The NHL has plenty of talented defensemen across the league, maybe more than ever, but there is always a debate about who falls into the top 10 when it comes to rankings.
When making a top 10 list, there are always plenty of factors when it comes to who makes it onto the list, but looking at both offensive and defensive capabilities, here are the top 10 defensemen in the NHL for 2025-26.
10. Roman Josi
Though injuries have gotten in his way recently, Roman Josi, at 35 years old, is still a top 10 defenseman in the NHL. Last season didn’t go very well for the Nashville Predators, and part of that was Josi’s absence. The defense group is built around him, and he makes a significant improvement when healthy. He scored nine goals and 38 points in 53 games, which is low compared to two of the last three seasons before, where he scored well over a point per game.
Josi is an offense-first defenseman, but doesn’t cheat away from the puck, either. He can lead defensively, he is the captain, and he sets a high bar for himself. After fighting a diagnosis with POTS, Josi has come into the 2025-26 preseason healthy and ready for another season.
9. Jaccob Slavin
There is a good argument for Jaccob Slavin in the conversation of the best pure defensive player in the NHL. His defensive impacts are impeccable, and he has started to elevate his offensive game lately as well. Slavin has received Norris Trophy votes in nine straight seasons, which is every year outside of his rookie season, where he also earned Calder Trophy votes. Slavin is such an underrated defenseman and could arguably be much higher on this list.
Not many players can read the game like Slavin does. He is always reliable, can shut down the opposing rush, and has great zone exit numbers. Slavin is a perfect package for a number-one defenseman, even without the elite point totals.
8. Josh Morrissey
Since his emergence as a true elite defenseman, Josh Morrissey has been a huge factor for the Winnipeg Jets, who, not by coincidence, have been very good over that span as well. Morrissey has always been a strong two-way defender. While he isn’t at the same level as Slavin defensively or puts up as many points as everyone else, he offers a great balance between the two.
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Morrissey now has three straight 60-point seasons and is going to look to do that again. The Jets’ blue line is a very strong group, but none of the big names. Morrissey has put himself into that conversation over the past three seasons, earning Norris Trophy votes in each season, and finishing seventh or higher each year.
7. Victor Hedman
Age has been kind to Victor Hedman as he approaches his 35th birthday and remains one of the top 10 defensemen in the league. He isn’t quite the same player he once was, but his production has remained in the ballpark of the best defensemen in the league.
To say that Hedman has taken a step back defensively over the past three seasons is fair, though that area of the game is still at a high-end level. The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a lot of turnover throughout the past few seasons, but Hedman being their top defenseman hasn’t changed.
6. Miro Heiskanen
Miro Heiskanen has been in the conversation of the wave of elite young defenders for a number of years, and with a new wave coming in, Heiskanen has established himself as a top option for the Dallas Stars when healthy. Heiskanen at his best could arguably move up this list, but after dealing with injuries, not putting up as many points, and looking slower last season, he sits at six.
5. Adam Fox
Nothing went right for the New York Rangers in 2024-25, though Fox was still able to produce plenty of points for the team, finishing 12th in Norris Trophy voting. Throughout his six seasons in the NHL, Fox has finished top 5 in voting all but two times. He has been one of the most consistent defensemen in the NHL, and the Rangers rely heavily on his presence on the back end.
Other than the physicality, Fox does everything that is asked of him. He is a leader, he scores, he breaks up plays, and after winning a Norris Trophy in his sophomore season, he will look to chase that again, and has a very good chance at hitting that goal.
4. Rasmus Dahlin
The Buffalo Sabres have struggled to take that next step as a team, but Rasmus Dahlin has emerged as the elite number-one defenseman that was expected when he was drafted. He has cemented himself as a staple in the Norris Trophy conversation by taking charge of his role.
Whether you want to look at goals, assists, points, advanced stats, whatever it is, Dahlin impresses with his numbers in nearly every category. His skating, whether he has the puck or is playing defensively, is one of the highlights of his game, and all around, there are not many who play like he does.
3. Zach Werenski
Arguably the biggest breakout star of the 2024-25 season, Zach Werenski was a huge part of the push for the playoffs the Columbus Blue Jackets were on. He finished second in Norris Trophy voting last season and seventh in Hart Trophy voting. It was a flawless season for WErenski, who even dominated at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Werenski led the entire league in even-strength ice time, averaging nearly 27 minutes per game, and head coach Dean Evason clearly has faith in him being an option at any point in the game. The Blue Jackets dominate offensively with him on the ice, and his 82 points were the second-most of any defenseman in the league.
2. Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes missed some time in 2024-25, and it became clear how heavily the Vancouver Canucks rely on him to not only keep things locked down on the blue line, but the entire team looked like they missed him. After being named captain, winning a Norris Trophy, and talk about him joining his brothers someday, there is a ton of pressure on Hughes in Vancouver, but he is embracing it and thriving.
Offense, defense, leadership, whatever you need from Hughes, he is going to provide it. Hughes has scored 76 or more points in each of the last three seasons, has become a Norris Trophy favorite, and is, without a doubt, a top-2 defenseman in the NHL. There is a legitimate argument that he is in the wrong spot here.
1. Cale Makar
Cale Makar has done everything that has ever been asked of him and more. While this list is about the top defensemen for this upcoming season, winning a Hobey Baker, Conn Smythe, Calder Trophy, two Norris Trophies, and a Stanley Cup, all before turning 27, he is certainly the one to top this list.
Makar is what makes the Colorado Avalanche a perennial contender, and whether it be in the regular season, playoffs, 4 Nations Face-Off, or any other hockey, odds are, Makar is the best player on the ice. There aren’t many players above him, though he is neck-and-neck with teammate Nathan MacKinnon in the race for the top players in the league.
