Fantasy hockey top 50 defenseman rankings

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Top 250 overall | 100 forwards | 25 goalies

Free agency roundup | Offseason moves

Impact of Pietrangelo, Barrie signings

-- Alex Pietrangelo signed a seven-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. This move solidifies Pietrangelo as a top 10 fantasy defenseman with exposure to valuable forwards Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith and William Karlsson. The Golden Knights were among the most valuable fantasy teams last season and could be even better this season with Pietrangelo.

-- Tyson Barrie signed a one-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. This could be the best-case fantasy scenario for Barrie to bounce back to his previous top 20 form among defensemen this season with likely first power-play exposure to the top two point producers in the NHL, forwards Leon Draisaitl (led League with 110 points last season) and Connor McDavid (97, second).

READ: Fantasy recap of free agent signings

DEFENSEMAN RANKINGS FOR THIS SEASON

Standard fantasy categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits 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 (INJ. - players who could miss the start of this season), age, contract status (2020 unrestricted free agents: *; restricted: **) and overall upside for the 2020-21 season. These rankings are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Rob Reese.

1. Victor Hedman, TBL
2. John Carlson, WSH
3. Cale Makar, COL
4. Quinn Hughes, VAN
5. Roman Josi, NSH
6. Dougie Hamilton, CAR
7. Alex Pietrangelo, VGK
8. Morgan Rielly, TOR
9. Torey Krug, STL
10. Brent Burns, SJS
11. Miro Heiskanen, DAL
12. Seth Jones, CBJ
13. Zach Werenski, CBJ
14. Erik Karlsson, SJS
15. Kris Letang, PIT
16. John Klingberg, DAL
17. Rasmus Dahlin, BUF
18. Shea Weber, MTL
19. Ivan Provorov, PHI
20. Tyson Barrie, EDM
21. Shea Theodore, VGK
22. Tony DeAngelo, NYR
23. Keith Yandle, FLA
24. Drew Doughty, LAK
25. Charlie McAvoy, BOS
26. Mark Giordano, CGY
27. Thomas Chabot, OTT
28. Jeff Petry, MTL
29. Neal Pionk, WPG
30. Ryan Ellis, NSH
31. Mikhail Sergachev, TBL**
32. Colton Parayko, STL
33. Ryan Suter, MIN
34. Adam Fox, NYR
35. Jaccob Slavin, CAR
36. Aaron Ekblad, FLA
37. Matt Dumba, MIN
38. Jacob Trouba, NYR
39. Ryan Pulock, NYI
40. Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF
41. Nate Schmidt, VAN
42. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI
43. Jake Muzzin, TOR
44. Jared Spurgeon, MIN
45. Samuel Girard, COL
46. Duncan Keith, CHI
47. Darnell Nurse, EDM
48. Devon Toews, COL
49. Mattias Ekholm, NSH
50. Justin Schultz, WSH

Out long term: Oscar Klefbom, EDM (INJ.)

Just missed: Alec Martinez, VGK; Josh Morrissey, WPG; Alexander Edler, VAN; Filip Hronek, DET; Vince Dunn, STL; Jakob Chychrun, ARI; Alex Goligoski, ARI; Ryan Graves, COL; Kevin Shattenkirk, ANA; Matt Grzelcyk, BOS; Rasmus Sandin, TOR

Unsigned UFA: Sami Vatanen, CAR

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