Top 10 Two Way Defensemen in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
By Isaiah Bouchard
The 2023 NHL entry draft is getting ever closer to hockey fans, and the excitement fans have for who their teams are going to draft this year is ever higher as the regular seasons across the globe are coming to an end, and playoff season is just around the corner. And there is a lot for fans to be excited for this year, as the draft is looking like one of the strongest in years.
Connor Bedard is looking increasingly like a franchise-level player, rivaling the likes of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Nathan Mackinnon, Austin Matthews, and Connor McDavid. Adam Fantilli would have been a first-overall pick in arguably the last six drafts, Leo Carlsson is the next big center to come out of Sweden, and he is a must-grab in the top 5. And, of course, there is the Russian sniper: Matvei Michkov, who, despite being signed to the KHL until 2026, is so good that any team picking in the top 5 will be more than willing to wait for the Russian star.
But after the big 4 in this year’s draft, who fills out the remaining slots is always an exciting mystery come draft day. Teams must allocate their scouting resources to best support the organization’s roster on draft day. Who needs the top defensemen? Say, over-the-top sniper or goaltender? That is why we at DraftPro are excited to present an in-depth look at every position and who best thrives in that position. Who is the best sniper? The best power forward? offensive defensemen? Hopefully, after this 8-part series, all these questions will be answered.
Seven DraftPro scouts were asked their top 5-7 players for the following positions: sniper, playmaker, two-way forward, power forward, offensive defenseman, defensive defenseman, two-way defenseman, and goaltender. Their lists were recorded separately, and then once all seven scouts handed in their lists, their results were compared to one another. The final lists you read here determined the average each player placed. This is not a ranking of the best players overall, simply a ranking of who is the best for each given position. Players may be placed on multiple lists, as many players are not one-dimensional, and can not be forced into one category.
Thank you to the following scouts for providing their lists: Jared Brown, Matt Hnatiuk, Tyler Karoway, Andrew LeBlanc, Murray Caldwell, Andy Miller, and Jody Horak.
The two-way defenseman is what many consider to be the norm for a modern-day defenseman. As the name suggests, the two-way defensemen excel at both ends of the ice. As the game gets faster, being able to assist the offense in any way has become a more and more crucial aspect of a defender’s game. But while offensive defensemen are growing popular as well. Their lack of focus on the defensive end can harm their team at times. Coaches expect more from their defensemen these days, so a good two-way defenseman is, of course, going to grow in popularity as the game evolves. As utility in players continues to grow in importance.
So who are the best two-way defensemen in the 2023 NHL draft class? Here are DraftPro’s TOP 10 Two Way Defensemen:
First, here are the honorable mentions, players who did not have enough consensus in our scout’s analysis to crack the top ten or players who seemed to fit other roles better: Paul Fischer, Dimitry Simashev, Mikhail Gulyayev, Andrew Strathman, Theo Lindstein, Beau Akey, and Maxim Strbak.
Aram Minnetian, Boston College, NCAA, #61-71 overall (2nd-3rd Round).
“Minnetian is the most well-rounded defenseman in the NSDP. Called upon to play in big situations and is a commanding presence on the blue line.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
To start off this list, we have a solid late-2nd-round defenseman in the draft, Aram Minnetian. As Andrew said, Minnetian has been building a reputation in the American leagues. Mainly the USHL and NSDP. In the NSDP particularly, he has a very respectful 22 assists and 7 goals. Minnetian is just about what you expect from a second-round two-way D- Man, he’s reliable and will likely fit in anywhere he ends up going.
Oliver Bonk, London Knights, OHL, #23-33 overall (1st-2nd Round).
“Plays a smart, defensive game, makes good breakout passes, has a great shot from the offensive blue line, and is not afraid to skate It up when the opportunity presents itself.” – Jody Horak.
Suspect to see Oliver Bonk a lot on these lists, as Oliver Bonk offers a lot as a defenseman. Some two-way defensemen will tend to favor either offense or defense over the other, and think of Oliver Bonk as a two-way defenseman who favors offense. And with his awesome shooting, Oliver Bonk can be relied upon to play both roles whenever needed. But don’t shirk too much on his defense, as his skating allows him to recover easily when the opposing breakout forces the team back.
Tom Willander, Rögle BK J20, J20 Nationell, #32-42 overall (1st-2nd Round).
“Willander uses his excellent skating and four-way mobility effectively on both sides of the puck. He can lead the rush and act as a fourth forward occasionally off the Ozone cycle. Then he uses his feet to manage the opposing rush and close his gaps quickly when the carrier is along the boards, forcing them into making a challenging play with the puck.” – Jared Brown.
Willander also makes a second appearance on these lists, as, like Bonk, Willander offers a lot offensively for his team. Willander is going to be a great second-round pick, as he provides a very dynamic and effective playstyle.
Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks, WHL, #37-47 overall (2nd Round).
“Excellent 2-way defender. Steers opponents to the outside that break through the middle. Has a laser of a wrist shot and a heavy slap shot.” – Murray Caldwell.
