Top 10 Defense Prospects in The NHL | Part 1

[@bluechipprospect]

I wasn't gonna do a 2 part video but my editing software ( Davinci Resolve ) keeps crashing when I edit further in the timeline so I cut it short and I'll release a part 2.

[@UnhappyPensFan]

If I can offer any criticism, I'd say that reading out the advanced stats tends to have you lose momentum in the videos. The best part is the game footage accompanied by detailed observations. I think that having the advanced stats on the side while going through the footage and observations would be better and allows you to shine more as a creator. Love the vids anyway though :)

[@bluechipprospect]

Thanks. I’ll try something different next time. Not in part 2 since it’s already recorded but after that. It didn’t feel right, I knew I had to find a different way to approach it but thanks for the tip.

[@Xerxsion]

Nikishin didn’t just have one of the best seasons by an 21 year old defenseman in the KHL, he had THE BEST season by a SKATER under the age of 22 years old. Yes, he even out produced Kirill Kaprizov’s DY+3 season. His offensive production is absolutely unheard of in KHL history for a defenseman anywhere near his age. Last season he finished 3rd all time in scoring for a defenseman of any age, behind 2 players who were around 30 years old. And he’s opened up this season with 5 points in his first 4 games. I would easily take above any other defense prospect right more except Luke Hughes, Jiricek and Nemec. He’s also been nicknamed “Boom” in Russia because he is one of the hardest hitting players in the league, really knows how to use his size well while still being able to put up phenomenal offensive numbers.

[@bluechipprospect]

Like I said to someone in the comments, there’s an argument for any player outside the top 5 to be higher. I’m excited to see what he does this season, I saw him on Monday and he was great as usual. If he keeps this up this season, he will deserve a place in the top 5 top 3 next season. For now, anywhere from 10 to 6 is appropriate for me but I personally prefer the players I ranked higher. For the numbers, unless somebody is lying to me, Kaprizov had a better 19, 20 and 21 year old season with 0.86, 0.87 and 0.89 PPG respectively. Not by much but still better. Also I’m guessing you watched Kaprizov in his time with Ufa and CSKA ? Kaprizov then was the same Kaprizov now. He was dynamite every time he touched the puck. I can’t say the same with Nikishin but I can with Zellweger or Hutson. But If Nikishin hits on both side of the puck, he will be one of the best D in the NHL, I’m just not as confident in his offensive game as I am for others.

[@zydan.1995]

This was exactly what catches my interest. This top 10 defense was really well-done. Congrats!

[@bluechipprospect]

Thanks !! I’m happy you enjoyed.

[@MrDeefleparde]

Good List. In my keeper league I have Hutson, Clarke and I plan on drafting Nikishin early this year. I also have Nemec though not sure if he made your top 4. Future is looking bright!

[@bluechipprospect]

He did make it into my top 5. You’re gonna be loaded on D !!

[@chrisinsley9349]

L Cc Mmdc M mm V C Clc😂ikjjh tn

[@stockey]

Hutson is not great defensively, but he's not the worst, his fantastic offense easily counters his flaws.

[@bluechipprospect]

I agree. Not the worst but certainly not great ! The reason why I have him this high on the list, even over a player like Zellweger who’s about the same size but an elite skater compared to Hutson is because I strongly believe in his offensive abilities. There’s still a lot of work to do for him to have a positive impact in the NHL but I’m sure he’ll get there. He has the brain, the skills and the compete for it.

[@perfectdark287]

where would you put Brock Faber?

[@stephenkocot4119]

Boom Nikiskin is the best !

[@bluechipprospect]

He's a beast ! Could very well be one of the best on this list.

[@vajder1943]

I would take Zelly over Clarke everyday of the week. Hes best skater out of them all and his offensive and hockey IQ is sky high. Yes, he is offensive Dman and you have to pair him with defensive Dman but his elite skating will save him most of the times I think

[@matthewkabel6246]

100% agree, Clarke has a great offensive mind but the skating and defensive inconsistencies put him below Zelly to me. Zelly plays a better two way game then he's given credit for and his playstyle will transition seamlessly to the pros from day 1

[@justinshields3819]

Simon Edvidsson and Axel SandinPellikka should be on the list!

