Kale Makar sits atop a sprawling, offense-heavy era for defensemen, with Quinn Hughes nudging him as the session’s closest challenger. Adam Fox anchors the Rangers’ puck-driving backbone, and Thomas Harley’s breakout season is a marquee storyline for Dallas. Charlie McAvoy, Evan Bouchard, and Zack Werenski form a formidable mid-range tier, while Gustav Forsling, Rasmus Dahlin, Jacob Slavin, and Erik Karlsson round out a defensive corps that now defines fantasy value as much by transition play as by shut-down ability.

The dialogue underscores that the Norris conversation is as much about skating, gap control, and power-play impact as raw points. Heiskanen and Karlsson surface in lighter spots, reminding us mobility and IQ still swing fantasy upside, even if pure totals don’t always shout. Oilers fans especially should note Bouchard’s ascent, a reminder that elite defensemen now pace the fantasy game from the back end.

In practice, owners should lean into players who eat minutes, run the top power play, and push transition plays. The top five or six names are likely to be the season-long anchors, with the rest offering robust complementary value depending on team context and minutes. This top-10 map signals a shift: offense now defines a defenseman’s fantasy ceiling as much as his defensive chops did a decade ago.

Igor Shesterkin anchors the NHL’s goalie elite, with Connor Hellebuyck and Sergei Bobrovsky close behind. Andrei Vasilevskiy sits in the next tier, then Juuse Saros, Illya Sorokin, and Jeremy Swayman. Frederik Andersen and Darcy Kuemper round out the top 10, offering durability and playoff pedigree.

Context matters as much as talent: regular-season metrics mingle with playoff performance and team support. Shesterkin remains the anchor; Kuemper and Andersen provide steady workloads and potential streaming wins when the schedule is dense.

Taylor Hall’s move to Carolina could unlock more top-six ice time and lift his fantasy ceiling, especially in deeper formats. Morgan Frost in Calgary and Marco Kasper in Detroit offer sleeper appeal as their roles expand, while Jamie Benn remains a steady late-round value for multi-category leagues. Will Cuylé, Jake Neighbours, and Kiefer Sherwood emerge as useful late picks as bigger roles materialize, with Connor Bedard and other Rangers stars framed as rookie and rebound targets.

The discussion weaves through Rangers’ strong core (Mika Zibanejad, JT Miller, Artemi Panarin) and DET/NHL leaders, highlighting how minute-by-minute trajectories and line-mate contexts shape streaming and DFS decisions. It also leans into prospect ceilings and division dynamics for a season RPG-style approach.