Now, possibly more than ever before, are No.1 defenseman as valuable as they are in the NHL. So much so that there is a strong belief that a team needs a No.1 defenseman or incredible depth to win the Stanley Cup.
The No.1 defenseman can come in different forms. Some, like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, are offensive dynamos who can be trusted to play strong defensive games. Others, like Gustav Forsling or Miro Heiskanen, can provide plenty of offense, but their value comes from their ability to shut down their opponents' top players.
With the game of hockey always evolving, the importance of certain positions change, and currently, the value of defenseman might be considered the second most important position after centers.
Here are five NHL defenseman with the most to prove in the 2025-26 season.
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Fox is a Norris Trophy winner who’s led the New York Rangers and its blueline on multiple deep playoff runs. The 2024-25 season may have been Fox’s worst season as an NHL player, and it’s no surprise that the Rangers followed suit.
His offensive numbers were great, scoring 10 goals and 61 points in 71 games, but the defensive side of the puck is where the 27-year-old struggled. Throughout his career, he’s been consistent on both sides of the puck, but it was a real struggle last year. Fox nearly lost his spot on Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he played the fewest minutes among American defensemen in the final.
The Rangers signed Vladislav Gavrikov to a long-term deal this off-season, providing Fox with a top-end defense partner. The Rangers need Fox to bounce back if they have any hope of making the playoffs.
Five NHL Centers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26What makes sports, and hockey specifically, unique and intriguing are storylines. In the NHL, it's the off-ice drama, milestone-chasing and pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Like Fox, the 2024-25 season was a poor campaign for the Maple Leafs defenseman. He was taken off the top power play unit several times, first replaced by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, before Mitch Marner quarterbacked the top unit with five forwards. With Marner off to Vegas, the Leafs need more from their 31-year-old alternate captain.
Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev will continue to take on the bulk of the tough matchups, and a full season playing alongside Brandon Carlo should put Rielly in a better situation to produce offense.
Rielly has been included in plenty of trade speculation, and if he doesn’t prove he can be the top-earning defenseman on the Leafs, the talks will only intensify.
Bowen Byram, Buffalo Sabres
Byram was finally healthy last season, playing in all 82 games and setting a career high in points with 38. He averaged a career-high in ice time as well and began to show that he can play as a top-four defenseman.
When drafted to the Colorado Avalanche fourth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, the vision was that he and Makar would lead the Avs' blueline for years to come. Injuries hampered his opportunities, and he was moved to the Sabres. He’s been solid since joining the Sabres, yet the 24-year-old remains in serious trade talks.
Byram and the Sabres agreed to a two-year contract extension in the off-season, and it’s approaching the time where Byram needs to prove he is a top-four caliber defenseman.
Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins
Karlsson remains in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup, and unless something drastic were to occur, it’s not going to happen in Pittsburgh. Karlsson is entering year seven of an eight-year, $11.5 million contract, a hefty price tag for a 35-year-old.
His first two seasons with the Penguins followed his 100-point campaign, and while it was understood that he wouldn’t reach those heights again, his consecutive 50-point seasons are respectable.
Karlsson could be traded, but he’ll have to prove to GMs around the NHL that he can be both productive and sound enough defensively to warrant trading for a cap hit that high.
Noah Dobson, Montreal Canadiens
Dobson never looked settled in his final season with the New York Islanders, and trade rumors began to pick up steam before the Islanders won the lottery and selected Matthew Schaefer. He finished the season with 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games, well below his 70 points in 79 games the season prior.
The 25-year-old is joining a Canadiens franchise with high expectations after making the playoffs last year. Although there are some questions about how he’ll fit in Montreal with Lane Hutson, the expectation is that Dobson performs to a very high level.
Sharing power play time with Hutson may make it difficult for Dobson to record 70 points, but 40-50 points seems like the line Dobson needs to hit.
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