The hobby just won’t let itself love a defenseman. Sure, collectors have toyed with blueliners before, enjoying brief dalliances with top picks like Roman Hamrlik or Ed Jovanovski, or breakout offensive stars like P.K. Subban or Erik Karlsson. But the hobby’s ardor cools quickly and, outside of Bobby Orr — the exception by virtue of being the greatest player in the game’s history — there hasn’t been one capable of holding our attention long term.
Our fickle nature is not without reason. After all, defenders, by definition, prevent forwards and goaltenders from doing what we want to see — scoring flashy goals or making scintillating saves. And they tend not to do enough of the things we love to prevent our attention from being distracted by the next shiny object.
But maybe that’s about to change. Consider this month’s cover star, Cale Makar. The 21-year-old is a unicorn, a blueliner whose game is an amalgamation of parts so magical that every move commands your attention. From his effortless skating to his unpredictable playmaking to his uncanny ability to generate scoring chances and yes, even his defensive zone play, Makar is a player who is flat-out fun to watch. There might not be a highlight-reel moment on every shift, but he creates so much wonderment with his silky toe drags and dazzling rushes that you can’t afford to look away.