1.P.K. Subban, Habs

34 GP 11-23-34  +11 26 PIM 7 PPG

Subban leads all blueliners in scoring with 34 points. Of his 34, a good chunk have come on the power play. Montreal possesses one of the best with PK teaming with Andrei Markov at the points. Subban has 23 power play points. He has a lethal cannon that can devastate goalies. Remember, he held out. What if he didn’t miss time? It’s hard not to rank him first based on the production. But he’s had help from Markov, who’s always been overlooked. Markov ranks fourth in D scoring with 26 points. Will that take away some votes from PK?

2.Kris Letang, Pens

29 GP 3-26-29 +12 8 PIM

When the Pens have Letang in the lineup, they’re a much better team. How much better? Pittsburgh is a ridiculous 23-6 when he plays. He’s the unquestioned defensive leader. At a point-per-game clip, Letang is always involved offensively. Of course, he benefits from their talent, featuring Hart front runner Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. But Letang is more than just an offensive guy. He logs big minutes for Dan Bylsma and the team has won their last 11 with him. It’s Letang who is their most important player.

3.Ryan Suter, Wild

40 GP 4-25-29 +1 22 PIM

When Suter opted to leave Music City for St. Paul, he took a beating due to wanting to play with childhood pal Zach Parise. Some wondered how Suter would fare without Shea Weber. It’s Suter who’s outperformed his former teammate. Anchoring a blueline that doesn’t give up much, he plays in every situation and has continued to perform well. Suter got off to a slow start. But since being teamed with rookie Jonas Brodin, he’s been a rock. His 29 points place him third in team scoring trailing only Mikko Koivu (33) and Parise (32). Suter also plays physical as evidenced by his 59 blocked shots. His play makes him a top candidate.

4.Oliver Ekman-Larsson Coyotes

41 GP 3-18-21 +7 24 PIM

The man known as OEL in hockey parts is already emerging as one of the best defensemen. Ekman-Larsson doesn’t have the sexy stats of the others playing for defensive oriented Dave Tippett. However, he has 21 points and helps Keith Yandle anchor the D in the Desert. OEL does everything well, making him one of the best overall blueliners. He has 64 hits and 37 blocks. If the ‘Yotes get in, he’ll be a big reason why.

5.Andrei Markov, Canadiens

40 GP 8-18-26 -6 10 PIM

Finally back healthy, Markov has reclaimed his place as one of the top defensemen in the game. If not for all the injuries, he probably would’ve been up for a Norris already. With Subban getting most of the press, Markov has been overlooked. His fantastic start is what sparked the Habs’ resurgence. The man can skate with the best of them and can be counted on under Adams candidate Michel Therrien. His minus-six rating along with Subban will probably leave him out of the mix. But he’s still awfully important to Montreal’s playoff aspirations.

6.Duncan Keith, Blackhawks

40 GP 2-21-23 +17 29 PIM

A former Norris winner hasn’t gotten the attention of the other candidates. But on the league’s best team, shouldn’t Keith be mentioned? He has always been rock solid. Anchoring a strong back end with Brent Seabrook, Keith deserves more credit. His 23 points are right there in terms of production and his plus-17 are among the best. He’s also blocked 54 shots. On a great team, Keith has been overlooked along with Francois Beauchemin. Those are the dark horses who’ll get left out.