Counting stats
NHL 5v5 Goals Leaders: Defensemen
2025-26All situations
Zach Werenski (CBJ) leads NHL defensemen with 17 goals in 2025-26, ahead of 
Jakob Chychrun (WSH) (15).
Showing 2025-26 · 2026-27 becomes the default after ~10 games per team2026-27 so far →
Leaders: 5v5 Goals: defense, 2025-26
- 1stZach WerenskiCBJ · 75 GP17
- 2ndJakob ChychrunWSH · 80 GP15
3rdJustin FaulkSTL · 78 GP13
4thCale MakarCOL · 75 GP13
5thBrent BurnsCOL · 82 GP12
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What 5v5 Goals: defense measures
This board ranks NHL defensemen by total goals, 5-on-5, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Total goals, 5-on-5, this season.
5-on-5 scoring rates need a few hundred minutes to settle; on-ice shooting luck moves them more than most fantasy managers expect.
Taking out the power play shows who scores at even strength, where most of the game is played. Defensemen only. Goals scored this season, every situation including the power play and empty nets. The goal race swings more than the points race, because shooting percentage runs hot and cold. In 2025-26, 221 defensemen qualify for this board; the median is 3 and Zach Werenski leads at 17.
5v5 Goals: defense leaderboard
- Strength comes from the play-by-play skater counts; a few players differ from NHL.com by one goal or point where a penalty expired at the moment of the goal.
| # | Player | Team | 5v5 G | GP | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zach WerenskiDCBJ | CBJ | 17 | 75 | 100 | 100% |
| 2 | Jakob ChychrunDWSH | WSH | 15 | 80 | 100 | 99% |
| 3 | Justin FaulkDSTL | STL | 13 | 78 | 99 | 54%▲4.7 |
| 4 | Cale MakarDCOL | COL | 13 | 75 | 99 | 100% |
| 5 | Brent BurnsDCOL | COL | 12 | 82 | 98 | 44%▼2.7 |
| 6 |  Brock FaberDMIN | MIN | 12 | 80 | 98 | 87%▼1.2 |
| 7 |  Denton MateychukDCBJ | CBJ | 12 | 75 | 98 | 41% |
| 8 |  Josh MorrisseyDWPG | WPG | 11 | 77 | 97 | 96%▼2.5 |
| 9 |  Vladislav GavrikovDNYR | NYR | 10 | 82 | 95 | 62%▲4 |
| 10 |  Matthew SchaeferDNYI | NYI | 10 | 82 | 95 | 100% |
| 11 |  Morgan RiellyDTOR | TOR | 10 | 78 | 95 | 73%▼2.9 |
| 12 |  Mattias SamuelssonDBUF | BUF | 10 | 78 | 95 | 81%▲4.9 |
| 13 |  Rasmus DahlinDBUF | BUF | 10 | 77 | 95 | 99%▼0.5 |
| 14 |  Erik KarlssonDPIT | PIT | 10 | 75 | 95 | 95% |
| 15 |  Evan BouchardDEDM | EDM | 9 | 82 | 93 | 100% |
| 16 |  Rasmus AnderssonDCGY | CGY | 9 | 81 | 93 | 87%▲1.8 |
| 17 |  Vince DunnDSEA | SEA | 9 | 81 | 93 | 93%▲1.5 |
| 18 |  Noah DobsonDMTL | MTL | 9 | 80 | 93 | 92%▼1.7 |
| 19 |  Darren RaddyshDTBL | TBL | 9 | 73 | 93 | 98%▲0.5 |
| 20 |  Ivan ProvorovDCBJ | CBJ | 8 | 82 | 90 | 31%▼1.3 |
| 21 |  Bowen ByramDBUF | BUF | 8 | 82 | 90 | 87%▼2.3 |
| 22 |  Sam MalinskiDCOL | COL | 8 | 82 | 90 | 41%▼3.5 |
| 23 |  Jacob TroubaDANA | ANA | 8 | 81 | 90 | 72%▲1.5 |
| 24 |  Oliver Ekman-LarssonDTOR | TOR | 8 | 78 | 90 | 29%▼4.2 |
| 25 |  Logan StanleyDWPG | WPG | 8 | 76 | 90 | 35%▲7.8 |
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in 5v5 Goals: defense in 2025-26?
Zach Werenski leads with 17. The median of the 221 qualified defensemen is 3.
How is 5v5 Goals: defense calculated?
Total goals, 5-on-5, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is 5v5 Goals: defense?
5-on-5 scoring rates need a few hundred minutes to settle; on-ice shooting luck moves them more than most fantasy managers expect.