Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Rankings for 2018-19 Season

Below are my 2018-19 Fantasy Hockey Defensemen Rankings. There won’t be much movement from now until puck drop, but the latest can be found on FantasyPros. I’ve touched on my strategy when it comes to drafting defensemen, which ones to target and avoid, as well as which ones offer upside late in drafts. Keep in mind I’m ranking the defensemen as if you were playing with shots, hits, blocks and power play points.

Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Goalie | Left Wing | Right Wing | Centers | Defensemen

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Strategy

Unlike goalies, I don’t think it’s important to draft a defenseman in the first couple rounds. It’s nice to have a a Top-10, but you won’t see Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson or Victor Hedman on many of my teams. Not unless they fall towards the end of the second round and that’s just not going to happen. It has nothing to do with those three not being elite because they are. As mentioned below, it was John Carlson who led all defensemen in points with 68 and seven different defensemen hit the 60-point mark. There were 21 forwards to score at least 80 points last season and if you draft a defensemen early, you’ll miss out on a big time scorer. You definitely won’t have a 90-point guy or a top goalie if you take a defenseman early. Only Brent Burns finished in the Top 20 overall last season and that’s in leagues with hits, power play points, shots, blocks and takeaways. Get yourself a Top-10 and look for value at the position throughout the draft.

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Targets

Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets

Seth Jones made a considerable jump in his sixth NHL season and third with Columbus. Jones played a career-high 24:36 in 2017 and finished with career-highs across the board. The smooth skating defenseman had 16 goals, 57 points, 124 hits, 24 power play points and 249 shots. Jones had 15 more points, 17 more power play points and 97 more shots last season than his previous season. The minutes will continue to be there and he still has room to grow. Jones will also remain on the top power play unit while playing for one of the better offensive teams in the league.

*Updated – Seth Jones is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to second degree MCL Sprain. 

This is a big blow to his value and will no doubt fall down the draft board. I usually advise people to stay away from knee injuries, but if Jones falls outside the Top 25-30 among defense grab him. Just plug him on IR, and when he returns you’ll have a potential Top 10 D the rest of the way. In the meantime, Zach Werenski is now an interesting flyer, but he too is dealing with an injury. He hopes to be ready for the season opener.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers

Shayne Gostisbehere is one of the better values in Fantrax’s salary cap setting. The Flyers’ defenseman has five years left at $4.5M per season and is coming off a career season in his third year in the NHL. The 25-year-old had 52 assists, 65 points and 33 power play points in 2017. Gostisbehere is a beast on the PP as he’s registered 78 power-play points in 218 games in three seasons. He struggled at times in his sophomore season, but saw an increase in ice time per game (21:27) in 2017. Ten to 15 goals with 60-65 points and 30 plus power-play points is an extreme possibility. He’ll also give you 240 combined shots and blocks which gets overlooked. 

Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo Sabres

Many thought Rasmus Ristolainen would break out last season and he didn’t. Instead the Sabres’ defenseman managed only six goals and 41 points. He’s now hit at least 41 points in the last three seasons, though. Rasmus has the potential to take it to another level in 2018. Ristolainen touches all categories while playing heavy minutes. The Finnish defenseman averaged 26 minutes per game in 2017 for the second straight year. He’s averaged 42 points, 23 power play points, 190 shots on goal, 180 hits and 136 blocks per season over his last three seasons. The former eighth overall pick will be entering year five in the league and it’ll likely be his best yet. If you play in leagues with hits and blocks, Ristolainen is a no brainer. The Sabres will score more goals this season as well. 

Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames

The loss of Dougie Hamilton has Mark Girodano on my radar. The Flames acquired Noah Hanifan in the deal, but Girodano still has a lot to offer. He’s failed to hit the 40 point mark in back-to-back seasons after scoring 40 pus in his previous three seasons. Giordano has still been productive over the last two seasons with 12 goals and 39 points in 2016-17 followed by 13 goals and 38 points last season. He’s had 160 plus blocks in three straight seasons and 200 plus shots in two of his last three campaigns. Giordano has had double digit power play points in five straight seasons and it’ll likely be six in a row with the loss of Hamilton. Giordano should be on the number one power play unit and that gives him 50 point upside as the Flames are improved up front. 

Others to consider: Drew Doughty, Tyson Barrie, Dougie Hamilton, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Morgan Rielly

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Busts

Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets

Dustin Byfuglien is one of the better all-around fantasy hockey defensemen out there in leagues with hits, blocks and penalty minutes. If you’re not playing with those categories, he shouldn’t go as high as he has been. Byfuglien is getting drafted as the third defensemen off the board on some draft sites. He only scored eight goals and 45 points last season, which was his second-fewest point total in the last eight years, not including the lockout season. Byfuglien has already reached his peak in terms of production, but he’s still a steady contributor, just not Top-five potential. There are not a lot of defensemen out there who can hit all categories like he does. Just be aware of your settings. Byfuglien finished 21st in scoring last season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he finished around there again. 

John Carlson, Washington Capitals

John Carlson led all defensemen with 68 points last season. He was drafted well outside the Top 10 at his position and finished second, depending on your format. Carlson contributed across the board (15 goals, 32 PPP, 237 shots and 146 blocks). The power play in Washington is deadly, and he’s been a big part of it for years which won’t change this season. His point total may decline considering he had fewer than 40 points in back-to-back seasons before last year. He’s one of the better targets if he’s going outside the Top-10 at his position, just make sure that’s where you take him. Don’t go drafting him thinking he will finish first among defensemen in scoring again. Also be wary of his career-high 33 power play points from last season. Carlson had 16 or fewer PPP in three straight seasons prior.

Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres

This year’s first overall pick is going to be a special talent in this league and will get every chance to play in the NHL this season. The 18-year-old defenseman can get up and down the ice with ease. He has offensive upside and should get power-play time in his first season. Having said all that, he’s a much better keeper pick and is a pass in redraft leagues. Rookie defensemen on bad teams don’t typically make a huge fantasy hockey impact in their first season. Rasmus Dahlin is pre-ranked on some sites ahead of Ivan Provorov, Charlie McAvoy, Alexander Edler, Ryan Suter and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Dahlin could hit the 30-point mark in his first season and that would be considered a solid campaign, but he would have finished well below the defensemen mentioned above. Dahlin is also getting drafted ahead of his teammate Rasmus Ristolainen and a lot of good forwards. Don’t even think of Dahlin in leagues with plus/minus categories.

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Breakouts

Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia Flyers

Ivan Provorov showed no signs of a sophomore slump last season scoring a career-high 17 goals, 41 points while chipping in with 148 hits, 169 blocks and 203 shots. He led Philly in ice-time per game (24:09) and can improve on his totals from 2017. The former seventh overall pick made a major jump in year two and has a very bright future ahead of him. Provorov touches a ton of categories and should be considered a high-end number two defensemen on your fantasy team. He has tremendous value in Fantrax’s salary cap format. 

Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

Charlie McAvoy didn’t rack up a lot of power play points (seven), but he was an impressive plus-20 as a rookie with seven goals and 32 points. McAvoy threw his body around as well (133 hits), but only fired 77 pucks on net. That number one power play spot on the back-end belongs to Torey Krug, but McAvoy is a great keeper/dynasty play. He’s capable of playing heavy minutes and is a future 50 point guy. Think of him as a solid third defensemen with upside to be a two.

Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues

Colton Parayko has been pretty consistent over his first three years in the NHL. He has 33, 35 and 35 points respectively. Parayko continues to get more and more ice time, though. Parayko played 19 minutes per game as a rookie, 21 per game as a sophomore and he played 22 per game last season. He had nine power play points and has at least seven in all three seasons. The Blues’ defenseman touches all categories too: 212 shots, 120 hits, 141 blocks in 2017. He is primed for even more ice and the Blues are much improved on offense this season, which should only help improve Parayko’s numbers. I expected him to contribute more on the man advantage. 

Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators

Thomas Chabot didn’t blow anybody away with his nine goals and 25 points as a rookie but there were plenty of positive takeaways. Chabot showed his offensive upside with 94 shots and eight power play points. He played 13-to-14 minutes per game over the first three months of the season compared to 20 minutes per game over the final two months. He’s in for a huge fantasy boost this season as the Senators traded Erik Karlsson. Chabot now enters his second NHL season on the top defensive pair and top power play unit. He’ll hurt you in plus/minus leagues, but all his counting stats will add up. You can spend a last round pick on him as your fourth defensemen. Chabot is a strong dynasty and best ball pick. Neil Parker and I dive more into what to expect from Chabot in our sleepers and breakouts episode of the Fantrax Hockey Podcast. 

Other candidates: Ryan Pulock, Shea Theodore

Fantasy Hockey: Late Round Targets

Jake Muzzin, Los Angles Kings

Jake Muzzin is one of the most underrated defensemen in the NHL, especially in fantasy. Muzzin touches every category and is coming off a career-high 42 points. Muzzin potted eight goals and added 14 power-play points in 2017 as well. He only had 154 shots last year, but has had 170-plus shots in four of his past five seasons. He’s also had at least 160 hits in five straight seasons. Shots, hits, power play time, plenty of ice time and 40 point upside is what you’ll get with Muzzin. Make him one of your late round targets if you play with hits and shots.

Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens

Jeff Petry finished as a Top 10 defensemen last season, believe it or not. That was in leagues without plus/minus, and in formats that included power play points, shots, hits and blocks. He received a ton of ice time with Shea Weber sidelined and he will again in 2018 as Weber is out until at least December. Petry has the upside to finish as a Top-20 defensemen in those formats. Petry had a career-high 12 goals, 30 assists, 178 shots and 23 power play points in 2017. He also has a 338 hits and 283 blocks in the last two seasons.  The Habs’ defenseman had 22 points in first 49 games last season and 20 points in final 33. He’s a free pick in drafts and will get you off to a good start. He’s avoidable in leagues with plus/minus and ones without blocks or hits.

Oscar Klefbom, Edmonton Oilers

Oscar Klefbom failed to improve on what was a career season in 2016-17. The Oilers’ defenseman went from scoring 12 goals and 38 points to only five goals and 21 points in 2017. Klefbom’s 136 blocks were 10 shy of his career high and his 203 shots were the most he’s had in a season. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to a shoulder injury which needed surgery. He’s healthy right now and will have every opportunity to bounce back this season. He’ll also have every opportunity to play the point on the number one power play unit which is huge for his value. He won’t cost you a thing on draft day and has D2 upside. Look for him to get back to the 16 power play points he had in 2016-17.

Fantasy Hockey: Defensemen Rankings