Defense wins championships. It’s a saying as old as hockey itself, but there is truth to this wisdom. A stout defense can both limit the opponent’s scoring chances while placing additional pressure on them in the offensive zone. When a defense is playing near perfection, it also helps ease some of the burdens on both the goaltender and forwards, which can turn the tide of a game or a playoff series.
It’s not easy to build an elite defense, of course. It can take years of drafting and developing defensemen before they eventually reach their full potential. Even then a team will still need to dip into free agency and the trade market to get enough talent to build a core of players capable of winning the Stanley Cup.
Related: The Best NHL Defensemen Ever
For the best defensive units in the NHL, it took years to assemble this talented core. However, these teams are now reaping the rewards of their hard work, and there’s a reason why all five of these teams will have an eye towards the Stanley Cup throughout the 2024-25 season.
5) Boston Bruins
Nikita Zadorov – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Mason Lohrei – Andrew Peeke
It feels like every offseason the NHL world asks the same question… is this finally the time when the Boston Bruins fall off? News of their decline has been discussed for years, and yet they just keep moving forward (in the regular season at least). So for the 2024-25 season, instead of doubting them, I’m going to double down for the simple reason that their defensive corps is, in a word, great.
With a top-four featuring a proven star in McAvoy, an underrated minute muncher in Carlo, a real bounce-back candidate in Lindholm, and one of the top free-agent signings this offseason in Zadorov, I think you can argue that these players combine to a unit with few weaknesses when considered as a whole. Even if their bottom six is a bit underwhelming, you can’t ignore a big-bodied tough guy like Peeke and a developing player like Lohrei who could take that next step in his career this season.
All this to say, underrate the Bruins at your own risk. With a defensive corps this stout, and a top-flight goaltender in net, I expect scoring chances to be few and far between.
4) New York Rangers
Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba
Zac Jones – Braden Schneider
ANALYSIS:
The New York Rangers had an odd 2023-24 season. They were, without a doubt, a dominant force throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. Yet, when they were eliminated in the Easter Conference Final, it felt like the fingers immediately pointed to the defense as a reason why. Despite this, when I look at their roster, I see a squad that should be a force once again.
Fox is a Norris contender every season for good reason. When he is playing his best, he is one of the few unstoppable players in the NHL. Lindgren is a perfect shut-down partner who gives Fox space to work. New York’s second pair is arguably just as impactful, as Miller has top-pairing potential while Jacob Trouba is an absolute thorn in the side of every opponent he faces. To put it simply, you will have bruises after facing these players. Finally, if Jones can take a step in his development and Schneider can continue being good enough most nights, then the Rangers will have nothing to worry about other than wanting more depth.
So, while this unit may not be perfect, it’s pretty darn close. I’d put their stars up against anyone in the league, and their depth is more than strong enough to carry the Rangers to the Stanley Cup. But you also can’t help but look at how things ended, expect more, and worry that was their full potential on display as a unit.
3) Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin – Brent Burns
Dmitri Orlov – Sean Walker
Shayne Gostisbehere – Jalen Chatfield
ANALYSIS: In recent years, I’ve learned to never bet against the Carolina Hurricanes. Whenever they come up short of their ultimate goals, they double down (again) on what makes them great by going out and signing big names on defense during free agency.
When you start with a core of Slavin, Burns, Chatfield, and Orlov you automatically have four dominant (if not aging) offensive and defensive players to build around. By adding Walker and Gostisbehere this offseason, the Hurricanes have augmented this unit with a perfect mixture of defensive stability and an all-out offensive attack.
Even though this may not be their best defensive unit on paper compared to recent years, I think it might be their most balanced from top to bottom. They may lack a Norris-caliber player, but they do everything at an elite level and I find it hard to bet against their potential.
2) Colorado Avalanche
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard – Josh Manson
Erik Brannstrom – Oliver Kylington
Calvin de Haan
ANALYSIS:
There really isn’t much that needs to be said about the Colorado Avalanche’s defensive greatness. Makar is a generational player who is redefining what a modern defenseman can be and Toews is the perfect partner to let him be his best. Girard is an unsung hero who plays a smart defensive game while Manson rounds out this unit with needed grit. On the bottom pairing, they have two high-upside players in Brannstrom and Kylington who are brimming with unrealized potential that, if reached, could easily be one of the best third pairs in the league. Finally, you can’t underrate a solid veteran like de Haan, who can step in and play 50-60 games if necessary.
Say what you will, but this is a special defensive corps that may soon be discussed as one of the all-time greats if they are all able to reach their potential this season.
1) Vegas Golden Knights
Noah Hanifin – Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
Nicholas Hague – Zach Whitecloud
ANALYSIS:
En route to claiming the 2023 Stanley Cup, the Vegas Golden Knights showcased one of the most dominant defensive cores we’ve seen in recent memory. Led by Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights defense has so much talent in their top four alone that it stands amongst the best in the league. Theodore is a rising star who could be their best player in the coming years, Brayden McNabb is a franchise face that any team would want on their roster, and you can’t sleep on a veteran pairing like Hague and Whitecloud, who found a perfect spot with Vegas.
However, when you already have everything, all you can ask for is more. By acquiring Hanifin at the 2024 Trade Deadline, Vegas added another top-end defender to their wealth of talent which shored up one of the best defensive corps in the league.
As long as they can stay healthy, this should be a dominant defensive corps that can simply overwhelm their opponents wave after wave with unstoppable talent.
The NHL Features Many Great Defenses
Whenever you create a ranked list like this, there will always be teams that are left off that just barely missed the cut. In terms of defense, a few teams to keep an eye on are the Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, and the Nashville Predators as these franchises feature elite defensemen who could be in the Norris discussion by the end of the season along with incredible depth.
Plus, in the coming months, there will be those unexpected teams that find breakout candidates who shore up their blue line while pushing them into an elite unit. When that happens, they could make the case to earn a spot on this list and force one of the former top teams off it.
