Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev was left off a recently reported list of the NHL’s top 20 defensemen, prompting renewed discussion about how the two-time Stanley Cup champion is evaluated. The list is not an official NHL honor, but Sergachev’s omission is notable because of his scoring production, demanding role and importance to Utah’s developing roster.
Mikhail Sergachev’s omission brings scrutiny to NHL defensemen ranking
Reports published Monday by multiple local news outlets highlighted Sergachev’s absence from the top-20 list. The available reports characterize the decision as a snub, although the supplied summaries do not provide the full ranking, its voting process or the criteria used to assemble it.
Those details matter when assessing any player list. Defensemen can be judged by very different standards, including scoring, puck possession, defensive assignments, special-teams work, durability and postseason performance. Rankings also can favor recent results over a longer body of work, or place greater emphasis on players whose teams receive more national attention.
Whatever methodology was used, Sergachev has a résumé that warrants consideration in a discussion of prominent NHL defensemen. He has played major minutes, contributed on both special-teams units and filled important roles for a championship team. He also became a foundational player for Utah after arriving in one of the most consequential trades of the franchise’s first offseason.
Sergachev became central to Utah after Tampa Bay trade
Utah acquired Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2024 NHL Draft. Tampa Bay received defenseman J.J. Moser, forward prospect Conor Geekie, a 2024 seventh-round selection and a 2025 second-round pick in the deal.
The trade immediately changed the shape of Utah’s defense. Rather than asking Sergachev to operate alongside an established group that had already won championships, the organization gave him a leading role on a roster trying to establish its identity in a new market. His responsibilities included helping drive offense from the blue line, moving the puck through pressure and handling difficult situations against opposing top players.
Sergachev responded with 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points in 77 games during the 2024-25 season. The 15 goals were a career high, while his point total ranked second among Utah players behind forward Clayton Keller. He led the club’s defensemen in scoring and averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time per game, another indication of how heavily Utah relied on him.
That workload is relevant to the ranking discussion. Point totals provide only part of the picture for a defenseman asked to play in all situations. Sergachev’s value to Utah extended to power-play deployment, penalty killing, late-game shifts and the transition work required to move the team out of its own zone.
Championship experience remains an important part of Sergachev’s record
Sergachev entered the NHL as the ninth overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 draft. Montreal traded him to Tampa Bay in June 2017 in the deal centered on forward Jonathan Drouin, and Sergachev quickly became a regular for the Lightning.
He was part of Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup championship teams in 2020 and 2021, then helped the Lightning return to the Cup Final in 2022. Playing behind and alongside established defensemen allowed him to develop within a structured contender, but he was not merely a passenger. His skating, shot and ability to advance the puck made him an important part of Tampa Bay’s deep playoff runs.
His best offensive season with the Lightning came in 2022-23, when he recorded 10 goals and 54 assists for 64 points in 79 games. That performance established a career high in points and demonstrated that he could produce at a high level over a full season.
Sergachev’s final year in Tampa Bay was interrupted by significant injuries. He broke his left leg during a February 2024 game against the New York Rangers, only weeks after returning from another lower-body injury. He recovered in time to appear during Tampa Bay’s first-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers, an accelerated return that preceded his offseason move to Utah.
Evaluating Sergachev requires more than offensive totals
The NHL has a deep group of accomplished defensemen, making any top-20 list difficult to construct. Norris Trophy winners, elite scorers, shutdown specialists and young players ascending into larger roles all compete for recognition. A defenseman can be among the league’s most important players without appearing on every ranking.
Sergachev’s case is built on a combination of factors rather than one statistic. He has produced a 60-point season, played extensive postseason minutes, won two championships and handled a major increase in responsibility after joining Utah. He also has shown that he can contribute as both a primary option and a member of a defense led by other established players.
There are also reasonable areas for examination. High-usage defensemen are exposed to more difficult matchups and more opportunities for mistakes, and Utah’s team results have not carried the same postseason profile as Sergachev’s former club. Individual rankings often reflect how evaluators balance production against defensive consistency and team performance.
That makes the reported omission less a definitive judgment than a point of comparison. Unlike an award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association or a postseason All-Star selection, an independently compiled list does not carry official status. Its value is primarily in the debate it creates about roles, performance and how players are measured.
Utah Mammoth’s expectations place Sergachev under a larger spotlight
Utah’s transition from its temporary Utah Hockey Club identity to the Mammoth name has coincided with the organization’s effort to build a long-term contender. Sergachev is central to that process because of his experience, contract and position at the top of the defensive depth chart.
The expectations attached to him differ from those he faced in Tampa Bay. With the Lightning, he was part of a veteran core that included Victor Hedman and several other championship-tested players. In Utah, Sergachev is one of the players expected to set the standard for a younger group and provide stability in high-pressure situations.
Future recognition will depend on his ability to sustain that workload while helping Utah progress. Team success is not the only measure of an individual defenseman, but it often shapes national perception, especially when evaluators are separating players with similar statistical profiles.
Reported snub adds context to Sergachev’s next season
A place on an unofficial top-20 list would not change Sergachev’s responsibilities, and an omission does not erase his established record. It does, however, illustrate the gap that can exist between a player’s value to his team and his standing in broader league-wide discussions.
For Utah, the more important issue is whether Sergachev continues to provide high-end production while carrying first-pair responsibilities. If he does, his performance will supply a stronger answer than any preseason or offseason ranking. His first season with the organization already established the scale of his role; the next step is helping turn that individual influence into sustained progress for the Mammoth.
