
The NHL’s Golden Age of Defensemen
The NHL’s defensive landscape is entering a golden age, driven by elite veterans and a wave of generational prospects.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Alberts Šmits across Hockey.

The NHL’s defensive landscape is entering a golden age, driven by elite veterans and a wave of generational prospects.

From Cale Makar to rising prospects like Landon DuPont, the league is poised for a transformative period that could see dozens of Hall of Fame careers.

The Florida Panthers hold a first‑round selection for the first time since 2021, and scouting reports point to Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits as a potential ninth‑overall target.

The New York Rangers hold the No. 5 selection in the upcoming NHL draft and are evaluating top defensive prospects whose backgrounds range from collegiate commitments to early NHL exposure.

Analysts predict the Toronto Maple Leafs will select Gavin McKenna first, with San Jose, Vancouver and Chicago following suit, while a host of prospects prepare for their NHL futures.

Forward Keaton Verhoeff's blend of skill, character and power‑play potential has positioned him as a leading candidate for Chicago's fourth overall selection.

A look at the deep pool of defensemen, the leading candidates, and the complex decision‑making that will shape the 2026 draft.
At the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo, the Florida Panthers are weighing their ninth‑overall pick, eyeing Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck and WHL defenseman Daxon Rudolph after a dinner meeting, while the team looks to rebuild a depleted prospect pool.

An 18‑year‑old forward from Whitehorse, Yukon, is expected to be the top selection in the upcoming NHL draft, but off‑ice concerns and competition from European prospects add layers to his draft story.
With the second overall pick looming, the San Jose Sharks are courting top defensive prospects from the University of North Dakota, inviting them to dinner at the NHL Combine as part of an aggressive scouting push.

The San Jose Sharks are poised to reshuffle their draft strategy, weighing trade‑back for defensive help or a star‑for‑pick deal that could alter the roster's balance.
The upcoming quarterfinals of the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland promise high‑stakes drama, with the United States defending champion facing Canada in a storied rivalry, while other matchups showcase emerging stars and seasoned leaders.
The United States enters the IIHF men's hockey world championship as defending gold medalists, led by marquee forward Matthew Tkachuk and a roster dotted with NHL veterans and rising stars.

With the NHL Draft approaching, the Seattle Kraken are poised to break their recent pattern of selecting centers, eyeing Swedish forward Viggo Björck as a potential catalyst for a new direction.