Cale Makar Voted 'Top Defenseman in the Game' in NHLPA Player Poll

For the first time in his career, Cale Makar was voted the 'Top Defenseman in the Game'by his peers in a poll conducted this season which included 626 NHL players from all 32 clubs by the NHL Players Association (NHLPA).

On 63.9% of ballots - or as voted by nearly 400 players - Makar was chosen as the top selection for the blueline position.
While just 24 years old, Makar posted an unprecedented 2021-22 season, which was one of the best for a defenseman in NHL history. The Calgary, Alberta native won the Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup. And as of Nov. 21, 2022, Makar broke yet another NHL record as he became the fastest defenseman to record 200-career points as he achieved the feat in just 195-career games.

MACKINNON NAMED A FINALIST IN THREE CATEGORIES

Nathan MacKinnon was voted as a finalist by his peers in three different categories.
The 27-year-old centerman finished third (8.4%)behind Edmonton's Connor McDavid (59.3%) and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby (11.0%) for the category of, 'In a Must-Win Game, Which Forward Do You Think Would Be Most Impactful?'

MacKinnon also finished third (3.8%) behind Patrick Kane of the New York Rangers (46.1%) and McDavid (28.7%) in the category of, 'Who Is the Best Stickhandler?'

Lastly, MacKinnon placed fifth (4.7%) in voting for the category of 'Who Is the Most Complete Player?' Crosby won the category at 30.1%, Boston's Patrice Bergeron finished in second at 18.8%, Florida's Aleksander Barkov placed in third at 17.1% and McDavid came in fourth at 11.0%.

Complete results of the poll can be found
here
.