#NHLTopPlayers: Top Defensemen, Nos. 20-11

Whether it's breaking up a big play, setting up a goal, or scoring on the power play, some defensemen can do it all. NHL Network producers and analysts chose the top 20 defensemen in the League right now, and Nos. 20-11 were revealed Wednesday in the seventh of an eight-part series featured on "NHL Tonight." Here is the list:

#NHLTopPlayers: [Top Centers, Nos. 20-11 | Top Centers, Nos. 10-1 | Top Goalies, Nos. 10-6 | Top Goalies, Nos. 5-1 | Top Wings, Nos. 20-11 | Top Wings, Nos. 10-1]

20. Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights

Theodore set NHL career highs in goals (13), assists (33) and points (46) in 71 games this season, as well as personal bests in rating (plus-12), power-play points (16), game-winning goals (four) and shots on goal (219). He led the Golden Knights in ice time per game (22:14) and power-play time per game (3:06).

19. Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames

Giordano won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL last season after he finished second at the position with 74 points (17 goals, 57 assists) and led the League with a plus-39 rating, each his NHL career high. This season, he led the Flames with 148 blocked shots, despite missing 10 games because of a hamstring injury, and in ice time per game (23:53). He scored 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 60 games. Giordano was selected to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.

18. Ryan Ellis, Nashville Predators

Ellis scored 38 points (eight goals, 30 assists), three from matching his NHL career high despite being limited to 49 games because of injury and the regular season being paused and ultimately cut short due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. He was plus-16 and ranked second on the Predators in ice time per game (23:30) behind Norris finalist Roman Josi (25:47) and third in blocked shots (96). Ellis has scored at least 32 points in each of the past five seasons.

"We always expect Predators defensemen to be in the top 20," NHL Network analyst Ken Daneyko said. "Not one, not two, but probably three. Ryan Ellis continues to be a stalwart on the back end for the Nashville Predators. Sneaks into the play, great shot, doesn't have a lot of size, but he plays a lot bigger than he is in his stature."

17. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs

Rielly led NHL defensemen with 20 goals, finished third with 72 points, and was plus-24 last season. He followed that up this season with 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) and a plus-6 rating in 47 games, missing time with a broken foot. Rielly led the Maple Leafs in ice time per game (24:12) and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, when they'll have a chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season.

16. Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks

Karlsson led the Sharks with 40 points (six goals, 34 assists) in 56 games before missing the remainder of the season with a broken thumb. He was second on San Jose in ice time per game (24:31) behind Brent Burns (25:25). Karlsson scored at least 62 points in five straight seasons from 2013-18, and his 603 points since entering the NHL in 2009-10 are the most among defensemen in that span. He is a four-time Norris Trophy finalist, winning the award in 2012 and 2015, and was selected to the NHL First All-Star Team for 2011-12 and three consecutive seasons from 2014-17.

"He still puts the numbers up offensively and a dangerous weapon for the San Jose Sharks," Daneyko said. "A tough year for the Sharks, we all know that, but just because of what he can bring offensively from the back end still makes the top 20. But you want to see him take care of his own end a little better as well. I think he will next year."

15. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Slavin set NHL career highs in assists (30) and points (36) in 68 games this season and led the Hurricanes in ice time per game (23:24) and blocked shots (107). He led the NHL with 81 takeaways and was tied for second with a plus-30 rating. Slavin ranked sixth in the NHL in shorthanded ice time (210:55) this season and has scored at least 30 points in four straight seasons.

14. Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens

In 65 games this season, Weber scored 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists), was plus-8, and led the Canadiens in ice time per game (24:00) for the fourth straight season. He had 114 blocked shots (27th among NHL defensemen) and 112 hits (tied for 33rd). Weber has scored at least 40 points nine times and at least 15 goals 10 times in his 15 NHL seasons. Twice voted to the NHL First All-Star Team (2011, 2012) and Second Team (2014, 2015), he played in the All-Star Game this season and is a three-time Norris finalist.

13. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Doughty was second in the NHL in ice time per game this season (25:49) and has finished third or better in the NHL in each of the past six seasons. He scored 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) in 67 games, the 10th time in 12 seasons he's scored at least 30. Doughty is a four-time Norris finalist, winning the award in 2016, and has twice been voted to the NHL First All-Star Team (2016, 2018) and Second Team (2010, 2015). He played in 460 straight games before missing a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 29. He has missed 19 games in his career.

"Always have to put Drew Doughty up there because of the minutes he plays, because of how he controls the back end for the Los Angeles Kings," Daneyko said. "The team wasn't very good this year and you have to take into consideration your numbers are not going to be a gawdy as they were in the past. Drew Doughty is still one of the best."

12. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

A finalist for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, Hughes led NHL rookies in assists (45), points (53) and power-play points (25) in 68 games, and his average of 21:53 of ice time per game was second (defenseman Ethan Bear, Edmonton Oilers, 21:58). Hughes set Canucks rookie records for assists and power-play points, and was three points from tying Dale Tallon (56, 1970-71) for the most in a season by a Vancouver rookie defenseman when the NHL season was paused March 12. He helped the Canucks reach the Qualifiers, when they will have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15.

11. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks

Burns scored 45 points (12 goals, 33 assists) and averaged 25:25 of ice time in 70 games this season after he led NHL defensemen last season with an NHL career-high 83 points (16 goals, 67 assists). He scored at least 60 points in each of the previous five seasons. He has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy in three of the past five seasons and won the award in 2017. Burns, who has not missed a game in the past six seasons, leads NHL defensemen in goals (113) and points (406) since 2014-15.

"Brent Burns still had a pretty good season offensively, still a guy that is dangerous from the back end with that wicked shot," Daneyko said. "But the San Jose Sharks had a tough year and so sometimes you're going to slip. Brent Burns still, make no mistake about it, one of the best in the game."