LCS Hockey Player Ratings: Top Defensemen

LCS Hockey Top Rated Defensemen
By Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

Chris Chelios

1. Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks: Chelios has established permanent residence at the top of our charts. Brian Leetch had a great season last year and claimed his second Norris Trophy, but he still can't touch Chelios. The Chicago captain is simply the best there is. He's always in total command when he's on the ice. And that's saying something considering he plays close to 40 minutes a game, including going the distance during special-teams situations. Defensively, Chelios is positively perfect in his positioning and coverage. He's a living instructional video on how to play the position. He can also put up the points, boasting a slap shot that hovers around the 100mph mark. And when things get ugly, well, chances are Chelios started it. He's the best. What more can you say?
2. Brian Leetch, New York Rangers: Brian Leetch is good. Well, that's enough. Let's keep the big show rollin'...
3. Sandis Ozolinsh, Colorado Avalanche: The most exciting defenseman in hockey was up to his old tricks last season, leading all defensemen in goals (23) and finishing second in points (68). You just never know what's going to happen when the loopy Latvian is on the ice. One shift he'll get abused by a Junior-A deke for a goal, and then the next time out he'll weave his way through everybody and deposit one of his own.

Sandis Ozolinsh

Ozolinsh really isn't as inept on defense as most people would have you think. He's actually quite solid when he wants to be, even dishing out some booming checks and getting involved physically. It's just that when he makes mistakes, he makes them in a big way. Most of the problems are rooted in his decision making. Ozolinsh loves to gamble. There's nothing he won't try with the puck. And he can think up some crazy stuff. It doesn't always work, but you have to admire his creativity and courage to try. Luckily, Ozolinsh plays for a great coach in Marc Crawford that gives him the freedom to play his game. Under anyone else's watch, Sandis would probably be spending a lot of his time at the end of a bench. The best thing to do with Ozolinsh is cut him loose and enjoy the show. You never really know what's going to happen, but one thing's for sure... it's going to be some quality entertainment.
4. Vladimir Konstantinov, Detroit Red Wings: Considering his current condition, it's pretty hard to write something about Konstantinov. Everyone at LCS: Guide to Hockey is hoping that he makes a full and speedy recovery. He remains in all our thoughts. We decided to keep him in the top ten because of our tremendous respect and admiration for him as a player. He was, and is, a truly great defenseman.
5. Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins: Try to find the pattern in the following four items. Bob Dole. The Great Wall of China. Dirt. Ray Bourque. The connection? The things in this list all get progressively older.
Yes, good ol' Ray Bourque will turn 37 this season, proving once again that senior citizens can still contribute to society. Aw, we're just kidding. We like to kid Ray Bourque because, well, we know there's not a chance in hell he reads LCS: Guide to Hockey. Ray is clearly starting to slow down. He got off to a terrible start last season, but actually began picking it up as the year went along. Even with a late season ankle injury that limited him to just 62 games, Bourque still put up 19 goals and 50 points. That's not bad at all, especially considering how pitiful offensive production was last season in the NHL.
Bourque still has all the offensive skills. He's a tremendous shooter. He could skim the icing off a birthday cake at 60 feet. I don't even know what that means. But I do know that Bourque is a paper-plate hittin' mother at All-Star games and he's even more deadly accurate during live action. And we're not talkin' some little sissy shot, either. When Bourque brings it, he brings it with bad intentions.
Oddly enough, it's defensively where Bourque is starting to show his age. Granted, he doesn't exactly have much help these days in Boston, but that's no excuse for the number of times he's given up the puck or been beaten one-on-one the past few years. He might of dropped to sixth on our list, but he's still Ray Bourque. That should count for something. Besides, we were always taught to humor the elderly. Oh relax, it's just a joke...
6. Robert Svehla, Florida Panthers: Svehla is the best kept secret in the NHL. Most people outside of South Florida don't even know he exists. It's their loss.
Svehla can do it all. Everything about the guy is top notch. He has some of the best skills of any defenseman in the league. His skating is exceptional, allowing him to cruise all over the ice without ever getting caught out of position. He moves the puck with tremendous confidence. His passes are crisp, accurate, and varied. When it comes to shooting, few can match Svehla's bomb from the point.
With so much talent for the finer things in life, it would only be natural for Svehla to have some defensive weaknesses. Well, guess again, Clyde. Svehla is as good as they come in his defensive coverage. He's just so smart back there, he makes it all look effortless. That's probably why more people don't notice him, he makes it look too easy. He's really like a Slovakian Chris Chelios. He doesn't have Chelios' mean streak, but Svehla is plenty gritty. He'll mix it up.
It's really about time more people start to notice the greatness of Robert Svehla. We're talking about a guy that should be a serious Norris Trophy candidate this coming season. So to all you people in Florida, put down the damn rats and pick up a phone. Start calling the ignorant and spread the good word of Svehla.
7. Adam Foote, Colorado Avalanche: Aggressive is the one word that best describes Foote. He's absolutely brutal to play against. Every second he's on the ice, Foote is hacking, whacking, or roughin' up somebody. He's only 6'1", 202, which isn't very big these days in the NHL, but he doesn't back down from anyone. Foote doesn't care how big somebody is, he's gonna mess him up. And he's going to do it with a snarl on his face and a song in his heart. The best thing about Foote's intensity is that it's a controlled aggression, and not reckless abandon. He doesn't just fly around taking needless penalties. It's all kept in the confines of his normal, air-tight defensive game. Sure, he'll flip out on occasion, but hey, you gotta keep 'em honest.
Foote dominates on the penalty kill and at even-strength. And while he's never scored more than 21 points in a season, Foote has enough skill to play the point on Colorado's second power- play unit when needed and he moves the puck extremely well. He won't win any style points for his skating, but he gets around faster than most.
Right now, Adam Foote is the best defensive defenseman in the game of hockey. That may sound strong, but it's true. And if you don't agree, you can tell Foote yourself. Just make sure you do it from a safe distance.

