New York Rangers: Ryan McDonagh And Kevin Shattenkirk Named Top 20 Defensemen
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 09: Ryan McDonagh #27 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during their game at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The NHL Network recently named their current top 20 defensemen, with two New York Rangers making the list.

As the NHL Network continues their month of lists, they announced their Top 20 Defensemen Right Now and New York Rangers Captain Ryan McDonagh (17) and Kevin Shattenkirk (15) both made the countdown. It appears as though the league is noticing the improvement of the team’s defense, as both McDonagh and Shattenkirk are expected to be the Rangers top pair this season.

After signing Shattenkirk, Brendan Smith and a bevy of young talents, the Rangers defense has been seen as one of the most improved over the offseason. This top 20 list is another way of showing this improvement from last season. The list is loaded with high-quality defensemen from all around the NHL.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at Nyrfc12@gmail.com