Who do you guys think is the most underrated defenseman in? I personally think it’s Chris Tanev. He’s blocking shots left and right and is possibly the best d-man when it comes to 2-on-1s.

49 comments

  1. As a Sabres fan, simply to create hope for myself, I’m hoping it’s Michael Kesselring.

  3. Elias Pettersson. People say he doesn’t play defense when he’s literally a defenseman

  4. Parayko. I think he is getting more credit since 4 nations but dude last season was incredible to watch. 

  14. I know this will be unpopular because he’s finally getting respect, but Jaccob Slavin. Yes he’s being recognized but I still think he’s underrated by most people. Also Jalen Chatfield. Adam Fox has been mentioned and I must unfortunately agree (frick the Rangers)

  15. Fox has a strong argument nowadays. Another good pick is Dylan Samberg on WPG. Dude was quietly *amazing* last season.

  16. Miro Heiskanen. Yeah he’s seen as good, but he gets overshadowed a lot by Makar, Hughes, Faber.

    He’s part of the reason Dallas is great YoY.

  20. Outside of Ottawa no-one talks about Jake Sanderson. I think this year he will be right up there in the Norris talk, especially after the Olympics.

  33. Right now it’s Jackson LaCombe.  But you all will see why he just got that huge deal

  34. Jared Spurgeon.

    Just go look at his career stats. And now imagine that’s a 5’9 160 lb baby face twink. Dude has had one hell of a career and no one seems to know outside our fanbase.

  36. You’re on the right track, OP. Defense is not just putting up points, but blocking shots, breaking up plays, goals allowed while on ice, etc. Lots of Top D-men lists ignore those.

  37. I would say that, despite the canes being a team I loosely follow, prior to 4 Nations *I* didn’t rate Slavin highly enough. Every moment of that series he was always exactly where he needed to be to make things happen and I was kinda shocked by it. I was definitely paying more attention to him in the post season as a result. But that could just be me, maybe I missed that he was getting his due prior. And he seems to pretty much get recognition now, so I guess not underrated anymore even if he was.

  38. Of course a leaf fans votes for a leaf player. You know, he had a carrier vefore the leafs it just so happened to take place after most eastern time zone watcher’s bedtime. Tanev is a known and well rated dman, has been for years.

  39. No toronto player will ever be “most underrated” at anything. Maybe most overhated, but they’re all at least well rated.

  40. Jalen Chatfield flies under the radar for sure. I’d love to say Slavin but I feel like hes the consensus best defensive defenseman in the league

  44. Not sure if Dallas’ Harley is underrated but he’s not spoken of a lot that I know of.

  47. Quinn Hughes. Usually thought to be the 2nd best dman currently. According to Zegras he is the best player of all time.

  49. Forsling in FLA and Harley in DAL are probably the two I would throw out there. Sanderson in OTT could be there, but I think there’s enough recognition about his game that I can’t give him the underrated tag.

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