[FanIn80]

1. Cale Makar, Avalanche

Injuries limited Cale Makar to just 60 games during the 2022-23 season, but the Avalanche defenseman is still the best at his position around the league. Even though his time on the ice was somewhat limited, Makar still racked up 66 points (17 goals and 49 assists) and was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Makar finished fourth in the NHL in goals (17) and showcased his ability as one of the league's top scorers at the position. In fact, the Avalanche star tallied 1.1 points-per-game, which was second among NHL defensemen behind only Erik Karlsson (1.23). Makar also reached the 200-point mark in just 195 games, becoming the fastest defenseman in NHL history to achieve that feat by passing Sergei Zubov's previous record of 207 games. At just 24 years old, Makar is easily the most offensively gifted blue-liner and possesses tremendous speed that is second to none. With 152 points over the last two seasons, Makar has easily cemented himself as the league's top defenseman.

https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/r...-lead-the-way/