Defense wins championships. The best offense is a good defense. We’ve heard these sayings time and time again, maybe to the point where we’re sick of them. These words ring true however. If you expect to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup you have to be able to stop the other team from putting the puck in the net. The goalie needs support. The offense needs to score more goals than the opposing team. In order to do these things, a team needs a good defense. It’s the baseline. These are all 32 NHL defenses ranked from worst to best.
32. Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks’ struggles have been prevalent the last couple of years. A struggling offense made worse by a struggling defense and a goalie in John Gibson left out to dry. Add that on top of the second worst penalty kill in the league and you have a team that allowed 4.12 goals per game.
31. Columbus Blue Jackets
What will be the saving grace for this Columbus team? Well, it certainly won’t be the atrocious penalty kill or the 4.02 goals per game allowed. Might take a miracle to save this team.
30. San Jose Sharks
Seeing the Sharks near the bottom of lists is starting to become a trend. The Sharks’ allowed 3.91 goals per game last season, and it was almost entirely even strength play as well. Wish we could say better days are ahead Sharks fans.
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29. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal is in a unique spot as in they’re not the worst at everything, but they’re very far from the best. Their penalty kill sits near the bottom and they allowed 3.74 goals per game last season. I don’t expect them to be much better either.
28. St. Louis Blues
Despite a relatively good offense, St. Louis is struggling heavily on the blue line and in the penalty kill. They allowed 3.67 goals per game last season, and having a power play against them was an almost guaranteed goal.
27. Chicago Blackhawks
Only slightly better than their offense, lays the Chicago defense. Not much to say other than they allowed 3.67 goals per game last season and made no real improvements to their blue line in the offseason. Bedard is there to score goals guys, not stop them.
26. Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres have improved in leaps and bounds and are very well one of the best teams in the league. Their struggle however remains their defense, which allowed 3.66 goals per game last season.
25. Arizona Coyotes
The desert doesn’t have much water, but you can certainly find your fair share of goals in it. The desert dogs allowed 3.65 goals per game last season, and bolstered a penalty kill of under 75 percent.
24. Vancouver Cancucks
Vancouver has improved in a lot of ways and are well on their way to being a playoff team again. However, the blue line needs work, as shown by the fact they had the worst penalty kill in the league last season and allowed 3.63 goals per game.
23. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings slightly improved their penalty kill last year and found themselves in the middle of the league as opposed to the bottom. The defense still needs work though as they allowed 3.40 goals against last season and the PK is still under 80 percent.
22. Philadelphia Flyers
Perhaps the Flyers’ saving grace lays in their ever-improving defense. If it continues to improve, they can find themselves higher, but as it stands right now, they still allowed 3.38 goals per game. The penalty kill definitely needs work as well.
21. Florida Panthers
The Panthers had a storybook run last season, but without a doubt it was their defensive shortcomings that cost them the Cup. With a 3.32 goals allowed, some improvement in that area might be necessary in order to make another run.
20. Ottawa Senators
Few teams are making as fast of improvements as Ottawa. They’ll need to continue to improve their defense if they want to make the playoffs this year. 3.30 goals allowed in the Atlantic Division might not be good enough.
19. Washington Capitals
Despite a relatively young defensive core, Washington still struggles on the blue line. They allowed 3.23 goals allowed last season, despite bolstering a decent penalty kill. If the young guns can settle in and find their grove, Washington can move up this list.
18. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins adding Ryan Graves will help but that doesn’t change the fact that their reliance on aging vets isn’t going to help the blue line improve. Kris Letang can only do so much and Pittsburgh still allowed 3.22 goals per game.
17. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have the best offense in the league by a mile, but their blue line and goaltending don’t boast the same stats. With a well below average penalty kill, inconsistent goaltending, and a defense that allows 3.21 goals per game, its by and far Edmonton’s biggest weakness.
16. Los Angeles Kings
There was a period in time where the Kings were the best defensive team in the league. It won them two Cups. Now they have a below 75 percent penalty kill, and are allowing 3.20 goals per game, .02 below the league average.
15. Tampa Bay Lightning
This weathered defensive core has slipped the last couple of years which is why Tampa finds themselves middle of the pack with a 3.15 goals allowed.
14. Seattle Kraken
Seattle’s biggest issues last season were the same as the one before, goaltending and defense. Philipp Grubauer appeared to find his stride and the defense has improved, but they still sit at 14 for now due to their 3.14 goals allowed.
13. Calgary Flames
A .07 jump from the team behind them, Calgary allowed 3.07 goals per game last season. It was not their biggest shortcoming, but boosting it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
12. Nashville Predators
Their offense may have faltered, but the Preds still bolster a decent defense lead by Roman Josi and Tyson Barrie. They allowed a decent 2.90 goals per game last season. I don’t see much decline from them impending either.
11. New Jersey Devils
It’s hard to find many weaknesses in this New Jersey team. Their defense is decently above the league average, so to poke holes would be nitpicking. They allowed 2.84 goals per game last season. Very respectable.
10. Winnipeg Jets
It’s hard to accurately rate the Jets’ defense given how much they rely on Connor Hellebuyck. However, goaltenders are the last line of defense and the Jets did only 2.80 goals per game last season.
9. Minnesota Wild
The Wild’s biggest strong suit is by far their defense. Tied with the Jets at 2.80 goals allowed, the Wild find themselves above Winnipeg simply by being less reliant on their netminder.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto finally won a playoff series last year and are looking to continue that momentum. They boast a high powered offense and a solid defense to back it, having only allowed 2.76 goals per game last season. Can they finally make that deep playoff run?
7. Dallas Stars
Backboned by Jake Oettinger the Stars continue to show off how well rounded they are. They find themselves above Toronto despite the same goals allowed simply because Dallas is the more reliable team. Sorry Toronto.
6. Vegas Golden Knights
Goaltending was Vegas’ big question mark in the playoffs. Adin Hill answered that call, but he had a worthwhile defense in front of him backed by vets like Alex Pietrangelo, and former Cup winners such as Alec Martinez. They bolstered a 2.75 goals allowed.
5. Colorado Avalanche
We dare you to find Colorado’s biggest weakness. It’s certainly not their blue line. A young core sprinkled with savy vets, Colorado is a tough team to score on, only allowing 2.74 goals per game last season.
4. New York Islanders
For all their flaws offensively, the Islanders are pretty dang good defensively. Only allowing 2.70 goals per game last season, their blue line was by far their biggest strength. Hopefully they can build an identity around that.
3. New York Rangers
The Rangers would be higher, if they weren’t so reliant on Igor Shesterkin. It’s not that they have a bad blue line, it’s just that they like to take risks knowing Igor will bail them out. They still have an impressive 2.65 goals allowed per game.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Quite possibly the best team in the league and their backed by an absolute firecracker defense. Players like Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov sprinkle this blue line, and they only allowed a very impressive 2.59 goals per game.
1. Boston Bruins
The Bruins had a lot of roster changes, but I doubt it impacts their stellar defense much. With Linus Ullmark between the pipes, Boston has an absolutely jacked defensive squad that not only had a massively impressive 2.28 goals allowed average, but had a penalty kill of over 86 percent. Keep it up Bruins.
