makar

NHL.com ranks the top 50 fantasy hockey defensemen in standard leagues for the 2026-27 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

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 .Zach Werenski, D, CBJ
3. Quinn Hughes, D, MIN
4. Evan Bouchard, D, EDM
5. Lane Hutson, D, MTL
6. Rasmus Dahlin, D, BUF
7. Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI 
8. Darren Raddysh, D, TBL*
9. Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL
10. Jake Sanderson, D, OTT
11. Adam Fox, D, NYR 
12. Jakob Chychrun, D, WSH
13. Moritz Seider, D, DET
14. Brock Faber, D, MIN
15. Jackson LaCombe, D, ANA
16. Erik Karlsson, D, PIT
17. Cole Hutson, D, WSH (rookie)
18. Roman Josi, D, NSH
19. John Carlson, D, ANA*
20. Mikhail Sergachev, D, UTA
21. Victor Hedman, D, TBL
22. Josh Morrissey, D, WPG
23. Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS (suspended)
24. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, CAR 
25. Shea Theodore, D, VGK
26. Noah Dobson, D, MTL
27. Dougie Hamilton, D, NJD
28. MacKenzie Weegar, D, UTA
29. Brandt Clarke, D, LAK
30. Thomas Harley, D, DAL 
31. Brandon Montour, D, SEA 
32. Rasmus Andersson, D, VGK*
33. Philip Broberg, D, STL
34. Filip Hronek, D, VAN
35. Vince Dunn, D, SEA
36. Luke Hughes, D, NJD
37. Mattias Samuelsson, D, BUF
38. Seth Jones, D, FLA
39. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT
40. Zayne Parekh, D, CGY 
41. Artyom Levshunov, D, CHI
42. Alexander Nikishin, D, CAR 
43. Simon Nemec, D, NJD
44. Justin Faulk, D, DET
45. Bowen Byram, D, BUF
46. Sam Rinzel, D, CHI 
47. Zeev Buium, D, VAN
48. Logan Mailloux, D, STL 
49. Carter Yakemchuk, D, OTT (rookie)
50. David Reinbacher, D, MTL (rookie)

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Just missed:

Sam Malinski, D, COL
Jacob Trouba, D, ANA*
K'Andre Miller, D, CAR
Noah Hanifin, D, VGK
Colton Parayko, D, STL

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