date：2023-09-13 11:04:05 click：112times
While it is always exciting to have high scoring forwards on draft day, it is equally important to have a strong group of blue liners who can contribute on offense and not be disadvantaged in the defensive category.
Here is a preview of this year's fantasy defensemen, divided into tiers based on expected value/draft position. These rankings are based on Yahoo's standard scoring scheme.
The gap between him and the other top options at his position may have narrowed slightly over the past year, but Makar has yet to be taken off the board this season in nearly should be the first defender taken off the board in all fantasy formats. Despite missing 22 regular season contests due to injury last year, Makar finished the campaign with excellent totals across the board, tallying 17 goals, 66 points, 30 power play points, 176 shots on net and a respectable plus-16 rating.
If he can stay healthy, this 24-year-old rearguard could approach and even surpass the 100-point mark in 2023-24. Such upside is worth betting on in the early rounds of this year's fantasy drafts.
These players may not have as much upside as Makar but are poised to be this year's high-end No. 1 fantasy defensemen.
After racking up an eye-popping 96 points in 80 games in 2021-22, Yoshi regressed a bit last year with 59 points in 67 games. As long as he can stay healthy, he should be able to earn around a point per game again this year, threatening the 20-goal mark.
70 points, high-end power play production and a respectable plus-minus rating are basically a sure thing for Fox this season.
Dahlin is coming off a career year (15 goals and 73 points in 78 games) and should continue to develop further in his age 23 season in 2023-24.
Hamilton bounced back in a big way last season with 22 goals and 74 points in 82 games. This year, his scoring may be down a bit, but his production should remain strong for a Devils team in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Karlsson won the Norris Trophy last season with 25 goals and 101 points. Health is always a concern for the 33-year-old Swede, but the upside here is worth the risk, especially since he will play with an improved supporting cast in Pittsburgh.
Heiskanen, Montour, and Morrissey all had big breakouts in the 2022-23 season, each doubling their offensive output from the previous year. The good news is that each breakout was fueled in part by a significant increase in power play usage and a corresponding surge in power play production, with all three of these skaters playing roles on their respective teams' No. 1 power play units, appear to be safe, which should alleviate concerns of potential regression in 2023-24. However, Morrissey's breakout season was in his age 27 season and Montour's was in his age 28 season.
McAvoy has yet to put up gaudy offensive numbers through the first six years of his career - last season he had seven goals and 52 points through 67 games. However, he has scored over 50 points in each of the last two campaigns, and there will still be room for growth in his offensive game as he enters his age-25 season in 2023-24.
Hughes, who was just named the 15th captain in Canucks history, should have another massive scoring season. Last season he had 76 points in 78 games.
Hedman was much slower last season, scoring 49 points in 76 games after scoring 85 points in 82 games the previous year. Losing power play time to Mikhail Sergachev remains a major concern for Hedman, but those hoping for a resurgence from the 32-year-old Swede should not hesitate to pick him as their No. 1 blueliner on draft day.
While they may not provide the high level of production expected from Tier 1 through Tier 3 players, all six of these blueliners should serve as high-end secondary options throughout the 2023-24 season.
The decline of the 38-year-old Barnes will almost certainly begin soon, but there is little to support his taking a step back this year. Last season, Barnes played in 82 games, scoring 18 goals, scoring 61 points, and taking 255 shots (third among all defenders) while not missing a single game for the third straight year. His consistently high level of performance and outstanding durability make him worth a bet despite his advanced age.
Sergachev broke out last year with 10 goals and 64 points, but with Hedman still on the team, Sergie's upside is capped.
Pietrangelo and Toews are in similar circumstances to Sergachev, and with outstanding defenders in Makar and Shea Theodore, they will spend a lot of time on the man advantage.
Bouchard has yet to really break out offensively, but that could happen during his age 23 season this year.
Karlsson picked up 29 points in that span and was limited to just 40 games last campaign due to injury, but since he is locked into a top-pairing role and a featured spot on the Capitals' No. 1 power play unit, A return to form is likely on the horizon for the 33-year-old veteran.
This tier is young with untapped potential/upside and health, age, team status/role, or veterans with questionable ability to repeat a breakthrough campaign.
Either way, at a minimum, all of these skaters should serve as solid No. 2 fantasy options if added to the lineup in 2023-24.
Not much upside here, but all Tier 6 players are No. 2023-24, your Fantasy defense group of no.
This tier consists primarily of players with proven years under their belt and players joining new teams, and their fantasy prospects are a bit uncertain heading into 2023-24. Your risk tolerance will dictate which options you target when adding defensemen to your bench late in the fantasy draft.
While it is unlikely that any of these skaters will overwhelm you with their production, they are fine fill-in options when injuries inevitably strike your blue line corps in 2023-24 They should serve as .
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