Defence contract rankings
Graded defencemen ranked by surplus. The best list runs from the largest bargain down; the worst list starts with the biggest overpay.
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Best value defencemen
| # | Player | Team | Pos | Cap hit | Expected | Surplus | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quinn Hughes | MIN | D | $7.9M | $20.8M | +$13M | A+ |
| 2 | Zach Werenski | CBJ | D | $9.6M | $17.4M | +$7.8M | A+ |
| 3 | Miro Heiskanen | DAL | D | $8.5M | $14.2M | +$5.7M | A+ |
| 4 | Moritz Seider | DET | D | $8.6M | $14.2M | +$5.6M | A+ |
| 5 | Brock Faber | MIN | D | $8.5M | $14M | +$5.5M | A+ |
| 6 | Jake Sanderson | OTT | D | $8.1M | $13.2M | +$5.2M | A+ |
| 7 | Josh Morrissey | WPG | D | $6.3M | $11.4M | +$5.2M | A+ |
| 8 | Filip Hronek | VAN | D | $7.3M | $11.9M | +$4.7M | A |
| 9 | Travis Sanheim | PHI | D | $6.3M | $10.8M | +$4.5M | A |
| 10 | Cale Makar | COL | D | $9M | $13.5M | +$4.5M | A |
| 11 | Yan Kuznetsov | CGY | D | $813K | $4.8M | +$4M | A |
| 12 | Wyatt Kaiser | CHI | D | $1.7M | $5.1M | +$3.4M | A |
| 13 | Parker Wotherspoon | VGK | D | $1M | $4.3M | +$3.3M | A |
| 14 | Mattias Samuelsson | BUF | D | $4.3M | $7.6M | +$3.3M | A |
| 15 | Adam Wilsby | NSH | D | $775K | $3.9M | +$3.1M | A |
| 16 | Mikhail Sergachev | UTA | D | $8.5M | $11.5M | +$3M | A |
| 17 | Charle-Edouard D'Astous | TBL | D | $875K | $3.9M | +$3M | B |
| 18 | Ryker Evans | SEA | D | $2.1M | $5M | +$2.9M | B |
| 19 | Andrew Peeke | UTA | D | $1M | $3.9M | +$2.9M | B |
| 20 | Matthew Robertson | NYR | D | $775K | $3.6M | +$2.8M | B |
| 21 | Lane Hutson | MTL | D | $8.9M | $11.6M | +$2.8M | B |
| 22 | Alex Vlasic | CHI | D | $4.6M | $7.3M | +$2.7M | B |
| 23 | Jackson LaCombe | ANA | D | $9M | $11.6M | +$2.6M | B |
| 24 | Zach Whitecloud | CGY | D | $2.8M | $5.3M | +$2.5M | B |
| 25 | Charlie McAvoy | BOS | D | $9.5M | $11.9M | +$2.4M | B |
| 26 | Drew Helleson | ANA | D | $1.1M | $3.5M | +$2.4M | B |
| 27 | Matt Grzelcyk | BUF | D | $850K | $3.1M | +$2.3M | B |
| 28 | Max Crozier | TBL | D | $775K | $3.1M | +$2.3M | B |
| 29 | Mikey Anderson | LAK | D | $4.1M | $6.4M | +$2.3M | B |
| 30 | Tyler Kleven | OTT | D | $1.6M | $3.8M | +$2.2M | B |
| 31 | Jonathan Aspirot | BOS | D | $888K | $3.1M | +$2.2M | B |
| 32 | Louis Crevier | BUF | D | $900K | $3.1M | +$2.2M | B |
| 33 | Cam York | PHI | D | $5.2M | $7.3M | +$2.2M | B |
| 34 | Erik Gustafsson | LAK | D | $1M | $3.1M | +$2.1M | B |
| 35 | Scott Morrow | NYR | D | $850K | $2.9M | +$2.1M | B |
| 36 | Brent Burns | COL | D | $850K | $2.9M | +$2.1M | B Veteran discount |
| 37 | Roman Josi | NSH | D | $9.1M | $11.1M | +$2M | B |
