NHL Network top 20 defensemen entering 2026-27: 5 questions

NHL Network is set to reveal its top 20 defensemen entering the 2026-27 season on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, with votes cast by NHL Network members, media, and NHL.com staff. Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche held the No. 1 spot on last year's list, followed by Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski. Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson, ranked 19th last season at age 22, is highlighted as a strong candidate for the biggest jump after recording 66 points in 82 games during the 2024-25 season.