The best future defenses... what changes would you make to this list?

[tinyzombies]

What changes would you make and which teams will have the best groups of Dmen over the next five years?

(*-I've added the * next to those that are able to add big name FA's and I've capitalized all the No. 1's or the potential No. 1's)

ANA: Salei, Sauer, Vishnevski, Popovic, Mottau
ATL: COBURN, Exelby, Nikulin, Foster, Enstrom, Kaberle, Kloucek
BOS: JILLSON, BOYNTON, Stuart, Girard, Gill, Jonsson, Jurcina, Morrisonn, Kutlak, Alberts
BUFF: Campbell, Kalinin, McKee, Tallinder, Janik
CAR: Malec, Richmond, St-Jacques, Wallin
CBS: KLESLA, Aaron Johnson, Kosmachev, Tollefsen, Walser
CGY: LYDMAN, LEOPOLD, PHANEUF, Regehr, Gauthier, Ramholt, Ference, Warrener, Commodore
CHI: BABCHUK, SEABROOK, McCarthy, Kukkonen, Dempsey, Keith, Barinka, Barkunov
*COL: MORRIS, Liles, Skoula, Skrastins, Ballard, Slovak, Boychuk, Viitanen, Liffiton
DAL: Boucher, Daley, Vagner, Erskine, Jancevski
*DET: Hatcher, Fischer, Kronwall, Dandenault, Blatek
EDM: BREWER, SEMENOV, Smith, Woywitka, Lynch, Greene, B. Allen
FLO: BOUWMEESTER, Krajicek, Novak, Van Ryn, Mezei
LA: Visnovsky, Grebeshkov, Gleason, Rome, Modry, Corvo
MINN: Kuba, Mitchell, Schultz, Zyuzin, Heid, Michalek
MTL: SOURAY, MARKOV, Komisarek, Hainsey, Korneev, Rivet, Korpikari, Archer
NASH: HAMHUIS, SUTER, Eaton, Zidlicky, Klein, Stehlik, Timonen
NJ: NIEDERMEYER, Rafalski, Hale, Martin, White, DeMarchi, Kadeykin, Uchevatov
NYI: HAMRLIK, Aucoin, Tukio, Stonkus, Holub, Gervais
*NYR: Tyutin, Poti, Pisa
OTT: CHARA, REDDEN, Volchenkov, Phillips, Rachunek
*PHI: PITKANEN, Johnsson, Seidenberg, Korovkin, Vandermeer
PHO: TANABE, MARA, Suchy, Vaananen, Spiller, Knyazev
PITT: Orpik, Whitney, Welch, Rozsival, Tarnstrom, Melichar, Nemec, Lupaschuk, Bissonnette, Schneider, Fernholm
SJ: STUART, McLaren, Rathje, Hannan, Ehrhoff
*STL: PRONGER, Jackman, Belle, Walker, Backman, Salvador
TB: Boyle, Kubina, Sarich, Lukowich, Holmqvist, Kudroc, Decair, Van Hoof, Egener
*TOR: KABERLE, COLAIACOVO, McCabe, Pilar, Berg, Hedin, Kondratiev, Bell, Harrison, Kronwall, White
VAN: JOVONOVSKI, OHLUND, Sopel, Allen, Koltsov
WAS: GONCHAR, Witt, Eminger, Yonkman

Click to read more...

 

[Dave is a killer]

NASH: Suter, Hamhuis, Timonen, Eaton/Schnabel

 

[leafaholix*]

Toronto...

Out: Richard Jackman
In: Pierre Hedin, Jay Harrison, or Brendan Bell

 

[Ensane]

Viitanen and Liffiton for Colorado.

And lets just skip the part about best future forward lines.

Half of the list is decently compiled, but half of it is just downright silly. I mean, um, Hatcher?

 

[leafaholix*]

Safranov is with Nashville.

 

[zoidberg]

Calgary- add Ference, and if Gonchar is in, add Warrener.

