Greatest Defensemen in NHL History

NHL dynasties were built around these elite defenders.

Greatest Defensemen in NHL History

Bobby Orr is one of hockey's all-time greats.

There's something selfless about hockey defenders, the players who operate behind the blue line and go to battle with the best scorers on opposing teams.

In NHL history, franchises have built dynasties around elite defensemen over and over again. You want a Stanley Cup? It starts with them.

These are the greatest NHL defensemen of all time.

Honorable Mention: Harry Howell

Born: Dec. 28, 1932 (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Died: March 9, 2019 (Ancaster, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 21 seasons (1952-73)

Teams: New York Rangers (1952-69), Oakland Seals (1969-70), California Golden Seals (1970-71), Los Angeles Kings (1971-73)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Norris Trophies: 1 (1967)

Bottom Line: Harry Howell

Harry Howell was the last NHL player to win the Norris Trophy before expansion hit the league, and before Bobby Orr reeled off eight consecutive Norris Trophy wins.

Howell never won the Stanley Cup as a player, giving 17 seasons to the New York Rangers before he spent his final four seasons in California playing for the Oakland Seals, California Golden Seals and Los Angeles Kings.

30. P.K. Subban

Born: May 13, 1989 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 13 seasons (2009-22)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (2009-16), Nashville Predators (2016-19), New Jersey Devils (2019-22)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Norris Trophies: 1 (2013)

Bottom Line: P.K. Subban

No player cashed in more on a Norris Trophy than P.K. Subban.

He signed an eight-year, $72 million contract in 2014 after winning his first and only Norris to date.

Subban, a three-time All-Star, helped lead the Nashville Predators to their only Stanley Cup final in 2017.

29. Rob Blake

Born: Dec. 10, 1969 (Simcoe, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 21 seasons (1989-2010)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings (1989-2001, 2007-08), Colorado Avalanche (2001-06), San Jose Sharks (2008-10)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2001)

Norris Trophies: 1 (1998)

Bottom Line: Rob Blake

Rob Blake was part of the "Showtime on Ice" Los Angeles Kings teams with Wayne Gretzky in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including a run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993.

Blake won his only Norris Trophy in 1998 with the Kings and won his only Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001 alongside another all-time great defenseman, Ray Bourque.

28. Zdeno Chara

Born: March 18, 1977 (Trencin, Czechoslovakia)

Career: 24 seasons (1998-22)

Teams: New York Islanders (1998-2001), Ottawa Senators (2001-06), Boston Bruins (2006-20), Washington Capitals (2020-21), New York Islanders (2021-22)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2011)

Norris Trophies: 1 (2009)

Bottom Line: Zdeno Chara

Standing at 6-foot-9, Zdeno Chara is the tallest player in NHL history and had to have a special exemption for a longer-than-regulation stick when he joined the league in 1998.

Chara won his lone Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and won his lone Norris Trophy in 2009.

27. Ebbie Goodfellow

Born: April 9, 1907 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Died: Sept. 10, 1985 (Sarasota, Florida)

Career: 14 seasons (1929-43)

Teams: Detroit Cougars (1929-30), Detroit Falcons (1930-32), Detroit Red Wings (1932-43)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1936, 1937, 1943)

Norris Trophies: N/A

Bottom Line: Ebbie Goodfellow

Ebenezer Goodfellow, known as "Ebbie," won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. He became the first player in franchise history to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP in 1940.

In Goodfellow's final season, in 1943, head coach Jack Adams was thrown out of the playoffs, and an injured Goodfellow stepped into his role and led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup from behind the bench.

26. Babe Pratt

Born: Jan. 7, 1916 (Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada)

Died: Dec. 16, 1988 (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Career: 12 seasons (1935-47)

Teams: New York Rangers (1935-43), Toronto Maple Leafs (1943-46), Boston Bruins (1946-47)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1940, 1945)

Norris Trophies: N/A

Bottom Line: Babe Pratt

Babe Pratt was built to play in any era at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds.

He helped lead both the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs to Stanley Cup titles and won the Hart trophy as the NHL's MVP in 1944.

Pratt was banned from hockey for betting on games in 1946 but reinstated when he promised not to bet anymore.

25. King Clancy

Born: Feb. 25, 1903 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Died: Nov. 10, 1986 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 16 seasons (1921-37)

Teams: Ottawa Senators (1921-30), Toronto Maple Leafs (1930-37)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1923, 1927, 1932)

Norris Trophies: N/A

Bottom Line: King Clancy

King Clancy was the second in his family to become a Canadian sports legend following his father, a Canadian football star who also went by King Clancy.

