Fantasy hockey top 50 defenseman rankings
Most valuable options at position in standard leagues for 2026-27 season
*NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the 2026-27 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.*
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Fantasy categories taken into account for these rankings include goals, assists, power-play points, shots on goal, hits and blocked shots for skaters. Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, defense pairs, power-play usage, injury history or concern, age, contract status and overall upside.
1. Cale Makar, D, COL 2. Quinn Hughes, D, MIN 3. Zach Werenski, D, CBJ 4. Evan Bouchard, D, EDM 5. Lane Hutson, D, MTL 6. Rasmus Dahlin, D, BUF 7. Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI 8. Darren Raddysh, D, TOR 9. Jake Sanderson, D, OTT 10. Jakob Chychrun, D, WSH 11. Moritz Seider, D, DET 12. Adam Fox, D, NYR 13. Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL 14. Jackson LaCombe, D, ANA 15. Erik Karlsson, D, PIT 16. Roman Josi, D, NSH 17. Brock Faber, D, MIN 18. John Carlson, D, TBL 19. Cole Hutson, D, WSH (rookie) 20. Mikhail Sergachev, D, UTA 21. Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS (suspended) 22. Victor Hedman, D, TBL 23. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, CAR 24. Brandt Clarke, D, LAK 25. Noah Dobson, D, MTL 26. Dougie Hamilton, D, NJD 27. Josh Morrissey, D, WPG 28. Shea Theodore, D, VGK 29. Brandon Montour, D, SEA 30. MacKenzie Weegar, D, UTA 31. Bowen Byram, D, CHI 32. Seth Jones, D, FLA 33. Thomas Harley, D, DAL 34. Vince Dunn, D, SEA 35. Philip Broberg, D, STL 36. Filip Hronek, D, VAN 37. Simon Nemec, D, CGY 38. Rasmus Andersson, D, VGK 39. Luke Hughes, D, NJD 40. Mattias Samuelsson, D, BUF 41. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT 42. Jacob Trouba, D, SJS 43. Darnell Nurse, D, SJS 44. Alexander Nikishin, D, CAR 45. Zayne Parekh, D, CGY 46. Justin Faulk, D, DET 47. Sam Malinski, D, COL 48. Sam Rinzel, D, CHI 49. Artyom Levshunov, D, CHI 50. Zeev Buium, D, VAN
Others to consider:
K'Andre Miller, D, CAR Noah Hanifin, D, VGK Colton Parayko, D, STL Logan Mailloux, D, STL Mike Matheson, D, MTL Simon Edvinsson, D, DET Neal Pionk, D, WPG Sean Durzi, D, NYR Nikita Zadorov, F, BOS Carter Yakemchuk, D, OTT (rookie)
Key injury:
Alex Pietrangelo, D, VGK