 

[Dr GLU]

For the Stars, there aren't any I think you could conceivably add without sounding overly optimistic at this point. Mostly because they were mid to late picks this past year, and it's hard to tell what to think the year after the draft. Also, Jancevski has developed slowly, but has been excellent for Utah this year...but that's only the AHL.

But out of those questionable guys, the possibilities to add are:

Dan Jancevski
Matt Nickerson
Drew Bagnall

 

[dem]

Take out Smith on Edmonton
maybe add Matt Greene

 

[tinyzombies]

Ok, I've made the updates. Thanks for input. Anything else?

 

[leafaholix*]

Possibly Tobias Enstrom with Atlanta.

 

[leafaholix*]

Tomas Kloucek went to Atlanta in the Safranov deal.

 

[tinyzombies]

Anyone want to comment on the No. 1's or potential No. 1's?

 

[leafaholix*]

Mattias Weinhandl is a forward.

Toronto...

Add: Staffan Kronwall, Ian White

Bryan McCabe is the #1 defenseman on the Leafs.

 

[tinyzombies]

Mattias Weinhandl is a forward.

Toronto...

Add: Staffan Kronwall, Ian White

Bryan McCabe is the #1 defenseman on the Leafs.

I'm talking a legit #1. Who can become a legit #1, not a de facto #1. I'll take it that you meant McCabe is legit, so it's in there.

 

[cybresabre]

for barfalo I wouldn't have Campbell's name capitalized.

 

[leafaholix*]

I'd also add Aki Berg... he's only 26.

Wow... the Leafs have a lot of defensemen.

BTW... it's Kondratiev.

 

[JSmith81x]

What changes would you make and which teams will have the best groups of Dmen over the next five years?

CHI: MCCARTHY, Kukkonen, Babchuk, Seabrook, Dempsey, Keith, Barinka, Barkunov

Steve McCarthy will not be a #1; maybe a #2 or #3. Anton Babchuk and Brent Seabrook are much better choices for future #1 defensemen.

 

[tinyzombies]

So it looks like the best D's of the near-future will be the following?

BOS: JILSON, BOYNTON, Gill, Stuart, Jonsson, Jurcina, Morrisonn
CHI: BABCHUK, SEABROOK, McCarthy, Kukkonen, Dempsey, Keith, Barinka, Barkunov
*DET: Hatcher, Fischer, Kronwall, Dandenault, Blatek
EDM: BREWER, SEMENOV, Smith, Woywitka, Pisa, Staios, Lynch, Greene
FLO: BOUWMEESTER, Krajicek, Novak, Van Ryn, Mezei
MTL: SOURAY, MARKOV, Komisarek, Hainsey, Korneev, Rivet, Korpikari, Archer
NASH: HAMHUIS, SUTER, Timonen, Eaton/Schnabel, Safranov
NJ: NIEDERMEYER, Rafalski, White, Hale, Martin, Kadeykin
OTT: Chara, REDDEN, Philips, Volchenkov, Rachunek
*STL: PRONGER, Jackman, Belle, Walker, Backman, Salvador
TB: Boyle, Kubina, Sarich, Lukowich, Holmqvist, Kudroc, Decair, Van Hoof, Egener
*TOR: MCCABE, KABERLE, COLAIACOVO, Pilar, Berg, Hedin, Kondratiev, Bell, Harrison, Kronwall, White
VAN: JOVONOVSKI, OHLUND, Sopel, Allen, Koltsov

If this is true, looks like the Original Six will be revived... finally.

 

[Gwyddbwyll]

I think maybe you should reduce some of the prospects out of caps. I dont think it looks good to have Colaiacovo capitalized when so many good D prospects arent. There's also a big difference between prospects yet to establish themselves and good young D already playing in the NHL.

Tanabe is now on Phoenix and doing pretty well. I think you'd have to say he and Mara both have potential to be No.1s.

Chara should be considered a No.1 guy.

Calgary is stronger than they look on the list.. Lydman and Leopold IMO are candidates to break out into a top dman. Phaneuf and Ramholt are both stud prospects.