The second King Clancy, just 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, was a dynamo on the ice and won three Stanley Cups for two different teams, the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

24. Red Kelly

Born: July 9, 1927 (Simone, Ontario, Canada)

Died: May 2, 2019 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 20 seasons (1947-67)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (1947-60), Toronto Maple Leafs (1960-67)

Stanley Cup championships: 8 (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967)

Norris Trophies: 1 (1954)

Bottom Line: Red Kelly

Red Kelly won the first Norris Trophy and won more Stanley Cups than any player in NHL history who didn't play for the Canadiens.

Kelly actually switched positions to center when he joined the Maple Leafs, becoming the only player to be part of two of the NHL's nine recognized dynasty teams.

23. Tom Johnson

Born: Feb. 18, 1928 (Baldur, Manitoba, Canada)

Died: Nov. 21, 2007 (Falmouth, Massachusetts)

Career: 17 seasons (1947-48, 1949-65)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1947-48, 1949-63), Boston Bruins (1963-65)

Stanley Cup championships: 6 (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)

Norris Trophies: 1 (1959)

Bottom Line: Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson hailed from the far reaches of Manitoba, Canada, which was an oddity when he joined the mighty Montreal Canadiens in 1947 and became a star.

Johnson won six Stanley Cups with Montreal, including five straight from 1956 to 1960.

Johnson won his lone Norris Trophy in 1959 and added another Stanley Cup in 1972 as the head coach of the Boston Bruins.

22. Jacque Laperriere

Jacque Lapierrere — Jacque Laperriere spent his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens.

Born: Nov. 22, 1941 (Bearn, Quebec, Canada)

Career: 12 seasons (1962-74)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup championships: 6 (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973)

Norris Trophies: 1 (1966)

Bottom Line: Jacques Laperriere

Fellow defenseman Bobby Orr may have gotten all the Norris Trophies, but Montreal's Jacques Laperriere stacked up the Stanley Cups.

Laperriere won six Stanley Cups in 12 seasons in the NHL and captured his lone Norris Trophy in 1966.

Laperriere played his entire career with the Habs and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

21. Tim Horton

Born: Jan. 12, 1930 (Cochrane, Ontario, Canada)

Died: Feb. 21, 1974 (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 24 seasons (1949-50 1951-74)

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (1949-50, 1951-70), New York Rangers (1969-71), Pittsburgh Penguins (1971-72), Buffalo Sabres (1972-74)

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1962, 1963, 1964, 1967)

Norris Trophies: None

Bottom Line: Tim Horton

Tim Horton won four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a millionaire off the ice by the 1960s thanks to his successful line of fast-food and donut restaurant's — aptly named Tim Horton's.

Considered one of the strongest players in NHL history, Horton died in a car accident at 44 years old after playing for the Buffalo Sabres against his former team in Toronto.

20. Victor Hedman

Born: Dec. 18, 1990 (Omskoldsvik, Sweden)

Career: 14 seasons (2009-present)

Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (2020, 2021)

Norris Trophies: 1 (2018)

Bottom Line: Victor Hedman

Victor Hedman played his way onto this list with his performance in the 2019-20 NHL season, when he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the second Stanley Cup win in franchise history.

He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoff MVP in 2020, just two years after winning his first Norris Trophy.

19. Al MacInnis

Born: July 11, 1963 (Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Career: 23 seasons (1981-2004)

Teams: Calgary Flames (1981-94), St. Louis Blues (1994-2004)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1989)

Norris Trophies: 1 (1999)

Bottom Line: Al MacInnis

Al MacInnis is arguably the greatest player in Calgary Flames history, if for no other reason than leading them to their lone Stanley Cup title in 1989 and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy the same year.

MacInnis played another decade for the St. Louis Blues to end his career, winning his only Norris Trophy in 1999.

18. Scott Niedermayer

Born: Aug. 31, 1973 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Career: 19 seasons (1991-2010)

Teams: New Jersey Devils (1991-2004), Anaheim Ducks (2005-10)

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1995, 2000, 2003, 2007)

Norris Trophies: 1 (2004)

Bottom Line: Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer's success with two different franchises, the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks, led both teams to retire his jersey.

Niedermayer won the Norris Trophy with the Devils and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP with the Ducks in 2007.

Niedermayer won four Stanley Cups in total, three with the Devils and one with the Ducks.

17. Scott Stevens

Born: April 1, 1964 (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 22 seasons (1982-2004)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1982-90), St. Louis Blues (1990-91), New Jersey Devils (1991-2004)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1995, 2000, 2003)

Norris Trophies: None

Bottom Line: Scott Stevens

Scott Stevens' physical style of play helped lead the way to three Stanley Cup titles in a 22-year career — all with the New Jersey Devils.

While Stevens never won a Norris Trophy, he did win a Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL's playoff MVP in 2000.

Stevens, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, doled out as much punishment as anyone in NHL history.

