Alright, listen up, y’all. We gonna talk about them fellas on the ice, the ones keepin’ the puck outta the net. You know, the best defensemen in the NHL.
First off, what them fellas gotta do? Well, it ain’t rocket science. They gotta stop them other guys from scorin’. Simple as that. They gotta be like a wall, a big ol’ brick wall in front of that goalie. Gotta stay between the puck and the net, that’s what I always say. If they don’t do that, well, then the other team’s gonna be scorin’ all day long, and nobody wants that.
Now, some of these defensemen, they ain’t just stoppin’ pucks. They’re good at puttin’ the puck in the net, too! Like that fella, Orr, they used to talk about. Heard tell he won the scorin’ title, can you believe that? A defenseman! And he won all sorts of fancy trophies, too. Hart, Norris, somethin’ called Conn Smythe… sounded real important. He must’ve been one heck of a player, that’s for sure.
These days, there’s all sorts of new names. Them folks on the TV, they got their lists and their rankings. Talkin’ about fellas like Makar and Hughes. Heard Makar won that Norris trophy, just like Orr. Must be somethin’ special about that trophy. And then there’s this Slavin fella. They say he’s the best at just playin’ defense, not fancy, just solid. Keeps them other guys from gettin’ good shots, that’s what matters.
- Keepin’ the other team from shootin’ good. That’s the main thing, y’all. Gotta be tough, gotta be smart.
- Bein’ in the right spot. Can’t be chasin’ butterflies out there. Gotta know where to stand.
- Helpin’ out on offense. Some of ’em can really shoot the puck, and that’s a bonus.
They got these video games now, you know, NHL 24 and such. They got rankings in them games too. Talkin’ about Matheson and Ekman-Larsson… I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout them young fellas. But them kids, they pay attention to that stuff. Guess it matters to some folks. But for me, I just wanna see ‘em play good defense, keep them pucks out.
It’s important to remember that being a good defenseman ain’t just about points. Sure, scorin’ is nice, but a good defenseman is reliable, steady. They’re the ones you can count on when the game’s on the line. They’re the ones who block shots, who clear the puck outta the zone, who make the simple plays that win games. Them fellas ain’t always flashy, but they’re darn important.
Last year, they said eight defensemen got more than 60 points. That’s a lot, I reckon. Seems like defensemen are gettin’ more involved in the scorin’ these days. But don’t you forget, their main job is still defense. Gotta protect that net, gotta keep the other team off the scoreboard. That’s what makes a good defenseman, a real good defenseman. Not just fancy plays and points, but grit and determination. They gotta be tough, they gotta be smart, and they gotta be willin’ to sacrifice their body to stop that puck. That’s what makes ‘em the best.
So next time you’re watchin’ a hockey game, pay attention to them defensemen. They ain’t always in the spotlight, but they’re the backbone of the team. They’re the ones doin’ the dirty work, the ones makin’ the plays that don’t always show up on the scoresheet. And them are the fellas, the real heroes of the game.
Tags: NHL, Defensemen, Hockey, Best Defensemen, NHL Rankings, Defensive Players, Orr, Makar, Hughes, Slavin
