Ranking the top two-way NHL defensemen is a difficult challenge to take on. It's extremely hard to give value to all the statistics available when judging the defensive component of a blueliner's game. The offense is easy, and plenty of the league's top scorers make this list.
In order to be considered a two-way player, though, there needs to be more than just 50-point potential. We've come to realize shot blocks and plus-minus are all relative. Blocking pucks means you don't have it in your possession, and keeping it away from an opponent is a critical part of playing good defense in today's NHL.
Being a strong possession player who can skate quickly enough to recover from rushes or mistakes is a trait you'll notice for many of the following players. They are also intelligent students of the game who are constantly learning. Their bodies and stick positioning make them difficult to beat in one-on-one battles. And for some, there is a physical edge that offers a great deal of value in defending.
A track record of winning battles against the game's best forwards goes a long way toward pushing some of these names up the list. There wi ...
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Article written by Steve Macfarlane
Ranking the 10 Best 2-Way Defensemen in the NHL for 2016-17 Season
August 27th, 2016 by Steve Macfarlane Leave a reply »
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