[@bluechipprospect]

Simon Edvisson is in part 2. In other words, he’s in my top 5. For ASP though, I can’t think of any reasonable argument for him in a top 10 outside of "I love the red wings, therefore he’s in my top 10" 😂

[@Ducksduckduck]

Luneau will make this list next year

[@bluechipprospect]

Not impossible but I’d be a bit surprised considering the level of high end talent on defense in the 2024 Draft. We’re a long way from the draft but if projected high talent keep their level of play, it’s gonna be hard for him to crack the top 10. But maybe not that far behind if he can gain a step and a bit more versatility.

[@Ducksduckduck]

@@bluechipprospect what is it that currently holds him back?

[@bluechipprospect]

Mostly skating and defense. I don’t think the skating is as bad as some make it out to be. He excels at using his feet to evade pressure and create misdirections in his own zone to breakout the puck free of pressure but when it comes to defending, he doesn’t have the speed to match attackers, even at the Q level. Meaning that he doesn’t have the ability to control the gap. And even when he does, he lose a lot of momentum when he pivots. Attackers use that as a weapon, fake one way to make him commit in a crossover and blow pass him while he’s stuck pivoting. Also because he’s very offensively inclined, he can get caught too low in the offensive zone and doesn’t have the feet to recover. He forces a lot of play because he has some of the best hands in Q and relies on it a bit too much. Timing issues as well. Not very good at timing his stick to contact with the puck or the stick of the attackers or to put it in passing lanes to force passes away from high danger area. From the game that I’ve seen him play in the last 2 years, most of his offense outside of PP came from the rush. He wasn’t nearly has imaginative in the Offensive zone as the numbers would suggest. With that said, he’s a great puck handler and have the sense to be an effective breakout artist in the NHL. I’m not sure how high in the lineup he’ll play, that remains to be seen but if you have a player like Luneau on the third pair while Mintyukov and Zellweger take the top 4 roles, that would give the Duck a high end puck mover that can move the play forward with ease on every defensive pair. I call that a win !

[@Ducksduckduck]

@@bluechipprospect thanks! Makes sense, I hadn’t really seen a whole lot of scouting reports on him, just highlights and stats.

[@YoungMatt81]

Waiting for Bichsel at #1

[@bluechipprospect]

Lol I hope not. He’d be in the top 10 if the ranking was based on physicality and agression though.

[@mattduckshalos]

Clarke is the one who worries me the most. I really don't like his skating or defense. I'm really skeptical that NHL coaches will have much faith or trust in him.

[@bluechipprospect]

Yeah, I think him and Hutson are the 2 Ds who are the most likely to not reach the level of play that this ranking suggest. They are the players with the most risk attach to their projections but their ceiling is sky high.

[@jomh832]

That your opinion what you think

[@matthewcolitti8456]

reinbacher too low

[@marcussilva4011]

Is this based on potential or how good they are now KK is kinda low IMO he’s a late June b day and has a great frame and has wheels I would put him above mintyukov and zellweger

[@bluechipprospect]

Yes it is based on potential. I think there’s an argument for any player in that ranking to be higher. The gap between players outside the top 5 is pretty thin. I wouldn’t argue with anyone saying Nikishin should be higher than Hutson or Korchinski higher than mintyukov… I ranked them based on my preference and how I think their game translate to the next level but like I said l, the gap between players is very thin.

[@matthewcolitti8456]

Zellweger is nowhere near Reinbacher

[@bluechipprospect]

Oh yeah ? Why ? Zellweger is the closest thing to a Quinn Hughes if Quinn Hughes had a hard shot outside the NHL. Elite skating, elite vision, elite puck skills plus high end competitiveness is a pretty convincing package imo. They are very very different defensemen though so it’s hard to compare. Reinbacher could very well peak at 30-40 maybe 50 points if all the stars align while being a wall defensively, the other one could very well be Quinn Hughes like I said earlier. Now I think the likelihood is higher for Zellweger to reach a hughes type of career than it is for Reinbacher to reach a Devon Toews/Noah Dobson type of career. We’ll see in time I guess.

[@matthewkabel6246]

Respectfully, this is a brutal take