Think of it this way -- the only forwards who play 20+ minute per game are your superstars -- your McDavids and Matthews and Crosbys. But the average second-pairing NHL defender plays over 20 minutes per game -- at a position where the slightest screw up leads to a high-danger opportunity against. These are very important players.
"Low-event" defensemen are often looked because they're not sexy. But they can be very effective. I guess I'm the exception because I'll pay great money to watch Brett Pesce play, but I wouldn't take Gostisbehere on my team if he were offered straight up for a 7th round pick with his full salary retained. The argument could be made that Tony DeAngelo cost the Rangers their playoff series vs. Carolina last year -- his low IQ and almost uncannily low compete level were singularly responsible for I think six goals against in a three game sweep. Would the Rangers have won that series had Jake Slavin and Tony DeAngelo switched jerseys? It's quite possible.
I also believe it's a myth that defense can be taught while offense can not be taught. For every Mark Giordano or Zdeno Chara -- an all-defense D who learns how to score at the NHL level -- you need to look very, very hard to find a defender who begins his career as a defensive liability and learns to become even average in that respect. Maybe Keith Yandle? More often than not, they fizzle out very early when their coaches learn they are not improving at all in their own zone and create more chances against than for -- a la Gostisbehere or DeAngelo or our own Will Butcher. Anyone heard from prodigal offensive defenseman Julius Honka in awhile? Derrick Pouliot, anyone?
Jack Bar is a very good hockey player. He's being painfully under-valued by draft analysts right now, but he's got a very high floor and a pretty good ceiling as a mid-pairing, all situations guy. While he's not quite the smothering force that Brock Faber was last year -- which is why I had Faber higher than almost anyone (I think Cam Robinson had me beat, haha). Faber was questioned because, essentially, he was a team-first defender who refused to take stupid chances with the puck -- even though the offensive skills were clearly on display in the right situations. Fast forward to the 2021 WJC -- Faber was downright dominant, one of the best few D-men in the tourney, while more-regarded players like Broberg or or Poirier or Grans were horror shows or left off their rosters completely.
Im no scout but brains and heart are pretty easy to spot when I watch the games. I’m amazed the scouts miss those qualities so often.