Runners up: Lassi Thomson (26%), Erik Brännström (17%), Jacob Bernard-Docker (10%)
First and foremost, even with Jake Sanderson’s abbreviated season and the statistical struggles of the three other finalists, we still have a lot to look forward to on the blueline in Ottawa. This season didn’t have the same feeling that comes with an elite prospect pool but these defenders all have the potential to make a difference in the NHL basically as soon as October. Alas, we came here to talk about one defender, and considering he missed so much time due to illness and injuries, it speaks volumes to his 23 games in North Dakota that Sanderson dethroned Brännström (Sanderson finished second in the ballots last year).