SALT LAKE CITY – On Wednesday, the NHL Network continued its preseason rankings, releasing the top 20 list of the league’s best defensemen. Surprisingly, Mikhail Sergachev of the Utah Hockey Club did not make the list, despite being on it last season.
Here they are!
What do you think of our list of the 20 best defenders right now? @NHL | #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/UL0i1xtwWf
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) 29 August 2024
A top-20 NHL defenseman in the 2023/24 season
Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Sergachev appeared at No. 17 on the NHL Network list. This came after an impressive individual performance in which he recorded 10 goals and 54 assists with an overall plus/minus of +13 last year.
Here are the best defenders in the league right now! #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/XO96x7wUiN
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) 20 August 2023
Sergachev overlooked by NHL network
Understandably, Sergachev missed 48 games last season after suffering fractures to his left tibia and fibula. That’s a significant amount of time and it shortened his season significantly. He also managed just two goals and 17 assists in those 34 appearances.
However, the NHL Network is letting the injury factor into its decision more than it should. Yes, he missed most of last season, but his numbers last year were a whopping 64 points, and even if you simply averaged his production from last year over 82 games, he would have outperformed several other defensemen who were on the list.
In 34 games, Sergachev averaged half an assist per game. Multiply that by 48 more appearances and add it to 17, and you get 41 assists and another 3 goals (based on his average), which comes to 46 points on the year. That’s more than No. 20 Moritz Seider (42 points) and No. 19 Dougie Hamilton (16 points), who only appeared in 20 games and is just one point behind No. 18 Noah Hanifin, who finished with 47 points.
Taking those averages and assuming that’s automatically what he would have achieved isn’t a particularly convincing argument. But let’s look at his career stats. Except for his rookie season, Sergachev has never scored less than 30 points and, with the exception of last season, has always finished with a positive plus/minus. In addition, in the four seasons in which he played more than 75 games, the two-time Stanley Cup winner averaged 43.5 points and a plus/minus of +10.5.
No one disputes that he belongs in the top 5, but not being in the top 15 to 20 is, by definition, an insult.
Sergachev: Home Run Trade Takeover
Despite being snubbed, Sergachev is exactly what the club needed to take the next step in its rebuild. With one of the worst goals-against averages (3.34, 25th) and power kills (76.3%, 25th) in the league, Utah was clear in its intentions this summer when it signed the two-time Stanley Cup winner.
Sergachev’s performance in his first season with the club will have a huge impact on the team’s success. If he can return to his form from the 2022-23 season, Utah will keep a lot more pucks out of the net, which should lead to more wins and could potentially help the team secure a playoff spot.
Utah Hockey Schedule
Fans can watch Sergachev’s first game with the Utah Hockey Club on October 8 against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. Click here for the full schedule.
Cole Bagley is the Utah Hockey Club insider for KSL Sports. Stay up to date here on X. You can hear Cole’s analysis of the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
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