| 38 | John Marino | UTA | D | $4.4M | $6.4M | +$2M | B |
| 39 | Jack St. Ivany | WSH | D | $775K | $2.7M | +$1.9M | B |
| 40 | Esa Lindell | DAL | D | $5.3M | $7.2M | +$1.9M | B |
| 41 | Mike Matheson | MTL | D | $6M | $7.9M | +$1.9M | B |
| 42 | Troy Stecher | TOR | D | $1.4M | $3.2M | +$1.9M | B |
| 43 | Albert Johansson | DET | D | $1.1M | $3M | +$1.9M | B |
| 44 | Evan Bouchard | EDM | D | $10.5M | $12.3M | +$1.8M | B |
| 45 | Kevin Bahl | CGY | D | $5.4M | $7.1M | +$1.8M | B |
| 46 | Simon Benoit | PHI | D | $1.4M | $3.1M | +$1.8M | B |
| 47 | Logan Stanley | NYI | D | $1.5M | $3.2M | +$1.7M | B |
| 48 | Mario Ferraro | WPG | D | $4M | $5.7M | +$1.7M | B |
| 49 | Sean Walker | CAR | D | $3.6M | $5.3M | +$1.7M | B |
| 50 | Nolan Allan | SJS | D | $875K | $2.6M | +$1.7M | B |
| # | Player | Team | Pos | Cap hit | Expected | Surplus | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Schaefer ELC | NYI | D | $975K | $15.5M | +$14.6M | A+ |
| 2 | Quinn Hughes | MIN | D | $7.9M | $20.8M | +$13M | A+ |
| 3 | Zach Werenski | CBJ | D | $9.6M | $17.4M | +$7.8M | A+ |
| 4 | Denton Mateychuk ELC | CBJ | D | $887K | $6.7M | +$5.8M | A+ |
| 5 | Miro Heiskanen | DAL | D | $8.5M | $14.2M | +$5.7M | A+ |
| 6 | Artyom Levshunov ELC | CHI | D | $975K | $6.7M | +$5.7M | A+ |
| 7 | Moritz Seider | DET | D | $8.6M | $14.2M | +$5.6M | A+ |
| 8 | Zeev Buium ELC | VAN | D | $967K | $6.6M | +$5.6M | A+ |
| 9 | Brock Faber | MIN | D | $8.5M | $14M | +$5.5M | A+ |
| 10 | Jake Sanderson | OTT | D | $8.1M | $13.2M | +$5.2M | A+ |
| 11 | Josh Morrissey | WPG | D | $6.3M | $11.4M | +$5.2M | A+ |
| 12 | Filip Hronek | VAN | D | $7.3M | $11.9M | +$4.7M | A |
| 13 | Travis Sanheim | PHI | D | $6.3M | $10.8M | +$4.5M | A |
| 14 | Cale Makar | COL | D | $9M | $13.5M | +$4.5M | A |
| 15 | Cole Hutson ELC | WSH | D | $975K | $5.3M | +$4.4M | A |
| 16 | Yan Kuznetsov | CGY | D | $813K | $4.8M | +$4M | A |
| 17 | Elias Salomonsson ELC | WPG | D | $815K | $4.8M | +$4M | A |
| 18 | Wyatt Kaiser | CHI | D | $1.7M | $5.1M | +$3.4M | A |
| 19 | Parker Wotherspoon | VGK | D | $1M | $4.3M | +$3.3M | A |
| 20 | Mattias Samuelsson | BUF | D | $4.3M | $7.6M | +$3.3M | A |
| 21 | Adam Wilsby | NSH | D | $775K | $3.9M | +$3.1M | A |
| 22 | Sam Rinzel ELC | CHI | D | $942K | $4M | +$3M | A |
| 23 | Mikhail Sergachev | UTA | D | $8.5M | $11.5M | +$3M | A |
| 24 | Charle-Edouard D'Astous | TBL | D | $875K | $3.9M | +$3M | B |
| 25 | Zayne Parekh ELC | CGY | D | $975K | $4M | +$3M | B |
| 26 | Ryker Evans | SEA | D | $2.1M | $5M | +$2.9M | B |
| 27 | Andrew Peeke | UTA | D | $1M | $3.9M | +$2.9M | B |
| 28 | Matthew Robertson | NYR | D | $775K | $3.6M | +$2.8M | B |
