|
October
18, 2011
Recruiting
Trail: Top 20 Defensemen
|
| Previous
Top Defensemen
2010: Derek Forbort, North Dakota
2009: Nick Leddy, Minnesota
2008: Aaron Ness, Minnesota
2007: Ryan McDonagh, Wisconsin
2006: Erik Johnson, Minnesota
2005: Jack Johnson, Michigan
2004: Alex Goligoski, Minnesota
2003: Ryan Suter, Wisconsin |
The top spot in this category has been dominated
by the WCHA—more specifically, Minnesota and Wisconsin—since
we started this feature in 2003. But the top rookie defenseman
this time around is U.S. National Team Development Program
alum Robbie Russo, who hails from Notre Dame of the CCHA.
For what it's worth, six of the previous top-rated
rearguards are currently in the National Hockey League—Ryan
Suter (Nashville), Alex Goligoski (Dallas), Jack Johnson (Los
Angeles), Erik Johnson (Colorado), Ryan McDonagh (New York
Rangers), and Nick Leddy (Chicago).
Inside College Hockey compiled its 2011 Recruiting
Rankings with input from college coaches and professional
scouts. Participants were asked to evaluate recruits based
on their projected impact at the college level, not on their
professional hockey prospects.
Also: Top
20 Forwards | Top
10 Goalies | Top
15 Classes
TOP
20 INCOMING DEFENSEMEN
|
|
Name |
School |
Last
Team |
| |
Robbie Russo |
Notre Dame |
U.S. NTDP |
In 60 games with the U.S.
NTDP last season, scored four goals and added 26 assists.
|
| |
Joey Laleggia |
Denver |
Penticton (BCHL) |
Led BCHL defenseman in scoring in both
2009-10 and 2010-11; 2011 BCHL Interior Conference
MVP.
|
| |
Joakim Ryan |
Cornell |
Dubuque (USHL) |
Scored 32 points in 53
games for Dubuque last season; mother was a professional
tennis player.
|
| |
Garrett Haar |
Western Michigan |
Fargo (USHL) |
Seventh-round pick of
the Washington Capitals impressed brass at the team's
summer development camp.
|
| |
Ben Marshall |
Minnesota |
Omaha (USHL) |
2011 All-USHL rookie team
pick and all-league second-team honoree in his lone
season in the circuit.
|
| |
Nick Mattson |
North Dakota |
Indiana (USHL) |
2011 USHL Defenseman of
the Year picked up 36 points in 57 games and had a
league best plus-minus rating of +33.
|
| |
Scott Mayfield |
Denver |
Youngstown (USHL) |
Another 2011 All-USHL
selection; New York Islanders took him in the second
round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
|
| |
Alexx Privitera |
Boston University |
Muskegon (USHL) |
New Jersey native scored
10 goals and 34 points in Muskegon last season.
|
| |
Trevor van Riemsdyk |
New Hampshire |
New Hampshire (EJHL) |
2011 EJHL Defensive Player
of the Year scored 16 goals and 22 assists in 39 regular-season
games.
|
| |
Tom Fallen |
Yale |
Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
Helped Cedar Rapids to
a franchise-best 42 wins and USHL Anderson Cup for
best regular-season record in 2011-12.
|
| |
Andrew Prochno |
St. Cloud State |
Sioux Falls (USHL) |
| |
Brennan Serville |
Michigan |
Stouffville (OJHL) |
| |
Michael Paliotta |
Vermont |
U.S. NTDP |
| |
Pat McNally |
Harvard |
Milton (Mass.) Academy |
| |
Peter Stoykewych |
Colorado College |
Des Moines (USHL) |
| |
Tim Daly |
St. Cloud State |
Langley (BCHL) |
| |
Max Everson |
Harvard |
Edina (Minn.) H.S. |
| |
Aaron Harstad |
Colorado College |
Green Bay (USHL) |
| |
Nick Luukko |
Vermont |
Dubuque (USHL) |
|
|
Ben Gallacher |
Ohio State |
Camrose (AJHL) |
|