Also what makes a No.1 dman? Minutes played? Points scored? Orpik may never be a No.1 dman because he is a defensive dman like guys like Foote Norstrom or Vaananen who I wouldnt consider No.1s.

 

[Strizzi]

SJ: Stuart, Rathje, Hannan, Ehrhoff

I think you should add McLaren and capitalize Stuart. This will be a nice group in a couple of years for sure.

 

[tinyzombies]

I think maybe you should reduce some of the prospects out of caps. I dont think it looks good to have Colaiacovo capitalized when so many good D prospects arent. There's also a big difference between prospects yet to establish themselves and good young D already playing in the NHL.

Tanabe is now on Phoenix and doing pretty well. I think you'd have to say he and Mara both have potential to be No.1s.

Chara should be considered a No.1 guy.

Calgary is stronger than they look on the list.. Lydman and Leopold IMO are candidates to break out into a top dman. Phaneuf and Ramholt are both stud prospects.

Also what makes a No.1 dman? Minutes played? Points scored? Orpik may never be a No.1 dman because he is a defensive dman like guys like Foote Norstrom or Vaananen who I wouldnt consider No.1s.

Yep, great points. The whole point is to combine guys in teh NHL right now with the future so we can develop a fake picture of the next five years that we can ***** about (or I can).

I made mistakes with the Sharks that I will fix as well.

 

[nomorekids]

i don't think timonen or schnabel will be around for nashville in say, four years. my list looks more like

hamhuis, suter, eaton, zidlicky, klein, stehlik

 

[dragonwyck]

What changes would you make and which teams will have the best groups of Dmen over the next five years?

(*-I've added the * next to those that are able to add big name FA's and I've capitalized all the No. 1's or the potential No. 1's)

ANA: Salei, Sauer, Vishnevski, Popovic, Mottau
ATL: COBURN, Exelby, Nikulin, Foster, Enstrom, Kaberle, Kloucek
BOS: JILSON, BOYNTON, Gill, Stuart, Jonsson, Jurcina, Morrisonn
BUFF: Campbell, Kalinin, McKee, Tallinder, Janik
CAR: Malec, Richmond, St-Jacques, Wallin
CBS: KLESLA, Aaron Johnson, Kosmachev, Tollefsen, Walser
CGY: LYDMAN, LEOPOLD, Regehr, Gauthier, Phaneuf, Ramholt, Ference, Warrener
CHI: BABCHUK, SEABROOK, McCarthy, Kukkonen, Dempsey, Keith, Barinka, Barkunov
*COL: MORRIS, Liles, Skoula, Skrastins, Ballard, Slovak, Boychuk, Viitanen, Liffiton
DAL: Boucher, Daley, Vagner, Erskine, Jancevski
*DET: Hatcher, Fischer, Kronwall, Dandenault, Blatek
EDM: BREWER, SEMENOV, Smith, Woywitka, Pisa, Staios, Lynch, Greene
FLO: BOUWMEESTER, Krajicek, Novak, Van Ryn, Mezei
LA: Visnovsky, Grebeshkov, Gleason, Rome, Modry, Corvo
MINN: Kuba, Mitchell, Schultz, Zyuzin, Heid, Michalek
MTL: SOURAY, MARKOV, Komisarek, Hainsey, Korneev, Rivet, Korpikari, Archer
NASH: HAMHUIS, SUTER, Timonen, Eaton/Schnabel, Safranov
NJ: NIEDERMEYER, Rafalski, White, Hale, Martin, Kadeykin
NYI: HAMRLIK, Aucoin
*NYR: Tyutin, Poti
OTT: CHARA, REDDEN, Philips, Volchenkov, Rachunek
*PHI: PITKANEN, Johnsson, Seidenberg, Korovkin, Vandermeer
PHO: TANABE, MARA, Suchy, Vaananen, Spiller, Knyazev
PITT: Orpik, Rozsival, Whitney, Tarnstrom, Welch, Melichar, Nemec
SJ: STUART, McLaren, Rathje, Hannan, Ehrhoff
*STL: PRONGER, Jackman, Belle, Walker, Backman, Salvador
TB: Boyle, Kubina, Sarich, Lukowich, Holmqvist, Kudroc, Decair, Van Hoof, Egener
*TOR: MCCABE, KABERLE, Colaiacovo, Pilar, Berg, Hedin, Kondratiev, Bell, Harrison, Kronwall, White
VAN: JOVONOVSKI, OHLUND, Sopel, Allen, Koltsov
WAS: GONCHAR, Witt, Eminger, Yonkman

