{"id":34670,"date":"2026-09-04T14:51:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T14:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/cale-makar-quinn-hughes-2026-27-nhl-defensemen-rankings\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T14:51:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T14:51:55","slug":"cale-makar-quinn-hughes-2026-27-nhl-defensemen-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atswins.ai\/blog\/cale-makar-quinn-hughes-2026-27-nhl-defensemen-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"Cale Makar vs. Quinn Hughes Headlines 2026-27 NHL Defensemen Rankings Debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are at the center of a newly published debate over the NHL\u2019s top defensemen entering the 2026-27 season. The comparison matters beyond a simple ranking: Makar and Hughes represent two influential versions of the modern defenseman, and the way they are evaluated reveals which parts of the position receive the greatest weight.<\/p>\n

Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes lead the latest NHL discussion<\/h2>\n

A feature titled \u201cTop 10 NHL Defensemen Ranked (2026-27 Season)\u201d appeared across several local news websites on Sept. 3, with its headline highlighting the Makar-Hughes question. The same title and publication time appeared on KCENTV, WFMY News 2, THV11, WCNC, CBS19 and Local Memphis.<\/p>\n

The available news-feed summaries do not provide the complete order of the top 10 or disclose which player was placed first. They do, however, establish Makar and Hughes as the central comparison. Without the full ranking details in the supplied material, it would be inaccurate to identify either defenseman as the list\u2019s No. 1 selection or to attribute other placements to the report.<\/p>\n

Even without a disclosed order, the pairing is a logical focal point. Both players have produced at an elite offensive level from the blue line, driven play in transition and handled major responsibilities for teams with high expectations. Each has also won the Norris Trophy, the award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the defenseman demonstrating the greatest all-around ability at the position.<\/p>\n

Makar\u2019s Colorado Avalanche r\u00e9sum\u00e9 combines scoring and postseason success<\/h2>\n

Makar established himself with the Colorado Avalanche as an unusually dynamic skater capable of changing a game from the back end. He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL\u2019s top rookie in 2020 and added the Norris Trophy in 2022. That same year, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason while helping Colorado capture the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n

That combination gives Makar a distinctive place in any discussion of active defensemen. His case is not based only on point production. His acceleration allows him to escape pressure, create controlled entries and recover when possession changes. He can operate as the primary organizer on a power play, but he also creates offense at even strength by joining the rush or attacking open space below the faceoff circles.<\/p>\n

Makar\u2019s 2021-22 season remains one of the clearest statistical examples of his impact. He recorded 28 goals and 86 points in 77 regular-season games before producing 29 points in 20 playoff games during Colorado\u2019s championship run. Those numbers provided measurable support for what was visible in his play: a defenseman influencing games in every offensive phase without being confined to the perimeter.<\/p>\n

The challenge in evaluating Makar is determining how to balance his explosive contributions against availability, workload and performance over a complete season. A ranking made before a new campaign is necessarily projecting forward, so health and expected usage become part of the assessment alongside established ability.<\/p>\n

Hughes changed the standard for Vancouver Canucks defensemen<\/h2>\n

Hughes built his reputation with the Vancouver Canucks through puck control, lateral movement and an ability to direct the pace of a game. In 2023-24, he recorded 92 points in 82 games, led NHL defensemen in scoring and won the Norris Trophy. He became the first player in Canucks history to receive the award.<\/p>\n

Hughes\u2019 influence begins with possession. He is adept at retrieving the puck, evading the first forechecker and turning a difficult exit into an organized attack. In the offensive zone, his edge work and passing allow him to alter shooting and passing lanes without relying on a stationary point position. Those details can force defenders to move, opening space for teammates closer to the net.<\/p>\n

His 2023-24 performance also strengthened the argument that his game should not be reduced to power-play production. Hughes handled extensive minutes, played against demanding competition and served as the central connector in Vancouver\u2019s transition game. The Norris result reflected the broader recognition of that all-around influence.<\/p>\n

As with Makar, a forward-looking judgment on Hughes requires more than reviewing one award-winning season. Rankings for 2026-27 should account for recent form, health, team structure and whether a player\u2019s responsibilities have changed. Historical accomplishments establish the standard, but they do not automatically settle a projection for a later season.<\/p>\n

Why ranking NHL defensemen remains difficult<\/h2>\n

Comparing elite defensemen is more complicated than sorting point totals. Scoring is important, particularly because top defensemen are now expected to advance possession and contribute to special teams. It is only one part of the job, however. Quality of competition, zone starts, penalty-killing assignments, transition efficiency and the performance of teammates all shape the available evidence.<\/p>\n

Team systems can further complicate direct comparisons. One defenseman may have freedom to activate aggressively because a forward routinely covers his position. Another may be asked to protect leads, take more defensive-zone faceoffs or carry a less productive partner. Raw totals do not fully capture those differences.<\/p>\n

Availability is another essential consideration. A player performing at the highest level for 65 games presents a different evaluation from one sustaining comparable play across a full schedule. Rankings looking ahead to 2026-27 must decide whether they are measuring peak ability, expected season-long value or the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 accumulated over several years.<\/p>\n

Makar and Hughes also create a close comparison because their strengths overlap. Both are high-level skaters, primary puck movers and major power-play contributors. The distinction often comes down to finer questions: who creates more danger at even strength, who suppresses opposing attacks more effectively, who handles pressure better and who can sustain his level through the schedule and postseason.<\/p>\n

The 2026-27 NHL season will provide the most relevant evidence<\/h2>\n

The renewed Makar-Hughes discussion illustrates how thoroughly the defense position has evolved. Teams still require sound positioning, net-front coverage and reliable work without the puck, but the league\u2019s leading defensemen are also expected to initiate offense and solve pressure before it becomes a defensive problem.<\/p>\n

That makes any preseason top-10 list provisional. Awards and previous production supply context, while the coming season determines whether those conclusions remain valid. For Makar and Hughes, the debate will be shaped by availability, five-on-five impact, special-teams performance and their ability to carry substantial minutes against leading opponents.<\/p>\n

The published headline renews the comparison but does not resolve it in the material available through the news feeds. What is clear is that both players have already assembled award-winning records and helped redefine expectations for an NHL defenseman. Their 2026-27 performances will offer the next meaningful evidence.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h2>\n