodore began the 2015-16 campaign with AHL San Diego, but enjoyed a nice 13-game stint with Anaheim, tallying six points. He’s since been demoted to the AHL. He’s got 22 points in 36 games with San Diego.
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