I just have a couple comments about the Blues... Belle definately has the potential to be a #1. By no means am I saying that he will fullfill that potential, but it is definately there. Additionally, based on a few other players that you currently have listed as number 1's or having the potential of being a #1, Jackman should be capitalized.

 

[Tretyak 20]

So it looks like the best D's of the near-future will be the following?

BOS: JILSON, BOYNTON, Gill, Stuart, Jonsson, Jurcina, Morrisonn.

I don't think so much of any of these guys. Plus, Sinden will undoubtedly find some way to screw things up.

CHI: BABCHUK, SEABROOK, McCarthy, Kukkonen, Dempsey, Keith, Barinka, Barkunov.

Babchuk and Dumbsey are over-rated. Keith, Barinka and Barkunov I don't know much about. IMHO the 'Hawks should be lower.

*DET: Hatcher, Fischer, Kronwall, Dandenault, Blatek.

Hatcher won't be worth much 5 yrs from now. Fischer is over-rated, Dandenault is a former forward and the others I don't know.

EDM: BREWER, SEMENOV, Smith, Woywitka, Pisa, Staios, Lynch, Greene.

Great group of D's. I'd leave Staios out though, he's not gonna stay there long. Did EDM re-sign Pisa after the NYR trade?

FLO: BOUWMEESTER, Krajicek, Novak, Van Ryn, Mezei.

Van Ryn is over-rated. The rest are all REALLY good, though.

MTL: SOURAY, MARKOV, Komisarek, Hainsey, Korneev, Rivet, Korpikari, Archer.

Great group of defenders.

NASH: HAMHUIS, SUTER, Timonen, Eaton/Schnabel, Safranov.

Ditto MTL. Add Zidlicky and you've really got a great mobile D corp.

NJ: NIEDERMEYER, Rafalski, White, Hale, Martin, Kadeykin.

Best future D in the NHL. I'm a Devil's fan so I'm a bit biased, but just look at the stats for these guys. Hale/Martin are both future star D's. Niedermayer is a front-runner for the Norris this year. Rafalski is HUGELY under-rated. Add Uchevatov to the mix as a solid 3rd pair guy and the Devils are set.

OTT: Chara, REDDEN, Philips, Volchenkov, Rachunek.

Possibly the 2nd best future NHL D corp.

*STL: PRONGER, Jackman, Belle, Walker, Backman, Salvador.

Good, but alot depends on Pronger's health.

TB: Boyle, Kubina, Sarich, Lukowich, Holmqvist, Kudroc, Decair, Van Hoof, Egener.

I really like Tampa's young D's. Alot of solid guys plus Kubina and Boyle who could be very good in the future.

*TOR: MCCABE, KABERLE, COLAIACOVO, Pilar, Berg, Hedin, Kondratiev, Bell, Harrison, Kronwall, White.

Toronto hasn't had a good D corp in years and won't in the near future. Kaberle is the best, the rest aren't so good.

VAN: JOVONOVSKI, OHLUND, Sopel, Allen, Koltsov.

Jovo is great, and I really like Ohlund and Sopel too. Not so sure about their bottom 3 though.

 

[leafaholix*]

... Toronto hasn't had a good D corp in years and won't in the near future. Kaberle is the best, the rest aren't so good.

Carlo Colaiacovo has developed into a star in the AHL at the age of 20.

In a year, he'll be a regular on the Maple Leafs roster.