Defensemen are in high demand.
About half the teams in the NHL are seeking defensemen right now, either via trade or free agency. But with the scarcity of top-tier defensemen the best place to acquire one is in the draft. Just ask the Anaheim Ducks, who stole Cam Fowler at No. 12 last summer.
So, let's say you are a scout, and your GM asks you to find a defenseman in the draft. Where exactly should you look? And what do you look for? Going back over the past 20 years of draft data, we've narrowed down the best amateur leagues at producing top defensemen and the traits that seem to project a successful future. Here's what we found.
Location
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Grant Sonier
Grant Sonier has scouted for six NHL organizations over the past 13 years, most recently for the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season. He is a special contributor to ESPN Insider.
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Victoria Matiash
Victoria Matiash has served as a Fantasy Hockey columnist for ESPN.com since 2007, and contributor to NHL Rumor Central since 2010. She lives in Toronto.
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