Luca Cagnoni has been building up a reputation as an offensive defenseman, but his defensive abilities shouldn’t be overlooked. Sure, he has 64 points in 67 games, that sure seems like an offensive defenseman, but I would argue what separates Cagnoni apart from other offensive defensemen is his defensive qualities. Excellent positioning and vision let him play those big defensive minutes as well. A very versatile defenseman overall, much like Bonk and Willander.
Caden Price, Kelowna Rockets, WHL, #31-41 overall (1st-2nd Round).
“Top pairing defenseman in his young career, he plays in all situations. Smooth skating defender who has excellent speed in reverse, creates a lot of turnovers due to his speed, stamina of a mule, elite IQ with a mountain of strength, grit, determination, intensity, drive, and willingness to outwork the opponent.” – Murray Caldwell.
Another defenseman to come out of the WHL with exceptional offensive abilities, Price is similar to Cagnoni in many ways. But what makes him a great two-way defender as well is his pest-like playstyle. Being a hard-working player on both ends of the ice, Price’s mindset and drive will naturally make him a tough defenseman to play against.
Hunter Brzustewics, Kitchner Rangers, OHL, #22-32 overall (1st Round).
“Hunter is a player that shows excellent confidence as well as poise at either end of the ice. He is very capable of stopping the opposition with smart defensive play or making excellent passing plays to create offensive zone chances. Offensively he reads plays well and jumps into open areas to become an option for his linemates. Defensively he closes out that space quickly to force the opponent to rush their play.” – Matt Hnatiuk.
With 51 assists, Brzustewics plays exactly how every coach wants their defense to play. That is, really well in every position on the ice. Like many on this list, Brzustewics is an outstanding offensive player, who does not sacrifice any defensive qualities to his game. Suspect Brzustewics to make the big passes by finding those passing lanes. This quality alone makes him an outstanding two-way D-Man, but his accuracy and cautious behavior make him a stout defender as well.
Cameron Allen, Guelph Storm, OHL, #35-45 overall (2nd Round).
“Allen is a very talented two-way defenseman. He doesn’t have the skill set of Brzustewicz yet, but he can defend much better than Brzustewicz does. Allen skates well and can start a breakout effectively.” – Andy Miller.
Cameron Allen is our first two-way defenseman who is defensive first, and offense second. This is usually the case, but this year is a big draft year for offensive defensemen, so there will naturally be some overlap. Allen may be under 6 feet, but he doesn’t play like it and is not afraid to throw the body around. Allen also has excellent leadership qualities, as he led Team Canada to gold in the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He also led the whole tournament in assists. Since then, Allen has cruised his way through this season in Guelph, being the top stud defenseman that he seems almost destined to be.
Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon Blades, WHL, #24-34 overall (1st-2nd Round).
“His aggressiveness along the boards, his relentless on puck carriers, and defensive stickwork make an absolute pain to play against. Once he gets the puck off the opposition’s stick, the puck is up ice in a blink of an eye from one his laser quick passes, and he’s setting up shop on the blue line creating havoc for his opponent.” – Tyler Karoway.
An underrated offensive player, Molendyk just barely beat out Allen and Brzustewics for this #3 spot. All players are great in their own ways. Brzustewics is arguably the best offensively, Allen is better defensively, and Molendyk is a happy medium between the two. And look at that, this is a Top 10 for two-way defensemen. I love it when things work out nicely. Right now, we have Molendyk just barely in the first round. He could easily slip a few spots up or a few spots down, making him a highly contested option for the early second round if he does.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Skellefteå, SHL, #8-14 overall (1st Round).
“As a smaller player Sandin-Pellikka has had to become very strong with his defensive stick work. His timing on stick lifts and poke checks have given him the edge on his opposition to get the puck back on his stick before transitioning up ice. He can really show off his talent’s once he enters the offensive zone as he has pinpoint passing and finds ways to create offense any time the puck touches his stick.” – Tyler Karoway.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka is arguably the best defenseman overall in this draft. Sitting in the top 15 of all players in the draft, Sandin-Pellikka can do it all. He at first developed a reputation as a top offensive defenseman, like so many others on this list, but over time he has developed his defensive skills. Mainly, his stick-checking and positioning has gotten really good. While Sandin-Pellikka is an excellent player, is he the best at the two-way role? While he is undoubtedly a fantastic offensive defenseman, there is one player who is slightly better at playing that two-way role…
David Reinbacher, EHC Kloten, National League, #16-26 overall (1st Round).
“Reinbacher is a big guy who uses his reach and body well to stop the rush. Continuously gaining confidence to pinch and make plays in the offensive zone.” – Andrew LeBlanc.
Assuming he makes it to the NHL, Reinbacher will join the short list of Austrian-born NHL players, and with his fast-growing popularity in the scouting community, he may just be one of the best in recent memory. The biggest guy on this list, Reinbacher, has naturally good reach and defensive advantages over the others. While he started off as a second or even later-round pick to many, his performances at the World Juniors and hard-nose, tenacious play style has led him to grow in popularity. I fully Suspect Reinbacher to grow as an excellent breakout defenseman, as he shows great promise in the skating department as well. With his combination of skating, checking, and senses, David Reinbacher from EHC Kloten is the best two-way defenseman in the 2023 NHL draft class.
For more information on the 2023 NHL Draft class be sure to pick up your copy of the comprehensive DraftPro 2023 NHL Draft Guide.