Electronic Artspersonifies the sports simulator genre with its wide variety of video games modeled after the most popular sports in the world. Of the many installments inEA’s roster,NHLreceives its 23rd release with a string ofnew mechanics, game modes for players to enjoy, and an updated player roster. InNHL 23, players can take to the ice with their favorite team and make a play for the Stanley Cup, and online multiplayer with crossplay.
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To beat the best of the best players will need top players in all lanes to assure team cohesion. A strong offense makes a big difference, but an ironclad defense can lessen the load, and players will need the top defensive players to win big. With the revamped player roster comes a plethora of talent and updated ratings, so players can accurately make choices best for their team. Here are some of the best defensive players inNHL 23.
7Thomas Chabot
Chabot is a twenty-five-year-old Left Defensive playing for the Ottawa Senators. Sporting white, black, and red colors, Chabot secured his team’s formations and looks out for his fellow teammates while also being a menace on the ice.
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Chabot is known for his immense presence on the ice and for being player of the year only one year after joining the Senators and is a master at using two-way defense to support his team fully. Chabot has a player rating of eighty-eight and a passing attribute of ninety-one. On any team, Chabot would be a prize that would earn his weight in gold.
6Cale Makar
Cale Makar joined the Colorado Avalanche, a topNHL team, in two-thousand and eighteen, where he took the position of Right Defensive man. Makar does an excellent job of playing as a complete offensive d-man position, able to put pressure in the right spot for opponents and even tear down a few goals when least expected.
InNHL 23, Cale Makar has a player rating of eight-eight, with a ninety-one in skating and puck skills. In addition, Makar has a passing attribute of ninety-three. Players who step behind the controls won’t have to work too hard to make an impact, but for more in-depthtips forNHL 23, players should follow this guide.
5Dougie Hamilton
Dougie Hamilton serves as the Right Deffensiveman for the New Jersey Devils, whom he began playing with recently after a lengthy career with the Carolina Hurricanes. Hamilton plays a strict two-way d-man style and has an overall eighty-eight and a passing attribute of ninety-two.
On the ice, Hamilton will excel in his movement and maneuverability while still being able to get the puck from A to B with minimal effort, thanks to high scores in skating and shooting. Naturally, players won’t want to rely on Hamilton for scores but should not rule him out as a possibility.
4Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo is a Right Deffensiveman who majors in two-way defense. He currently plays for the Las Vegas Golden Knights after a long history with the St. Louis Blues. Pietrangelo is a strong player overall in his position and also serves as the captain of the Knight, leading by example.
Having an overall layer rating of eighty-nine makes Pietrangelo a very strong choice. Having high scores in shooting and puck skills is a bonus that players should take full advantage of and be prepared for if they encounter him on the other side.
3John Carlson
John Carlson, twelve year veteran with the Washington Capitals, serves as their Right Deffensiveman. Players will find Carlson a vital member of the team, having high marks in shooting, senses, and puck skills. On the ice where movement is critical, Carlson is more than an average player and has a broad effective range inNHL 23.
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With an overall rating of ninety in the game, Carlson can reinforce his teammates while overwhelming rival teams with burst offensive capabilities, such as his Thunderclap x-factor ability.
2Roman Josi
Roman Jaso has served as a right defenseman and captain for the Nashville Predators for nearly ten years. He has an incredible eye for defense and forward-pushing aggression that makes him an opposing force on the ice.
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With an overall player rating of ninety, Roman Josi is a spectacular player inNHL 23with high marks in skating and puck skills but a strong balance all around the board. Players need a strong foundation for team fluidity, and Josi is a perfect core that can be a hammer or a shield if the situation calls for it.
1Victor Hedman
Victor Hedman plays for one of thebest teams in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning as both alternate captain and Left Deffensiveman for the last thirteen years of his professional career. Hedman embodies the true two-way defense that makes him such an unmatched menace for opponents being able to freely step between roles at a moment’s notice.
Victor Hedman possesses a player rating of ninety-two, having the highest rating inNHL 23for a defensive player, in addition to having high physical and sense stats majoring in poise and strength.
NHL 23is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
