Unlike the forward position there are no defensemen who have had substantial time in the NHL this year. Joe Hicketts played the most games and pretty much failed. Four defensemen have played in the NHL. Knowing that defensemen take longer to become NHL ready GM Lawrence Linke drafted younger prospects as opposed to older NHL veterans. Three of these prospects were 2nd round draft picks in the 2014 Entry Draft and were drafted in the expansion draft as 21 year olds.  

PLAYED IN THE NHL 

Joe Hicketts         Played in 8 NHL games without scoring a point

Dakota Mermis     Played in 1 NHL game. Played in 9 NHL games last year.

Tyler Lewington    Just recalled from the AHL and played in 1 NHL game. In 26 AHL games has 67 PIM's

Nelson Nogier      Played in 1 NHL game.

HAVE ONLY PLAYED IN THE AHL

Josh Jacobs          One of the three 21 year 2nd round picks and has played in 31 games this year with a 3 - 4 - 7 line

Jack Dougherty     Another of the three 21 year old 2nd round picks. Has played in 16 games with a 1 - 4 - 5 line.

Andreas Englnd     The third 21 year old 2nd round pick. He has had a cup of coffee the last two years with Ottawa. 

Kurtis MacDermid  Has played in 26 AHL games with 112 PIM's (Linke's type of guy) Played in 34 NHL games last year

Nick Desimone      Has played in 24 games with a 6 - 11 - 17 line.

Luc Snuggerud     Highly regarded prospect who has only played in four games. Could not find info if he is injured.

Zack Frye             Has played in 4 games.  

Like with the defensemen GM Lawrence Linke concentrated on youth in goal drafting or acquiring three 21 year old goalies and a teenager.

Adin Hill       Linke may have struck gold with Hill. In 10 NHL games he has a 2.20 GAA and a .908 spct. Luckily for Linke he has played in 6 AHL games and Linke will have he option of giving him further seasoning in the minors next year. With Antti Raanta injured and possibly out for the season he should see  a lot of NHL playing time.

Eric Comrie    He has played in 18 AHL games with a 3.14 GAA and a .908 spct. He has seen NHL action the last two years and was called up this year but did not play. 

Vitek Vanacek  He has played in 14 AHL games with a 2.69 GAA and a .906 spct.

Dylan Ferguson  He is currently playing in juniors at Kamloops. He has played in 23 games with a 3.30 GAA and a ,905 spct