Best Young Shut Down/Defensive Defenseman?

[Sabes]

Phoenix prospect Harrison Ruopp of the P A Raiders is a pure defensive d-man. Very physical, blocks shots and clears the net. He is in Portland on an Ato right now.

[Renegade Stylings]

Originally Posted by Sabes

Phoenix prospect Harrison Ruopp of the P A Raiders is a pure defensive d-man. Very physical, blocks shots and clears the net. He is in Portland on an Ato right now.

Hell of a player. Mean and tough.

[RomersWorld]

Stephen Johns- Notre Dame

[YARR123]

This is very much a homer pick but I'm just going to throw this name in here.

Jani Hakanpää - Espoo Blues SM-liiga

He also has some offensive upside but he can become a very good shutdown D. He's got the size, mobility and aggression and he's pretty smart.

[Markstrom Rules]

Originally Posted by Redarmynative

No Helgeson is better.

Alt has more NHL upside. Helgeson doesn't really belong in this thread. He might become a bottom pair d-man someday, but he doesn't have the package of tools that most of these other guys have IMO. Helgeson is basically the Devils' NCAA version of Harry Young.

[Aspirine]

How about Darren Dietz?

[Renegade Stylings]

Originally Posted by Aspirine

How about Darren Dietz?

Dietz is more offensive than defensive, despite what many of his scouting reports said from last year. He's really elevated that area of his game this year and it's definitely more of his focus now.

I remember an interview with him from last year saying he likes to take care of his own zone first...that's not quite how he plays anymore.