| 29 | Lane Hutson | MTL | D | $8.9M | $11.6M | +$2.8M | B |
| 30 | Alex Vlasic | CHI | D | $4.6M | $7.3M | +$2.7M | B |
| 31 | Jackson LaCombe | ANA | D | $9M | $11.6M | +$2.6M | B |
| 32 | Zach Whitecloud | CGY | D | $2.8M | $5.3M | +$2.5M | B |
| 33 | Elias Pettersson ELC | VAN | D | $838K | $3.3M | +$2.4M | B |
| 34 | Charlie McAvoy | BOS | D | $9.5M | $11.9M | +$2.4M | B |
| 35 | Drew Helleson | ANA | D | $1.1M | $3.5M | +$2.4M | B |
| 36 | Matt Grzelcyk | BUF | D | $850K | $3.1M | +$2.3M | B |
| 37 | Emil Lilleberg ELC | TBL | D | $800K | $3.1M | +$2.3M | B |
| 38 | Max Crozier | TBL | D | $775K | $3.1M | +$2.3M | B |
| 39 | Mikey Anderson | LAK | D | $4.1M | $6.4M | +$2.3M | B |
| 40 | Tyler Kleven | OTT | D | $1.6M | $3.8M | +$2.2M | B |
| 41 | Jonathan Aspirot | BOS | D | $888K | $3.1M | +$2.2M | B |
| 42 | Louis Crevier | BUF | D | $900K | $3.1M | +$2.2M | B |
| 43 | Cam York | PHI | D | $5.2M | $7.3M | +$2.2M | B |
| 44 | Erik Gustafsson | LAK | D | $1M | $3.1M | +$2.1M | B |
| 45 | Scott Morrow | NYR | D | $850K | $2.9M | +$2.1M | B |
| 46 | Brent Burns | COL | D | $850K | $2.9M | +$2.1M | B Veteran discount |
| 47 | Roman Josi | NSH | D | $9.1M | $11.1M | +$2M | B |
| 48 | John Marino | UTA | D | $4.4M | $6.4M | +$2M | B |
| 49 | Dmitri Simashev ELC | UTA | D | $950K | $2.9M | +$2M | B |
| 50 | Jack St. Ivany | WSH | D | $775K | $2.7M | +$1.9M | B |
Worst defence contracts
| # | Player | Team | Pos | Cap hit | Expected | Surplus | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Hedman | TBL | D | $8M | $3.5M | -$4.5M | F |
| 2 | Erik Karlsson | PIT | D | $11.5M | $7.5M | -$4M | F |
| 3 | Drew Doughty | LAK | D | $11M | $7.3M | -$3.7M | F |
| 4 | Jared Spurgeon | MIN | D | $7.6M | $4.2M | -$3.4M | F |
| 5 | Pavel Mintyukov | ANA | D | $7.2M | $4M | -$3.2M | F |
| 6 | Jake Walman | EDM | D | $7M | $3.9M | -$3.1M | F |
| 7 | Dougie Hamilton | NJD | D | $9M | $6.2M | -$2.8M | D |
| 8 | Darnell Nurse | SJS | D | $9.3M | $6.6M | -$2.6M | D |
| 9 | Brandt Clarke | LAK | D | $7.4M | $4.9M | -$2.5M | D |
| 10 | Dmitry Orlov | SJS | D | $6.5M | $4M | -$2.5M | D |
| 11 | John Carlson | TBL | D | $8.5M | $6M | -$2.5M | D |
| 12 | Noah Dobson | MTL | D | $9.5M | $7.4M | -$2.1M | D |
| 13 | Jamie Oleksiak | VAN | D | $5M | $3M | -$2M | D |
| 14 | Trevor van Riemsdyk | PIT | D | $4M | $2.1M | -$1.9M | D |
| 15 | Darren Raddysh | TOR | D | $8.5M | $6.7M | -$1.8M | D |
| 16 | Jacob Trouba | SJS | D | $8.3M | $6.6M | -$1.6M | D |
| 17 | Nicolas Hague | NSH | D | $5.5M | $3.9M | -$1.6M | D |
| 18 | Sam Malinski | COL | D | $4.8M | $3.2M | -$1.6M | D |
| 19 | Simon Nemec | CGY | D | $7.3M | $5.8M | -$1.5M | D |
