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Ranking NHL’s 5 best defensive pairs ahead of 2024-25 season ft. Cale Makar and Devon Toews
The most successful NHL teams boast outstanding top defensive pairs that allow them to generate offense and shut down the opposition. While not every team has a high-end top defensive pairing, some teams boast their top pairing as a strength.
So, let’s take a look at the five best defensive pairings for this upcoming NHL season.
Top 5 best defensive pairings for this upcoming NHL season
#5. Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev
2024-25 is the first time Morgan Rielly truly enters the conversation as one of the best number-one defensemen in the NHL. Having Chris Tanev as a partner allows Rielly to do what he does best. Riding with Auston Matthews on the same unit allows Rielly to play a solid defensive game.
Meanwhile, Tanev gives the Toronto Maple Leafs the top right-hand shot defenseman they’ve needed for a long time. If both players flourish, the Leafs can make a deep postseason run.
#4. Alexander Romanov and Noah Dobson
Romanov and Dobson were a revelation for the New York Islanders last season. Both players flourished, with Dobson entering the conversation as one of the best defensemen in the league. This upcoming NHL season, both blueliners continue to show what they’re capable of.
Dobson will build on his 70-point season from 2023-24, while Romanov continues to be the solid shutdown defenseman the Isles have relied upon. Overall, the duo will dominate opponents, helping the Islanders secure a playoff spot in the tight Metropolitan Division.
#3. Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley
Heiskanen and Harley have established themselves as a formidable duo. Heiskanen is capable of doing everything the Stars need him to do. He can score, check and control the play. Meanwhile, Harley has become the steady presence Heiskanen needs to thrive.
In the upcoming NHL season, the duo will continue to be a fearsome force. They out-check and out-play opponents, giving the Dallas Stars an edge in the Central Division. The pairing helps Dallas make a deep postseason run that could lead to a Stanley Cup Final appearance.
#2. Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek
Hughes continues his ascent to a perennial Norris Trophy candidate defenseman. He leads the Vancouver Canucks in scoring while providing the leadership the team needs to thrive in the Pacific Division.
Meanwhile, Hronek proves he’s worth the massive contract extension he got this offseason. He becomes more than a reliable defensive partner for Hughes and a threat on the scoresheet. Together, the duo terrorizes the Western Conference as the Canucks make a deep postseason run.
#1. Cale Makar and Devon Toews
Makar and Toews have made a name for themselves as arguably the best defensive pairing in the NHL. Both players possess speed, skills, offensive ability and solid defensive instincts. While Makar is among the best five defensemen in the league, Toews could be a number-one blueliner in his own right.
The duo will have a wonderful season next year, leading the Colorado Avalanche to another successful campaign and allowing the club to tear through the competition in the playoffs. If everything goes right, the Avs could be raising another cup next season.
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