Over the past ten years, the image of the ideal NHL defenseman has changed dramatically. The days of stay-at-home defensemen like Adam Foote being counted among the league's best are fading into the rearview mirror of NHL history, as teams have leaned towards quicker players adept at passing the puck to form the core of their bluelines.
Hulking enforcer defensemen are finding fewer and fewer spots on rosters, and big, slow bruisers like Luke Schenn are no longer taken in the top-five of NHL drafts. As recent Norris Trophy voting shows, flashy talents like Erik Karlsson and P.