Top 10 Defensive Forwards in the NHL

Any of the men on this list of the top 10 defensive forwards in the NHL could win the Selke Trophy and no one would so much as blink an eye. Though players like Crosby and Ovechkin who put up massive point totals get all the media attention, it is the often unheralded work of the defensive forwards, the shutdown men who neutralize the other teams' best players, that push teams over the top in the chase for the Stanley Cup. Whether they are stellar face-off artists, are pesky and intimidating, or just have brilliant hockey minds that allow them to anticipate what the top-tier players will do, the men on the list of the top 10 defensive forwards in the NHL are worth their weight in gold to the teams that employ them. Though these defensive forwards might not receive the adulation of the fans, or have their names splashed all over mainstream media, you can bet that their coaches and their teammates appreciate everything they do. That's not to say that all of these men don't have some offensive flair. In fact, some of the best defensive forwards in the NHL are also among the leading point getters. Want to know who they are? Read on for my list of the top 10 defensive forwards in the NHL:

10 - Jordan Staal

Though only 19 years of age, Jordan Staal has already served notice that he is one of the premier defensive forwards in the NHL. Such maturity and poise did he show that his coach trusted him to kill penalties in his rookie season last year. Staal did not disappoint, setting an NHL rookie record with 7 short-handed goals. His towering size, reach, soft hands, and poise under pressure make it very likely that this Pittsburgh Penguin has a few Selke trophies in his future.

9 - Brenden Morrow