Derian Hatcher

8. Derian Hatcher, Dallas Stars: He's no longer the "other" Hatcher. While big brother Kevin continues to flounder in mediocrity, Derian has emerged as one of the game's best young defensemen while playing deep in the heart of Texas. The 25-year-old is a rock along the blue line for the Dallas Stars. He won't score many points, his career high is 31 (1993- 94, 1995-96), but that's not his game. Hatcher is all about playing hard-nosed, physical defense. The 6'5", 225-pound behemoth is a monster in front of the net and will punish opponents all over the ice. He hits hard and clean. If someone doesn't like it, Derian's not scared to drop the gloves and go. He had five fighting majors last season and can throw like a champ. But Derian doesn't sacrifice any intelligence for muscle. He's a smart defender first and a banger second.
What really distinguishes Hatcher from other young defensemen is his maturity. He's been the captain of the Stars for the past two seasons and displays his leadership on a nightly basis, playing almost every other shift at even-strength and often taking the full two minutes during penalty kills. It's just too bad Hatcher wasn't around back in the day. Davey Crockett could have used him at the Alamo.
9. Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues: Okay, so he still may not be as good as Brendan Shanahan, but at least that trade isn't looking as one-sided these days. Pronger carries an unbelievable workload for the Blues. He spends more time on ice than Walt Disney. If he's not out there than it must be intermission. With the possible exception of Chris Chelios, Pronger has to play more than any other skater in the NHL. And when he's out there he's takin' care of business.
Pronger's size is his biggest asset. At 6'5", 210, it's hard to miss the 23-year-old former first-round pick of the Mighty Whale. With his gigantic wingspan, it seems he can go from the left boards to the right in about two strides. When he first broke into the league he took a lot of grief, he still wasn't physically mature and seemed awkward. But now he's grown into his massive frame and there's hell to pay. Pronger is a force. His offensive production is on a slow but steady rise. He posted career highs last season in goals (11) and points (35) while also finishing at a career best +15. If he keeps improving at his current pace, it won't be long before people in St. Louis start asking "Brendan who?"
10. Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils: Stevens has dropped like a rock in the rankings over the past few seasons. He was rated as high as third back in 1995, now he finds himself all the way down at number ten. That doesn't mean we don't like the guy, because we still love ourselves some Scott Stevens. The reason for his rapid descent is that he quit scoring. Stevens is still strong in his own end, although he did seem a bit more susceptible this past year. And it deserves mentioning that it was Stevens that was beaten behind the net by Adam Graves for the OT series-clinching goal versus the Rangers. But hey, even Picasso spilled some paint.

Scott Stevens

Stevens is still an all around cool guy. There's no one we like to see deal out punishing checks more than the El Diablo captain. He's a bad man. But to climb back up in the rankings, he's going to have to produce some points. Otherwise, younger aggressive defensemen like Adam Foote, Chris Pronger, and Derian Hatcher, who all in some way seem cut from the Stevens mold, are going to get the nod.
Stevens' best year in the NHL came in 1993-94 when he recorded an impressive 18 goals and 68 points. Now see that's good stuff. Unfortunately, his numbers have fallen every year since. This past season he bottomed out with an embarrassing five goals and 24 points. Ouch. In reflecting on Stevens' scoring woes, I decided to express my feelings as only I can. Yes, that's right... through Haiku. This is what I came up with:

