Best defensive defenseman in 2019 draft?

[Kanneda]

Who'd you consider the best or top 5 D-men in terms of defensive capabilities, shot suppression, etc.?
How'd you rank guys like Byram, Broberg, Soderstrom, Seider, York, Heinola, Harley, etc.?

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[780il]

I'd say it's something like this:

Seider
Soderstrom
Byram/York
Broberg
Harley/Heinola

I haven't really paid much attention to dmen this year though (Oilers desperately need forwards). So I'm probably wrong.

 

[Petterssonic]

I’d have Seider at the very top quite easily.

 

[Llamamoto]

Yeah, I would say Seider.

 

[PuckProspects]

Seider not very close

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I'd say it's something like this:

Seider/Soderstrom
Byram/York
Heinola
Harley/Broberg

I haven't really paid much attention to dmen this year though (Oilers desperately need forwards). So I'm probably wrong.

Switch Broberg and Heinola, and I agree.

 

[Castle8130]

Seider has an almost NHL level defensive game already, then Soderstrom is a couple tiers down from that. There really aren't that many pure defensemen in this draft besides Seider.

 

[57special]

How about Robertson?

 

[Kevin Musto]

In terms of ability to defend, probably something like this:

1. Seider
2. Robertson
3. Byram
4. Soderstrom
5. Johnson
6. Bjornfot
7. York
8. Heinola
9. Broberg
10. Kolyachonok/Misyul/Knyazev/Thomson

 

[Frk It]

I think Korczak and Vlasic project nicely as shutdown guys.

 

[Siludin]

On the subject of defensive defensemen, I was listening to a radio clip in Vancouver and a pundit with a Boston accent was on talking about this very subject, and Ryan Johnson's name came up as a potential riser in this d-class:
Ryan Johnson at eliteprospects.com

Edit: sorry just saw you mentioned him

In terms of ability to defend, probably something like this:

1. Seider
2. Robertson
3. Byram
4. Soderstrom
5. Johnson
6. Bjornfot
7. York
8. Heinola
9. Broberg
10. Kolyachonok/Misyul/Knyazev/Thomson

 

[Castle8130]

On the subject of defensive defensemen, I was listening to a radio clip in Vancouver and a pundit with a Boston accent was on talking about this very subject, and Ryan Johnson's name came up as a potential riser in this d-class:
Ryan Johnson at eliteprospects.com

Edit: sorry just saw you mentioned him

I really wish there was video on this kid to analyze. He was a highly touted prospect and didn't put up point/game numbers this season, so he didn't get talked about much.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

How about Robertson?

Thats his real strength isn't it. I like him as a prospect because he is more of a defensive d man that has good mobility.

 

[Siludin]

I really wish there was video on this kid to analyze. He was a highly touted prospect and didn't put up point/game numbers this season, so he didn't get talked about much.

Well for the record in the particular radio clip, the interviewee was saying that Johnson was responsible for shutting down Podkolzin in the World Jr A challenge in the match(es) between the USA/Russia.
That might be a good place to start if there is video available
Game Summaries | 2018 World Junior A Challenge

 

[AB13]

These aren't pure defensive defensemen, this is only based on ability to defend.

Söderström
Seider
Broberg
Byram
Björnfot
Robertson
Heinola
Kokkonen
Vlasic
York

 

[Mandala]

Is there a future for defensive defensemen in today's NHL? Puck moving is becoming so important.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Is there a future for defensive defensemen in today's NHL? Puck moving is becoming so important.

I still think there is room. Being a defensive defenseman doesn't automatically mean you can't move the puck... Every defenseman has to be able to win races for the puck .. win 1 on 1 puck battles and make a good controlled exit 1st pass under pressure. Not many D can do it all .

 

[tsujimoto74]

Is there a future for defensive defensemen in today's NHL? Puck moving is becoming so important.

Being able to defend will always be important. Can't move the puck if you don't have it.

 

[VictorLustig]

Not sure why people put Söderström so high on these lists. He's not bad in his own end and in a couple of years he could be great. But surely there has to be quite a few ones better than him right now? Björnfot is one.

 

[cowgirlcath]

Not sure why people put Söderström so high on these lists. He's not bad in his own end and in a couple of years he could be great. But surely there has to be quite a few ones better than him right now? Björnfot is one.

I agree 100%

 

[lakai17]

Is there a future for defensive defensemen in today's NHL? Puck moving is becoming so important.

The finals this year have the odd one that are impacts.

 

[Kairi Zaide]

Is there a future for defensive defensemen in today's NHL? Puck moving is becoming so important.

It's not that there is not a future for defensive defensemen. It's more that the nature of defensive defensemen has changed. It isn't about d-men can just block shots and hit hard anymore.

 

[lakai17]

I'd throw Knyazev in the top 10.

 

[Breakers]

I remember seeing the numbers tracked for the U18's. It showed the numbers for Vlasic.

Dead last by a fair margin in controlled exits, he prefers glass and out or just icing it.
But he is very good and defending entries into his own zone as he uses his tree trunk of a stick to force dump ins which was best on the team.
really poor at moving the puck,
great at clearing the net , and breaking up cycles.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I remember seeing the numbers tracked for the U18's. It showed the numbers for Vlasic.

Dead last by a fair margin in controlled exits, he prefers glass and out or just icing it.
But he is very good and defending entries into his own zone as he uses his tree trunk of a stick to force dump ins which was best on the team.
really poor at moving the puck,
great at clearing the net , and breaking up cycles.

He's awful defending in transition, but isn't bad when already in his own zone.