In the NHL, there are always a handful of position groups that are just dominant; there’s no other way to put it. A great forward unit, a shutdown defense, lights-out goaltending, and even a killer power play (or penalty kill) can take over a game and carry a team throughout a season.
With the season around the corner, it’s easy to pinpoint a few good units. The question is which ones are the most dominant in the NHL? It’s hard to compare some positions (like comparing non-linear weights) but some position groups still stand out as top 10 in the NHL.
10. Colorado Avalanche Defense
The Avalanche are known for having a top-heavy group, and that applies to the defense as well. Even if the defense remains top-heavy, it has Cale Makar in it, which by default puts it in the top 10 position groups. Makar won the Norris Trophy and is arguably a generational defenseman (the same way Niklas Lidstrom was for one era and Ray Bourque was for another).
Aside from Makar, the defense has Devon Toews, who, even as he starts to decline with age, still plays at a high level. Plus, Brent Burns was added to round out the unit, and he can still provide a spark to the unit.
9. New Jersey Devils Forwards
The Devils already had one of the best forward units in the NHL with their top six anchored by Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier. They provided the skill and highlight-level goals and will continue to do so this season. The unit is better with Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov added to the lineup, as both depth skaters will add scoring.
The Devils now have a forward group with three lines that can score and run up the score. The question will be how they hold up in the playoffs and if they can play a physical brand of hockey. Otherwise, it’s a group that can take over games throughout the season and allow the Devils to boast a top record in the Eastern Conference.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs Defense
The Maple Leafs are no longer a top-heavy team that can’t defend, something that was an issue throughout the “Core Four” era. Last season proved that they are a great defensive team with a top-of-the-league unit. The tonesetter is Chris Tanev, who they brought in last offseason, and he changed how the unit has looked.
The one bone to pick is the lack of scoring that comes from the unit. The Maple Leafs were hopeful that Morgan Rielly would become that player but he’s failed to do so. It’s why this team might look to add a two-way defenseman or even a scoring defenseman who old-timers will call a forward, at the trade deadline.
7. Edmonton Oilers Defense
Everyone understandably talks about the forwards when talking about the Oilers. However, the defense has proved it’s also elite, especially in the playoffs. It can shut down opponents and also help out the offense with a big goal here or there.
The defense is anchored by Evan Bouchard, who has emerged as a game-changing blueliner and will be paid as such (with the contract he signed this summer). Mattias Ekholm, meanwhile, is the ideal pair for the aggressive, offensive-minded Bouchard, as he is a shutdown defenseman. With Jake Walman and Brett Kulak adding depth, this is a defense that is expected to once again help the Oilers make a run at the Cup.
6. Winnipeg Jets Defense
Connor Hellebuyck’s dominance overshadows how good this defense is. The Jets have the two-way presence thanks to Josh Morrissey, the stay-at-home options in Dylan DeMelo and Neal Pionk, plus plenty of depth. They used to have plenty of Dylans/Dillons with DeMelo, Dylan Samberg, and Brenden Dillon but alas, they traded Dillon to the Devils last offseason.
The defense has struggled in the playoffs, and like Hellebuyck, it will be a knock on them. The Stars, in particular, got to the dirty areas and imposed their will throughout the series. That said, the Jets still have a great defense that will allow them to be one of the best teams in the NHL next season.
5. Winnipeg Jets Goaltending
Speaking of Hellebuyck, he also made the list. The humor behind calling this the Jets’ goaltending is that it is ranked highly because of one player. The William Jenning Trophy is awarded to the best goaltending tandem in the league, yet Eric Comrie, the backup, doesn’t start enough games to earn credit for it.
Hellebuyck’s playoff performances always put a damper on things like going to a great restaurant and finding out afterwards you have a ticket on your car because of where you parked. Hellebuyck has accomplished everything except for playoff and Stanley Cup success. That said, he’s far and beyond the most dominant goaltender and deserves to be recognized as such (also, Comrie has played great as well in his handful of starts).
4. Dallas Stars Forwards
The Stars lost a few talented skaters in the offseason, and Jason Robertson’s status is up in the air as he could be traded at some point this season. That said, the Stars still have one of the best forward units in the game.
It’s led by Mikko Rantanen, a game-changer on the top line. Rantanen showed what he can do in the playoffs, and with a full season, he might look like a Hart-caliber player. The Stars also have Wyatt Johnston, who is quietly becoming one of the top scorers in the game. They don’t have as much depth as they did back in the day (in 2023-24, they had eight 20-goal scorers) but they still have plenty of it.
3. Carolina Hurricanes Defense
The Hurricanes are known for their defense and have been throughout the Rod Brind’Amour era. Jaccob Slavin would win the Norris Trophy if they awarded it to the best defensive defenseman in the game (or if the award was judged based on Four Nations play). Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield, and Sean Walker, meanwhile, have rounded things out in recent years.
The defense is also expected to get better this season. K’Andre Miller was acquired in the offseason, and his skating will make the Hurricanes a faster group on the blue line. Alexander Nikishin, meanwhile, is a young defenseman who can break out and put himself in the Calder Trophy discussion. All in all, the Hurricanes remain near the top of the league thanks mostly to their dominant defense.
2. Edmonton Oilers Forwards
The Oilers have a great forward group with two of the best players in the NHL leading it. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have singlehandedly dominated games and will do so throughout the upcoming season. But the Oilers are more than just McDavid and Draisaitl.
Zach Hyman is a great scorer on the wing, and there’s a good argument that if he’s healthy for the Final, the Oilers are the ones hoisting the Cup. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, meanwhile, is the do-it-all forward in the middle of the lineup.
Depth remains a question mark and will be throughout the season. With Evander Kane and Corey Perry gone, the Oilers are a younger team and don’t have the same scoring presence on their wings. However, the Oilers are entering the season with the same story, as it’s a fixable issue that they will address at the trade deadline (that or Isaac Howard is better than everyone expects).
1. Florida Panthers Forwards
The Florida Panthers have the best forward unit in the NHL, and it’s not close. This group is dominant and can win any type of game thrown at them. Matthew Tkachuk is the tone setter on the wing but they also have scorers (Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart), two-way centers (Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett), and the physical prowess (from too many Panthers to count).
How good is this Panthers forward unit? Their third line, with Anton Lundell centering it, while Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand are on the wings, would be a top line elsewhere. It’s what allowed the Panthers to come at teams in waves in the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row.
The Panthers winning with their forward unit raises a big-picture question for the rest of the NHL. When it comes to team-building, is it best to build from the forward unit out instead of traditional wisdom (which is from the net out)? The Panthers don’t have a great defensive unit, one that takes over games, and it doesn’t matter when they have the forwards who do it all.
do the 10 worst. carolina defense a tad overrated to me
Trying to have a positive outlook ahead of the season. Carolina’s defense is still top-of-the-league, although admittedly, their scoring at the blue line, or lack of it, can be used against them.