Stevens used to score;
Hell, he used to score a lot;
Why won't you score, Scott?
Thank you. Thank you very much. My book of inspirational Haikus, entitled "Haikus? I Got Your Haikus Right Here", can be found at better book stores everywhere. I'm currently working on a collection of off-color limericks that should be ready in time for the holidays. It'll make a great stocking stuffer.
11. Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia Flyers: There's nothing flashy about Desjardins. He doesn't do any one thing better than the rest, he just does everything exceptionally well. He's got swell mobility, moves the puck well, owns a hard shot, is always responsible in his own zone, and is probably the best poke-checker in all of hockey. Beating Desjardins one-on- one is quite the chore. He's extremely patient defensively and rarely makes a mistake in positioning. He won't steamroll anybody, but he uses the body with great effectiveness. There's just no real weaknesses in his game. His consistent presence back on the blue line for Philadelphia makes him one of the most valuable players in the league. The Flyers would be mud without Desjardins.
12. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings: Lidstrom continues to be a quiet star for the Red Wings. No one ever really talks about the guy, but he's one of the league's elite. While not fast, Lidstrom is a smooth skater that gets around better than most. He's confident with the puck and can head man it like a champ. But his best weapon on offense is his slap shot. There isn't anyone more dangerous from the point. He's like a Swedish U-boat out there, firing torpedoes on net. Every shot is low and hard, perfect for deflections yet strong enough to score clean. And he's the best among defensemen at one-timing his shot, making it all the more difficult for goaltenders to control. Lidstrom is extremely sound defensively. He'll make his share of mistakes, but on the whole he's a super fantastic defenseman. That's right, super fantastic... live with it. The only reason Lidstrom doesn't rate higher on our list is that he's a little too passive to compete with the guys ahead of him. Plus, Detroit's team concept on defense makes it the easiest job in the league for blueliners. So unless you go around thumping people like Konstantinov, it's tough to earn fame.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues: Big Daddy Mac just keeps on truckin'. His offensive production of 13 goals and 43 points was down a little last season, but he's still a vital member of the St. Louis Blues. Not only did the 34-year-old somehow muster enough stamina to play 30 minutes each night, he also continued his role as mentor for the impressionable Chris Pronger. Mac's just a wily veteran in every sense of the word. He's about as agile as a three-legged moose, but he always positions himself in the right place at the right time. His intelligence as a defenseman often gets overlooked, though, since his slap shot is still the main attraction. Even when he doesn't score with it, he can still scare the hell out of people. Owning a shot that inspires fear is always a good thing.
Steve Duchesne, St. Louis Blues: Igor Kravchuk is nice and all, I mean he's a steady defenseman that can help out in the laboratory, but he's no Steve Duchesne. The Senators will rue the day they sent Duchesne packing back to St. Louis. The 32-year-old Quebec native will be making his second tour of duty with the Blues this season, after scoring 24 goals and 69 points in 83 games with the club between 1993 and 1995.
Duchesne is coming off an exceptional year with Ottawa that saw him compile 19 goals and 47 points while helping the Senators into the playoffs for the first time in their history. He was a mission man down the stretch for the Sens, scoring 13 of his goals in the second half of the season. He can play in all situations and excels at the point on the power play, where his precise passing and heavy shot run the show. Duchesne is also a good leader in the room. His absence was one of the main reasons why the promising Nordique squad of 1992-93 collapsed so miserably the following year. A lot of people forget about him, but Duchesne is still one of the game's best scorers from the back line.
MOVIN' ON UP
Oleg Tverdovsky, Phoenix Coyotes: It seems most young defensemen have breakout years in their third season. Oleg followed that pattern to perfection, finishing fourth among NHL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 55 points in 82 games. And there's no reason those numbers shouldn't continue to rise in the future. Tverdovsky, still just 21, is a marvelous skater that can cover a whole mess of ice. He's usually paired with LCS favorite Teppo Numminen to make up Phoenix's top defensive pairing in even-strength and short-handed situations. When the desert dogs head to the power play, Oleg routinely logs the entire two minutes at the point, finishing last season with the third-most power-play assists (27) in the league. With as much ice time as he gets, Tverdovsky is a lock for some big-time production.