16. Erik Karlsson

Born: May 31, 1990 (Landsbro, Sweden)

Career: 14 seasons (2009-present)

Teams: Ottawa Senators (2009-18), San Jose Sharks (2018-present)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Norris Trophies: 2 (2012, 2015)

Bottom Line: Erik Karlsson

The only thing missing from Erik Karlsson's resume at this point is a Stanley Cup. He's a four-time All-Star and has won the Norris Trophy twice.

Karlsson owns almost all of the Senators' records for a defenseman from his nine seasons with the club, including a single-season record 78 points in 2012, when he won his first Norris.

15. Chris Pronger

Born: Oct. 10, 1974 (Dryden, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 19 seasons (1993-2012)

Teams: Hartford Whalers (1993-95), St. Louis Blues (1995-2004), Edmonton Oilers (2005-06), Anaheim Ducks (2006-09), Philadelphia Flyers (2009-12)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2007)

Norris Trophies: 1 (2000)

Bottom Line: Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger is one of just two defenders, alongside Bobby Orr in 1972, to win the Hart Trophy and the Norris Trophy in the same season.

For all of Pronger's accolades, he won just one Stanley Cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks and is widely considered one of the dirtiest players in NHL history.

14. Rod Langway

Born: May 3, 1957 (Taiwei, Taipan)

Career: 15 seasons (1978-93)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1978-82), Washington Capitals (1982-93)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1979)

Norris Trophies: 2 (1983, 1984)

Bottom Line: Rod Langway

Rod Langway was different from most of the players on this list in that he was not considered an offensive threat throughout his career.

He was a pure defender who won two Norris Trophies and even finished as runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Trophy in 1984.

Langway was also one of the last players in hockey who was allowed to play without a helmet because of a grandfather clause.

13. Pierre Pilote

Born: Dec. 11, 1931 (Kenogami, Quebec, Canada)

Died: Sept. 9, 2017 (Barrie, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 14 seasons (1955-69)

Teams: Chicago Blackhawks (1955-68), Toronto Maple Leafs (1968-69)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1961)

Norris Trophies: 3 (1963-65)

Bottom Line: Pierre Pilote

Pierre Pilote came out of the wilderness — literally — to become an NHL star when the hockey rink in his hometown collapsed during a storm.

Pilote had to rely on frozen lakes and ponds to sharpen his skills, didn't play his first organized game until he was 17 and went on to become one of the greatest defenders in NHL history.

12. Serge Savard

Born: Jan. 22, 1946 (Landrienne, Quebec, Canada)

Career: 17 seasons (1966-83)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1966-81), Winnipeg Jets (1981-83)

Stanley Cup championships: 8 (1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)

Norris Trophies: None

Bottom Line: Serge Savard

Few players in the history of the NHL have won on the same level as Serge Savard, who was the first defenseman to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP in 1969.

Savard spent all but his last two seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, then went back to the team to be the general manager.

11. Duncan Keith

Born: July 16, 1983 (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

Career: 17 seasons (2005-present)

Teams: Chicago Blackhawks (2020-21), Edmonton Oilers (2021-22)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (2010, 2013, 2015)

Norris Trophies: 2 (2010, 2014)

Bottom Line: Duncan Keith

Duncan Keith is a dyed-in-the-wool winner and one of the greatest defensemen in NHL history.

Keith won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks, including a unanimous Conn Smythe Trophy in 2015 as the MVP in the NHL playoffs.

He also won two Olympic gold medals for Canada.

10. Brian Leetch

Born: March 3, 1968 (Corpus Christi, Texas)

Career: 19 seasons (1987-2006)

Teams: New York Rangers (1987-2003), Toronto Maple Leafs (2003-05), Boston Bruins (2005-06)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1994)

Norris Trophies: 2 (1992, 1997)

Bottom Line: Brian Leetch

Brian Leetch is one of the few American-born players on this list.

He also is the most beloved player in New York Rangers history after leading them to the Stanley Cup in 1994 and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP — snapping a 50-year championship drought.

Leetch probably could've been an MLB pitcher if his heart had led him down that road. His fastball was being clocked in the mid-90s by the time he was a sophomore in high school.

9. Chris Chelios

Born: Jan. 25, 1962 (Chicago, Illinois)

Career: 27 seasons (1983-2010)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1983-90), Chicago Blackhawks (1990-99), Detroit Red Wings (1999-2009), Atlanta Thrashers (2009-10)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1986, 2002, 2008)

Norris Trophies: 3 (1989, 1993, 1996)

Bottom Line: Chris Chelios

Check once, check twice, check three times. Chris Chelios really did play 27 seasons in the NHL.

He holds the NHL record for most career games by a defenseman (1,651) and most career playoff games (266).

Chelios won three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies and played in the NHL until he was 48 years old.

