With the Regular Season of the Champions Hockey League in the rearview mirror, we thought it a great time to take a look back at some of the best of the best. This time around, we’ll be focusing on the defencemen that helped hold down the blue line while also producing offensively when called upon.
Jonathon Blum
Only one other player has eight assists through the Regular Season, Genève-Servette’s Tanner Richard, though Jonathon Blum also suited up for one less contest. But even while the American defenceman didn’t continue his torrid offensive pace in October, his production during the first four Game Days was still enough to cement him as one of the top D-man, and top scoring players, in the entire league.
With an average TOI of 17:31, Blum might not be logging the heavy minutes other defencemen around the league are, and that makes his ability to create quality scoring chances so efficiently all the more impressive. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, his plus/minus +7 rating is tied for first as he’s been equally adept at helping to keep the puck out of his net.
Now with Red Bull Munich set to skate against Genève in the Playoffs, look for Blum to continue contributing on the backend as he and his team will go up against a Swiss team that’s allowing 2.33 goals against per game.
Sami Vatanen
Former NHLer Sami Vatanen has been a force on the backend for Genève-Servette. The 32-year-old defenceman who accrued 200 points during his career in the NHL is showcasing that same scoring prowess with seven points (1G, 6A) in six games to lead all Geneve D-men. His seven points also have him tied for third among CHL defencemen in scoring with only Les Lancaster and Blum ahead of him.
Finding teammates hasn't been a problem for Vatanen whose six helpers tie him for fourth-most in the CHL while his 24:04 TOI is ranked third. He’s also showing a willingness to fire the puck on net as he’s produced the fifth-most shots on goal with 23. The 179cm, 84kg blueliner isn’t afraid to block shots either as he’s among the league leaders in that department with 11.
Les Lancaster
The Alternate Captain for Ilves Tampere has, like Blum, shown a propensity for finding the scoresheet as he’s compiled five goals and two assists for seven points through five games. Lancaster’s five tucks have him tied for first with HC Innsbruck’s Corey Mackin, while he leads all defencemen in that category.
His sophomore CHL season has been every bit better than his first time around as the 28-year-old has nearly tripled his point total from a year before. He’s also showing excellent poise on the powerplay where the American has netted three tallies and has demonstrated his ability to come through in the clutch with a pair of game-winning goals.
Even when the puck isn't on his stick, Lancaster doesn’t disappoint as evidenced by his plus/minus +5 rating and his 1.40 points per game that has him tied for 14th among all skaters solidifying Lancaster as a player that the Finnish side can rely on in all situations.
Joel Persson
He might not be as flashy offensively as the other defenders on this list, but the Swedish point-man is certainly an asset on the backend for a Växjö Lakers squad that has punched their ticket to the CHL Playoffs for the fifth time.
Comparisons notwithstanding, Joel Persson’s still managed to produce at a point-per-game pace notching two goals and three assists for five points in five contests. With 22 shots on goal, the 29-year-old doesn’t shy away from getting the puck on net and even excels as an offensive-minded defenceman that can generate opportunities from the blueline.
On the backend, Persson, like Lancaster, also sports a plus/minus +5 rating, but where he shines is when it comes to preventing the puck from ever making it towards the netminder as the 186cm D-man makes excellent use of his extensive frame to block shots, and currently leads all players with 15.
Kasper Puutio
On a team that features legendary CHLer in Ryan Lasch, it could be hard to carve out your own reputation, but Kasper Puutio’s excellent play through the Regular Season has helped him do just that.
The budding Finnish defenceman who was a fifth-round selection of the Florida Panthers during the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, has been contributing on the backend for the Lahti Pelicans and currently boasts three goals and three assists for six points through six games played.
Puutio’s six points currently lead all Lahti defencemen, with the next closest being Petteri Riihinen with two, and the youngster’s also demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice the body, delivering six hits and blocking 13 shots.
One of his goals came on the powerplay while two of his tallies have been game-winners, highlighting the 180cm, 82kg D-man's deftness to be a threat whenever he's on the ice as Puutio's been an excellent supporting cast member to a team that’s producing the fourth-most goals per game average with 3.83.
Stay tuned for more Top 5s as we continue to roll out the best of the best from the Regular Season!