NHL Preview: Who are the top defensemen going into 2023/2024?

While goalies and wing players tend to get the most acclaim from NHL fans, there’s a case to be made that defensemen have the most important role on the ice. They have the ability to help goalkeepers out in a major way, and start fast breaks heading the other way. As the start of the 2023 NHL season beckons, let’s take a look at the top players at the position.

Starting with the defending Norris Trophy winner awarded for the top defenseman in the league seems appropriate. 2022-2023 was something of a resurgent campaign for Karlsson, who had won the Norris Trophy in 2012 and 2015 for the Ottawa Senators. He was hampered by injuries for a few years before playing in all 82 games last season.

Many thought that Makar would automatically win the Norris Trophy every year for the next decade considering how fast the start to his NHL career has been. He captured the honor two years ago, and has also won a Stanley Cup. At just 24 years old, Makar has the potential to become one of the best players to ever skate.

Fox is something of a local hero in his market, as the New York native has been a force since he entered the league with the Rangers. He took home the Norris trophy three years ago, and is supremely adept at outlet passes to setup scoring chances for his teammates. There’s a chance that Fox could have his sweater in the rafters at Madison Square Garden one day.

Prior to last season, Morrisey was an unheralded player who didn’t get acclaim for the work he put in for the Jets. His blocking and hit metrics have been solid for a while, which represents his willingness to put his body on the line. In 2022-2023 he doubled his career high in points, which got him some attention for the Norris award.

The Bruins had a sensational regular season last year, receiving contributions from up and down their roster. Lindholm’s performance was no exception, as he put together a campaign that saw him lead the league in plus/minus. Simply put, good things happened with Lindholm on the ice, and Boston is hoping for more of the same this season.

Hedman’s body of work speaks for itself. He’s spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning two Stanley Cups, a Norris Trophy in 2018 and a Conn Smythe Trophy in 2020. His consistency over the better part of a decade and a half can sometimes be taken for granted, but his impact is respected throughout the league.

Lindholm received the most recognition for his exploits in Boston last year, but McAvoy was also a strong performer on the backline. There’s no reason why the pair can’t replicate what they did in 2022-2023, as both players are firmly in the prime of their career. McAvoy tied his career high with 131 blocks last year.

Josi has one Norris Trophy honor to his name, capturing the honor in the 2020 campaign. The longtime Nashville Predator is entering his age 33 season, but has shown no signs of reticence when it comes to mixing it up with the opposing team. Josi has been named to All-Star team twice in his career.