Jones and Werenski listed among NHL's 20 best defensemen

One of the biggest keys to building a consistent winner in the NHL is a strong corps of defensemen, led by an elite top defense pairing.
The Blue Jackets have both, including a top pair that's among the best in the league.
Seth Jones and Zach Werenski have excelled the past two years, individually and as a tandem, and now they're starting to earn notoriety as two of best young defensemen in the league. They've also earned spots among the NHL's Top 20 defensemen, as chosen by NHL Network experts.
Jones is ranked sixth and Werenski is No. 12 on the
list
, which was released Sunday.

Jones only trails Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning), Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators), Brent Burns (San Jose Sharks) and P.K. Subban (Nashville Predators) on the list. Still just 23, he set NHL career-highs in nine categories last season: goals (16), assists (41), points (57), plus/minus rating (plus-10), power-play goals (7), game-winning goals (4), shots (249), penalty minutes (30) and ice time (24:36).
"His stock has risen more than any defenseman in the National Hockey League," NHL Network analyst and former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko said during the show to reveal the list. "Skating ability, shot, physicality … he's getting to become the total package. He's fit real well in Columbus. He is the go-to man."
Jones, who was acquired by Columbus on Jan. 6, 2016 in a trade that sent center Ryan Johansen to Nashville, is ranked ahead of No. 7 Roman Josi (Predators), No. 8 John Carlson (Washington Capitals), No. 9 Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues), No. 10 John Klingberg (Dallas Stars), No. 11 Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets) and No. 12 Werenski - who turned 21 in July.

Werenski, who played most of last season with a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery, set NHL career-highs in six categories: goals (16), game-winning goals (3), shots (207), shooting percentage (7.7 percent), penalty minutes (16) and ice time (22:34).

He and Jones also set a franchise record with 16 goals apiece, sharing a new record for most goals by a defenseman in a single season.
"Here's a kid that came in the league like he was a 10-year veteran in his first year and he continues to develop," Daneyko said of Werenski, whom the Blue Jackets drafted eighth overall in 2015. "[I'm] amazed by how he sees the ice so well. He never panics with the puck. He's just so smooth for such a young defenseman. He has a terrific wrist shot. Terrific young defensemen, so smooth, so poised for a young guy. He's only going to get better."