| 20 | Morgan Rielly | TOR | D | $7.5M | $6.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 21 | Michael Kesselring | SJS | D | $4.5M | $3.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 22 | Rasmus Andersson | VGK | D | $8.5M | $7.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 23 | Scott Mayfield | NYI | D | $3.5M | $2.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 24 | Erik Cernak | TBL | D | $5.2M | $3.9M | -$1.3M | D |
| 25 | Chris Tanev | TOR | D | $4.5M | $3.3M | -$1.2M | D |
| 26 | Jakob Chychrun | WSH | D | $9M | $7.8M | -$1.2M | D |
| 27 | Cody Ceci | LAK | D | $4.5M | $3.3M | -$1.2M | D |
| 28 | Thomas Harley | DAL | D | $10.6M | $9.4M | -$1.2M | D |
| 29 | Luke Schenn | VAN | D | $2.3M | $1.1M | -$1.1M | D |
| 30 | Josh Manson | COL | D | $4M | $2.9M | -$1.1M | D |
| 31 | Ilya Lyubushkin | NSH | D | $3.3M | $2.2M | -$1.1M | D |
| 32 | Sean Durzi | NYR | D | $6M | $5M | -$1M | D |
| 33 | Ryan Pulock | NYI | D | $6.2M | $5.1M | -$1M | D |
| 34 | Jordan Spence | OTT | D | $5M | $4M | -$1M | D |
| 35 | Brenden Dillon | NJD | D | $4M | $3M | -$978K | C |
| 36 | Cam Fowler | STL | D | $6.1M | $5.1M | -$968K | C |
| 37 | Martin Fehérváry | WSH | D | $6M | $5M | -$957K | C |
| 38 | Vincent Desharnais | WSH | D | $4.2M | $3.3M | -$949K | C |
| 39 | J.J. Moser | TBL | D | $6.8M | $5.8M | -$928K | C |
| 40 | Ian Cole | CHI | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$924K | C |
| 41 | Brian Dumoulin | LAK | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$922K | C |
| 42 | Kris Letang | PIT | D | $6.1M | $5.2M | -$908K | C |
| 43 | Ryan McDonagh | TBL | D | $4.1M | $3.2M | -$905K | C |
| 44 | Dante Fabbro | CBJ | D | $4.1M | $3.2M | -$898K | C |
| 45 | Jeremy Lauzon | VGK | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$892K | C |
| 46 | Matt Roy | WSH | D | $5.8M | $5M | -$727K | C |
| 47 | Ryan Lindgren | SEA | D | $4.5M | $3.8M | -$722K | C |
| 48 | Connor Murphy | EDM | D | $4.1M | $3.5M | -$644K | C |
| 49 | Brett Kulak | COL | D | $4.5M | $3.9M | -$633K | C |
| 50 | Braden Schneider | NYR | D | $5.5M | $4.9M | -$632K | C |
| # | Player | Team | Pos | Cap hit | Expected | Surplus | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Hedman | TBL | D | $8M | $3.5M | -$4.5M | F |
| 2 | Erik Karlsson | PIT | D | $11.5M | $7.5M | -$4M | F |
| 3 | Drew Doughty | LAK | D | $11M | $7.3M | -$3.7M | F |
| 4 | Jared Spurgeon | MIN | D | $7.6M | $4.2M | -$3.4M | F |
| 5 | Pavel Mintyukov | ANA | D | $7.2M | $4M | -$3.2M | F |
| 6 | Jake Walman | EDM | D | $7M | $3.9M | -$3.1M | F |
| 7 | Dougie Hamilton | NJD | D | $9M | $6.2M | -$2.8M | D |
| 8 | Darnell Nurse | SJS | D | $9.3M | $6.6M | -$2.6M | D |
| 9 | Brandt Clarke | LAK | D | $7.4M | $4.9M | -$2.5M | D |
