The Eastern Edge presents Part 2 of the risky proposition of drafting high end defensemen.

Continuing from where we left off last week, here are the final 15 of the top 30 scoring defensemen from last season plus a bonus – you’ll have to read to the end to find out, no peeking!

You want consistency? Look no further than the Flyers Mark Streit. He’s put up six seasons with at least 44 points, if we count his 27 points in 48 games (46 points pro-rated) during the lockout season. He hasn’t missed a game in the last three years. With Kimmo Timonen looking like he will miss either all or at least a very significant portion of the season, Streit should slide effortlessly to the top power play. Count on another 45 point campaign from the venerable defender.

Since breaking into the league in 2010-11, Ryan McDonagh has steadily improved his point totals every season.  His 14 goals last year were the sixth most amongst all defensemen. McDonagh’s spot on the Rangers top power play unit is secure. The 17 points in 23 playoff games he posted last season, suggests he has the potential to hit 50 points if he gets some breaks. Look for a fourth consecutive increase in points.

No one has played more minutes over the last two seasons combined than Ryan Suter. He led the league in total minutes played both seasons, averaging 29:24 and 27:16 minutes per game respectively. Including the 2008-09 season, he has scored at an average of a 45 point pace while only missing a total of 13 games (10 in 2010-11) over those six seasons. At 29 years of age, Suter is still in his prime and a lock for another 45 points.

In the four seasons before being struck by major injuries in 2009-10, Andrei Markov averaged 54 points a season, despite missing an average of six games per year. In that fateful 2009-10 season, Markov scored 34 points in 45 games, a 62 point pace. In the two seasons that followed, he played a total of 20 games, recording six points. Then came the lockout season, where he had 30 points in 48 games, a 51 point full season pace. Last year, he missed only one contest on his way to 43 points. Can this battered 35-year-old be trusted to play a full season? Strangely, I think he has another 40 point season in him.

This could be Marek Zidlicky‘s last NHL campaign, as the 37-year-old Czech is in the final year of his contract. That said, there must be something in that New Jersey swamp water that helps a veteran-laden line-up feel younger than their ages. Zidlicky had 42 points in 81 games last year, his sixth time with at least 40 points. He should still play on the top power play unit, but if I were to put money on it, I’d bet on 30-35 points max.

Alex Goligoski‘s gig is about to get even better. That power play, in addition to already playing with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, is about to gain Jason Spezza and maybe Alex Hemsky, depending on whether the Stars go with four forwards on their top man advantage unit. Last year, the top power play minutes were awarded to Seguin, Benn, Alex Chiasson, Goligoski and Ray Whitney. Trevor Daley would be the next defenseman in line if they go with two defenders. Goligoski had 42 points in 81 games last year and finished the year strong with 17 points in his last 23 games, a 61 point pace.

The Hawks Brent Seabrook recorded his second 40 point season last year. Trouble is, in the previous two campaigns, he recorded 20 points in 47 games in the lockout season, a 35 point pace and in 2011-12, he had 34 points. The season before that, he did have 48 points, but 20 of those tallies came via the man advantage. Last year, he only had nine power play points, while receiving the eighth most power play ice time on the team. Nothing has changed personnel-wise to think that his role with the man advantage will be increased this season. A minor decrease to the 35 point range should be expected.