The old mantra says that "Defense wins championships," right? Many NHL teams would agree. Though defense can often be dominated by the goaltender, a goalie's life is often made easier through the work of his defensemen. Having a solid defensive-minded player in front of the net can help opponents gain scoring chances and can often prevent goals from being scored.

These defensemen can also help start the rush the other way, perhaps even springing a forward on a breakaway or an odd man rush.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4...rce=newsletter