Who has the best defense in the league?

[East Coast Flame]

Definitely Nashville. I can't believe they have Josi, Ellis and Ekholm signed for just over $10 mil a year total. That is insane.

[The Cobra]

Josi is better than Subban IMO.

But they are both very good. I'd call them both 1st pairing d-men easily.

If Hamilton ever becomes as good as Josi, we should all celebrate. And that's no slight to Hamilton.

[troutman]

Defence Corps ranked (February 2017).

http://www.thesportster.com/hockey/r...fensive-corps/

Chicago and Pittsburgh - not too shabby.

[SofaProfessor]

Originally Posted by locsofblu

On paper we have one of the best but I'll wait until the season starts before I make any judgements.

This. On paper Nashville and Calgary are in a top tier by themselves with a secondary tier of teams like Anaheim, Minny, Columbus, and San Jose. But, that said, Calgary hasn't really proven much other than the ability to grab a wildcard spot and get bounced in four. Because of that I think you have to put the Flames in that second tier until the on-ice performance shows they belong with Nashville.

[Drake]

Nashville is in a class of its own. Then Anaheim. Not sure who after that.

[Roof-Daddy]

Based on what I've seen on the ice:

1. Nashville
2. Anaheim
3. Columbus
4. Calgary
5. Minnesota
6. Carolina

If Hamonic fits well with Brodie, and Gio/Hamilton don't drop off the Flames D could easily shoot up the rankings and into the top 2.

[Dan403]

Pretty sure that the Oilers do.

With McLottery the other teams will never have the puck.

;-)

[locsofblu]

Originally Posted by SofaProfessor

This. On paper Nashville and Calgary are in a top tier by themselves with a secondary tier of teams like Anaheim, Minny, Columbus, and San Jose. But, that said, Calgary hasn't really proven much other than the ability to grab a wildcard spot and get bounced in four. Because of that I think you have to put the Flames in that second tier until the on-ice performance shows they belong with Nashville.

I agree.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by troutman

Defence Corps ranked (February 2017).

http://www.thesportster.com/hockey/r...fensive-corps/

Chicago and Pittsburgh - not too shabby.

23rd - ouch and below Edmonton (17th). At least they do acknowledge it is the bottom three as the issue. That's mostly changed now.

the Flames do have three solid defensemen in T.J. Brodie, Marc Giordano, and Dougie Hamilton. After those three, however, there is a major tailspin. Jyrki Jokipaaka is not yet ready to play a major role on a playoff contender, Brett Kulak provides no value, and Dennis Wideman’s losing ability as he ages. The Flames are in dire need of a bottom three upgrade.

[djsFlames]

Right now I'd put Calgary's D 5th behind Nashville, Minnesota, Columbus, Anaheim.

They can easily move up if the blue line is as good on the ice as on paper. But that's yet to be determined.

We made this same mistake overestimating the defence in 2015 with a top 4 of Gio, Brodie, Wideman, Russell (lol..)

It's definitely better than that now, but we have to see if Brodie and Hamonic can rebound and fill out their potential as a pairing. Pretty much everything hinges on them.

While Hamonic looks like he was hampered last season by injuries, being played like a #1, and the distraction of trade rumours, it's hard to determine why Brodie played so far under what we've seen from him before. It was a really subpar season from a guy that can skate like the wind, particularly on the defensive side of his game. Have to see if he can recover from a pretty lengthy stretch of subpar play last season.