Who is the best defenseman right now of this group?

[PensandCaps]

I'd go Seth Jones.

 

[tony d]

Went with Seth Jones.

 

[KingTux]

Jones

 

[Bounces R Way]

Jones/Klingberg is very close. Went with Klingberg just because he's a bit more of an offensive catalyst and his defensive game has IMO taken a big step forward.

Long term I like Provorov to be the best of this group, though Jones and Werenski are going to be a very good duo for a very long time.

 

[WJCJ]

I think I'll say Jones but I think in a year or two Charlie McAvoy is going to be right there too.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Klingberg is so underrated

 

[Doyoulikeapples*]

Rielly , not close.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

OEL or Jones. No one else is really that close

 

[Dion TheFluff]

Rielly , not close.

Dude...

 

[Doyoulikeapples*]

Dude...

Not close.

 

[stevo61]

Not close.

correct, he is not close to Jones

 

[Doyoulikeapples*]

correct, he is not close to Jones

Nobody is close to rielly.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Nobody is close to rielly.

I don’t think it’s fair to Rielly to suggest everyone in this poll is by far better than him.

 

[sparxx87]

Jones.

Surprised OEL has so many votes.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Jones
OEL
Klingberg

Then Provorov and Reilly battle it out for a distant 4th

 

[Kcb12345]

Jones
OEL
Klingberg

Then Provorov and Reilly battle it out for a distant 4th

What puts OEL above Klingberg

 

[Byron Bitz]

What puts OEL above Klingberg

Klingberg was better last season but I prefer OEL’s overall body of work.

 

[HammerTime44]

Jones easily. He's the only one on this list that I would take over Provorov.

 

[stevo61]

Jones/Klingberg is very close. Went with Klingberg just because he's a bit more of an offensive catalyst and his defensive game has IMO taken a big step forward.

Long term I like Provorov to be the best of this group, though Jones and Werenski are going to be a very good duo for a very long time.

Is Klingberg really more of a catalyst though? I think you have to consider the fact Dallas has a stacked top line with 70-80 point players and 30-40 goal scorers where aside from Panarin, Jones has nothing like that to work with. Next year if Columbus' top line continues to grow and finish better Jones assist totals will get a big boost. For reference Jones was the 2nd highest point total in Columbus, 9 points clear of 3rd

 

[Bounces R Way]

Is Klingberg really more of a catalyst though? I think you have to consider the fact Dallas has a stacked top line with 70-80 point players and 30-40 goal scorers where aside from Panarin, Jones has nothing like that to work with. Next year if Columbus' top line continues to grow and finish better Jones assist totals will get a big boost. For reference Jones was the 2nd highest point total in Columbus, 9 points clear of 3rd

Fair points for sure. Considering Klingberg has been at least a 40pt defender every year he has been in the league and has a career .71ppg compared to Jones' .46, I think you can comfortably call him more of an offensive catalyst. At least at this point in their careers.

I realize this kind of unfairly penalizes Jones for being good enough to play in the NHL in a bottom pairing role at the age of 18, but the difference is significant enough to consider it anyway. Also as far as the eye test is concerned I often see Klingberg leading and joining the rush and he might be top 3 in the league at walking the blue line and finding the open man on the PP. Truly is one of the more adept blueliners in the OZ. It's not that these facets are not in Jones' game, they certainly are, I just happen to think Klingberg is better at them.

 

[Shad]

Klingberg

 

[Brock Radunske]

Too many options IMO but I went with Jones.

 

[McCoy]

McAvoy
Weber
Doughty
P Lindholm
Ekman-Larsson
Vatanen

 

[Spirit of 67]

Seth Jones.

Easily.

 

[93LEAFS]

Jones. He's become a bonafide top 10 defender in the league.