Janne Niinimaa

Janne Niinimaa, Philadelphia Flyers: Niinimaa first came to our attention during the World Cup, where he starred along the blue line for Finland. After seeing him do his stuff with Team Vowel, we had no doubt that he'd be an impact player in the NHL. He got off to a slow start with the Flyers, but once Paul Coffey arrived to show him the ropes, Niinimaa took off. He's a tremendous overall defenseman, combining excellent mobility with good puck skills and the poise of a seasoned veteran. He didn't win the NHL's award, but Niinimaa did claim LCS: Guide to Hockey Rookie of the Year honors. We don't have the budget of the NHL, so our trophy isn't quite as flashy... it's pretty much just an old aluminum can nailed to a broken piece of plywood. But it cleans up real nice.
Bryan Berard, New York Islanders: Berard didn't disappoint in his first pro season, collecting eight goals and 48 points while playing in all 82 games for the Islanders. He even walked away with the Calder Trophy for his trouble. Berard has the potential to one day develop into a point-per-game defenseman. Barring a sophomore slump, expect to see him in the 15-goal, 65-point neighborhood this coming season. And that's a nice neighborhood...
NOW I GOT WORRY
Paul Coffey, Philadelphia Flyers: Coffey leads off a trio of aging, offensive stars that seem to be running on empty. The Doctor had only nine goals and 34 points in 57 games last season with the Red Wings and Flyers. Those numbers dropped even more in the postseason, where Coffey was good for only one goal and nine points in 17 contests, while finishing at a -3. At 36, age and the nagging injuries that go along with it are finally starting to slow down the greatest skater in NHL history. Coffey just doesn't seem to have the same pep on his shot or hop in his step.
He remains a four-time Cup champion and a valuable leader in the room. It's no coincidence that the Flyers made the jump to the Finals in Coffey's first year. He also has the knack of turning good young defensemen into great ones. It was under Coffey's tutelage that Rob Blake, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Janne Niinimaa all became standouts. Coffey is a living legend, but the days of him being a dominant point producer appear to be over.
Phil Housley, Washington Capitals: What the hell is Housley doing on the Washington Capitals? He just does not belong in the Atlantic Division. He should be out in San Jose or Anaheim. Go West, young man... or old man, whatever the case may be. Housley, 33, was a big-time bust in his first year with the Caps, scoring a shabby 11 goals and 40 points in 77 games. That equals a .52 points-per-game average, which was the lowest of his career. Housley's too small and passive to compete in the East. Although, if he does hang with Washington, his numbers will undoubtedly rise this season with the Caps since new coach Ron Wilson is going to turn that pack of underachievers into a powerhouse.
Larry Murphy, Detroit Red Wings: Murph had an incredible postseason with the Red Wings in claiming his third Stanley Cup. His strength remains his intelligence and veteran composure with the puck. Murphy never gets rushed into a mistake. Of course, that could just be because he's too damn slow to be rushed into anything. "Stationary" Larry has always been slower than a tax refund, but nowadays if he gets any slower he'd start moving backwards. Luckily, Detroit is the perfect place for a 36-year-old mobility-impaired blueliner. The Wings' and their vaunted Left Wing Lock are the best in the league at protecting their defensemen from oncoming forecheckers. That alone should allow Murphy to hang on for at least one or two more seasons.
WHICH WAY DO I GO, GEORGE?
Rob Blake, Los Angeles Kings: Let's see, the Scarecrow wanted a brain. The Tin Man wanted a heart. And Rob Blake needed a groin. Blake was well on his way to becoming one of the top five defensemen in the league before chronic groin injuries crippled his promising career. In 1993-94, Blake played in all 84 games and scored 20 goals and 68 points. All was right with the world. Then things got ugly. Blake was limited to 24 games during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign, and followed that up by making only six games in 1995-96. He made a strong comeback early last season, but it wasn't long before he was in and out of the lineup with the usual groin problems. Even when he did play, he was a shadow of his former self, going for eight goals and 31 points in 62 games and finishing at a team worst - 28. If he could get healthy, Blake would be a great one. But one more injury-plagued season could close the book on him.
Roman Hamrlik, Tampa Bay Lightning: In the words of Ralph Kramden, "You, Hamrlik, are a mental case." If this kid was any loopier, Tucan Sam would be trying to stuff him into a box of cereal. There isn't another player around that can go from being a dominant force to a pathetic joke as quickly has the 23-year-old Czech. Hamrlik had just 12 goals and 40 points in 79 games last season, marking a painful 25-point drop off from the season before. His plus-minus also dropped to new depths, plummeting to a ludicrous -29. This is one guy who seems to be in serious need of a scenery change. Don't be surprised to see him end up in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have more Czechs than the United Nations.
Jeff Brown, Carolina Hurricanes: A three-time former 20-goal scorer, Brown used to be one of the best. But now he's trying to return from back surgery that kept him on the shelf for all but one game in 1996-97. Brown's future is on the line this season. Speaking of lines, how could Jacksonville not beat Baltimore by three points? The Ravens blow. Hell, I could pick off Testaverde. And while Vinnie did throw three interceptions to help the cause, what the hell was he doin' throwin' three touchdowns? Just two more damn points and I've got mad cash. Thanks, Vinnie... thanks a lot. So anyway, yeah, Jeff Brown blah blah blah.