| 10 | Dmitry Orlov | SJS | D | $6.5M | $4M | -$2.5M | D |
| 11 | John Carlson | TBL | D | $8.5M | $6M | -$2.5M | D |
| 12 | Noah Dobson | MTL | D | $9.5M | $7.4M | -$2.1M | D |
| 13 | Jamie Oleksiak | VAN | D | $5M | $3M | -$2M | D |
| 14 | Trevor van Riemsdyk | PIT | D | $4M | $2.1M | -$1.9M | D |
| 15 | Darren Raddysh | TOR | D | $8.5M | $6.7M | -$1.8M | D |
| 16 | Jacob Trouba | SJS | D | $8.3M | $6.6M | -$1.6M | D |
| 17 | Nicolas Hague | NSH | D | $5.5M | $3.9M | -$1.6M | D |
| 18 | Sam Malinski | COL | D | $4.8M | $3.2M | -$1.6M | D |
| 19 | Simon Nemec | CGY | D | $7.3M | $5.8M | -$1.5M | D |
| 20 | Morgan Rielly | TOR | D | $7.5M | $6.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 21 | Michael Kesselring | SJS | D | $4.5M | $3.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 22 | Rasmus Andersson | VGK | D | $8.5M | $7.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 23 | Scott Mayfield | NYI | D | $3.5M | $2.1M | -$1.4M | D |
| 24 | Erik Cernak | TBL | D | $5.2M | $3.9M | -$1.3M | D |
| 25 | Chris Tanev | TOR | D | $4.5M | $3.3M | -$1.2M | D |
| 26 | Jakob Chychrun | WSH | D | $9M | $7.8M | -$1.2M | D |
| 27 | Cody Ceci | LAK | D | $4.5M | $3.3M | -$1.2M | D |
| 28 | Thomas Harley | DAL | D | $10.6M | $9.4M | -$1.2M | D |
| 29 | Luke Schenn | VAN | D | $2.3M | $1.1M | -$1.1M | D |
| 30 | Josh Manson | COL | D | $4M | $2.9M | -$1.1M | D |
| 31 | Ilya Lyubushkin | NSH | D | $3.3M | $2.2M | -$1.1M | D |
| 32 | Sean Durzi | NYR | D | $6M | $5M | -$1M | D |
| 33 | Ryan Pulock | NYI | D | $6.2M | $5.1M | -$1M | D |
| 34 | Jordan Spence | OTT | D | $5M | $4M | -$1M | D |
| 35 | Brenden Dillon | NJD | D | $4M | $3M | -$978K | C |
| 36 | Cam Fowler | STL | D | $6.1M | $5.1M | -$968K | C |
| 37 | Martin Fehérváry | WSH | D | $6M | $5M | -$957K | C |
| 38 | Vincent Desharnais | WSH | D | $4.2M | $3.3M | -$949K | C |
| 39 | J.J. Moser | TBL | D | $6.8M | $5.8M | -$928K | C |
| 40 | Ian Cole | CHI | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$924K | C |
| 41 | Brian Dumoulin | LAK | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$922K | C |
| 42 | Kris Letang | PIT | D | $6.1M | $5.2M | -$908K | C |
| 43 | Ryan McDonagh | TBL | D | $4.1M | $3.2M | -$905K | C |
| 44 | Dante Fabbro | CBJ | D | $4.1M | $3.2M | -$898K | C |
| 45 | Jeremy Lauzon | VGK | D | $4M | $3.1M | -$892K | C |
| 46 | Matt Roy | WSH | D | $5.8M | $5M | -$727K | C |
| 47 | Ryan Lindgren | SEA | D | $4.5M | $3.8M | -$722K | C |
| 48 | Connor Murphy | EDM | D | $4.1M | $3.5M | -$644K | C |
| 49 | Brett Kulak | COL | D | $4.5M | $3.9M | -$633K | C |
| 50 | Braden Schneider | NYR | D | $5.5M | $4.9M | -$632K | C |