8. Paul Coffey

Born: June 1, 1961 (Weston, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 21 seasons (1980-2001)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (1980-87), Pittsburgh Penguins (1987-92), Los Angeles Kings (1992-93), Detroit Red Wings (1993-96), Hartford Whalers (1996-97), Philadelphia Flyers (1997-98), Chicago Blackhawks (1998-99), Carolina Hurricanes (1999-2000), Boston Bruins (2000-01)

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1991)

Norris Trophies: 3 (1985, 1986, 1995)

Bottom Line: Paul Coffey

Paul Coffey was part of some of the greatest teams in NHL history.

He won two Stanley Cups with the Oilers in the mid-1980s alongside Wayne Gretzky, then won two more alongside Mario Lemieux on the Penguins in 1987 and 1991.

Add those championships to the three Norris Trophies won by Coffey, and you've got a Hall of Famer.

7. Larry Robinson

Born: June 2, 1951 (Winchester, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 20 seasons (1972-92)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1972-89), Los Angeles Kings (1989-92)

Stanley Cup championships: 6 (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986)

Norris Trophies: 2 (1977, 1980)

Bottom Line: Larry Robinson

Larry Robinson's combination of size and athleticism set him apart. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he was built more like an NFL linebacker or defensive end during his era.

"Big Bird" was also a certified winner. He won two Norris Trophies and six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP in 1978.

6. Denis Potvin

Born: Oct. 29, 1953 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 15 seasons (1973-88)

Teams: New York Islanders

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)

Norris Trophies: 3 (1976, 1978, 1979)

Bottom Line: Denis Potvin

Denis Potvin was one of the signature players on the great New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980s.

He helped the team win four consecutive Stanley Cups — which came after Potvin had already won three Norris Trophies.

Potvin's No. 5 jersey was the first to be retired in Islanders history.

5. Ray Bourque

Born: Dec. 28, 1960 (Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada)

Career: 22 seasons (1979-2001)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1979-2000), Colorado Avalanche (2000-01)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2001)

Norris Trophies: 5 (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994)

Bottom Line: Ray Bourque

Ray Bourque famously won his lone Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in the final game of his career, but his Hall of Fame career was defined by his time with the Boston Bruins.

Bourque won five Norris Trophies in Boston and was named to the All-Star team a staggering 19 times out of 22 seasons.

4. Eddie Shore

Born: Nov. 25, 1902 (Fort Qu'Appelle, Northwest Territories, Canada)

Died: March 16, 1985 (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Career: 14 seasons (1926-40)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1926-40), New York Americans (1940)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1929, 1939)

Norris Trophies: N/A

Bottom Line: Eddie Shore

The Norris Trophy wasn't around to win during Eddie Shore's career, but if it would have been, he may have approached Bobby Orr's record eight wins.

All Shore had to win was the NHL MVP award, the Hart Trophy, which he won four times.

Shore, who was known for his violent behavior on the ice, also won two Stanley Cups for the Bruins.

3. Doug Harvey

Born: Dec. 19, 1924 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Died: Dec. 26, 1989 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Career: 20 seasons (1947-64, 1966-69)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1947-61), New York Rangers (1961-64), Detroit Red Wings (1966-67), St. Louis Blues (1967-69)

Stanley Cup championships: 6 (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)

Norris Trophies: 7 (1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)

Bottom Line: Doug Harvey

One of the greatest defenders in NHL history, Doug Harvey was also a Canadian football and baseball star in his youth.

Harvey helped lead the Canadiens to six Stanley Cup titles and played in the finals a further five times.

Harvey's seven Norris Trophies are tied with Nicklas Lidstrom for second all-time, and he was a 12-time All-Star.

2. Nicklas Lidstrom

Born: April 28, 1970 (Krylbo, Sweden)

Career: 20 seasons (1992-2012)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)

Norris Trophies: 7 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011)

Bottom Line: Nicklas Lidstrom

Nicklas Lidstrom's seven Norris Trophies are second only to Bobby Orr.

He became the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP in 2002 — one of four years he led the Detroit Red Wings to victories in the Stanley Cup finals.

1. Bobby Orr

Born: March 20, 1948 (Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada)

Career: 12 seasons (1966-76, 1978-79)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1966-76), Chicago Blackhawks (1976-77, 1978-79)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1970, 1972)

Norris Trophies: 8 (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)

Bottom Line: Bobby Orr

The argument for the greatest hockey player of all time usually comes down to Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. A good case can be made for Orr.

The picture of the 22-year-old Orr, airborne after scoring the game-winning goal in the 1970 Stanley Cup finals, is one of the most iconic images in NHL history.

Orr won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins, won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defensemen eight consecutive years and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP three straight years. It's tough to argue with that.