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NHL Plus/Minus Leaders: Defensemen
2026-27All situationsThrough 3 team games
This board ranks defensemen only by plus/minus.
Plus/minus adds one for every even-strength or shorthanded goal the team scores with the player on the ice and subtracts one for every one allowed. Power-play goals for do not count; empty-net goals do. For leagues that split positions: which defensemen add plus/minus.
Leader in 2026-27: Mattias Ekholm (EDM), 6 +/-.
- Early sample: teams have played at most 3 games in 2026-27. Expect big swings.
Plus/Minus: defense leaderboard
Show
| # | Player | Team | +/- | GP | Per game | PTS | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mattias EkholmDEDM | EDM | 6 | 3 | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | 77%▲9.5 |
| 2 | Evan BouchardDEDM | EDM | 6 | 3 | 2.00 | 8 | 4 | 100% |
| 3 | Sam MalinskiDCOL | COL | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 0 | 0 | 55%▲32 |
| 4 | Ryan SheaDEDM | EDM | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 3 | 1 | 16%▲11 |
| 5 | Elias PetterssonDVAN | VAN | 4 | 3 | 1.33 | 1 | 1 | 14%▲13 |
| 6 | Josh MansonDCOL | COL | 4 | 2 | 2.00 | 3 | 1 | 32%▲16 |
| 7 | Luke SchennDVAN | VAN | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 7.3%▲6.9 |
| 8 | Hampus LindholmDBOS | BOS | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 2 | 1 | 17%▲15 |
| 9 | Will BorgenDBOS | BOS | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 4.1%▲3.8 |
| 10 | Erik KarlssonDPIT | PIT | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 3 | 0 | 95% |
| 11 | Jared SpurgeonDMIN | MIN | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 2 | 1 | 10%▲8.2 |
| 12 | Brayden McNabbDVGK | VGK | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 3 | 0 | 24%▲21 |
| 13 | Adam PelechDNYI | NYI | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 1 | 0 | 3.2%▲3 |
| 14 | Shea TheodoreDVGK | VGK | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 3 | 1 | 91%▲28 |
| 15 | Alexander RomanovDNYI | NYI | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 0 | 0 | 15%▲15 |
| 16 | Dmitri SimashevDUTA | UTA | 3 | 2 | 1.50 | 1 | 0 | 20%▲20 |
| 17 | Tristan LuneauDANA | ANA | 3 | 1 | 3.00 | 1 | 0 | 31%▲31 |
| 18 | Ian ColeDCHI | CHI | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 0 | 0 | 4.9%▲4.3 |
| 19 | Marcus PetterssonDNYR | NYR | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 0 | 0 | 6.6%▲6.2 |
| 20 | Filip HronekDVAN | VAN | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 4 | 0 | 91%▲14 |
| 21 | Alberts SmitsDNYR | NYR | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 0 | 0 | 35%▲34 |
| 22 | Kris LetangDPIT | PIT | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 3 | 0 | 47%▼16 |
| 23 | Cody CeciDLAK | LAK | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 0.3% |
| 24 | Nate SchmidtDUTA | UTA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 4.9%▲4.5 |
| 25 | Devon ToewsDCOL | COL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 | 0 | 62%▼1 |
| 26 | Zach WerenskiDCBJ | CBJ | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
| 27 | John MarinoDUTA | UTA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 18%▲13 |
| 28 | Ryan LindgrenDSEA | SEA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.1% |
| 29 | Andrew PeekeDUTA | UTA | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 6.5%▲6.2 |
| 30 | Logan StanleyDNYI | NYI | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 | 0 | 6.6%▲5.9 |
| 31 | Vincent DesharnaisDWSH | WSH | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
| 32 | Quinn HughesDMIN | MIN | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 3 | 1 | 100% |
| 33 | Jayden StrubleDMTL | MTL | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 3.3%▲2.9 |
| 34 | Louis CrevierDBUF | BUF | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 15%▲15 |
| 35 | Emil AndraeDCBJ | CBJ | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 8.8%▲8.6 |
| 36 | Declan CarlileDPIT | PIT | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 | 1 | 3.3%▲3.1 |
| 37 | Cole HutsonDWSH | WSH | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 1 | 1 | 87%▲46 |
| 38 | Matthew SchaeferDNYI | NYI | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
| 39 | Thomas ChabotDOTT | OTT | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 2 | 1 | 83%▼12 |
| 40 | Connor MurphyDEDM | EDM | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 6.0%▲5.1 |
| 41 | Jaccob SlavinDCAR | CAR | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 16%▲4.6 |
| 42 | Jonathan AspirotDBOS | BOS | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 4.8%▲4.6 |
| 43 | Braden SchneiderDNYR | NYR | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 20%▲18 |
| 44 | Mason LohreiDBOS | BOS | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 2 | 0 | 22%▲21 |
| 45 | Victor HedmanDTBL | TBL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 93%▲11 |
| 46 | Dmitry KulikovDFLA | FLA | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 | 3.2%▲3.1 |
| 47 | Radko GudasDFLA | FLA | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 25%▲22 |
| 48 | Cam FowlerDSTL | STL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 14%▲1.8 |
| 49 | Jacob TroubaDSJS | SJS | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 | 76%▼11 |
| 50 | Esa LindellDDAL | DAL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 37%▼31 |
| 51 | Brett KulakDCOL | COL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
| 52 | Carson SoucyDCBJ | CBJ | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0.1% |
| 53 | Brett PesceDNJD | NJD | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
| 54 | Darnell NurseDSJS | SJS | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 69%▼13 |
| 55 | Noah HanifinDVGK | VGK | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 1 | 53%▼22 |
| 56 | Noah JuulsenDCOL | COL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0.1% |
| 57 | Jeremy LauzonDVGK | VGK | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 24%▲22 |
| 58 | Alexandre CarrierDMTL | MTL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 2 | 1 | 14%▲12 |
| 59 | Cale MakarDCOL | COL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 3 | 1 | 100%▲1 |
| 60 | Michael KesselringDSJS | SJS | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 8.9%▲8.3 |
| 61 | Luke HughesDNJD | NJD | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 1 | 84%▲40 |
| 62 | Nolan AllanDSJS | SJS | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 1 | 4.8%▲4.7 |
| 63 | Arber XhekajDMTL | MTL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 10%▲6.3 |
| 64 | Lane HutsonDMTL | MTL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 3 | 0 | 99%▲3.1 |
| 65 | Luca CagnoniDSJS | SJS | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 2 | 1 | 56%▲53 |
| 66 | Theo LindsteinDSTL | STL | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 | 12%▲12 |
| 67 | Zach MetsaDBUF | BUF | 1 | 2 | 0.50 | 1 | 0 | 0.1% |
| 68 | Erik GustafssonDLAK | LAK | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 3.2%▲3.2 |
| 69 | Gustav ForslingDFLA | FLA | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1 | 1 | 42%▲18 |
| 70 | Josh MahuraDSEA | SEA | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.1% |
| 71 | Jackson LaCombeDANA | ANA | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 1 | 0 | 98%▲9.6 |
| 72 | Pavel MintyukovDANA | ANA | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 31%▲29 |
| 73 | Carter YakemchukDOTT | OTT | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 42%▲40 |
| 74 | Oliver Ekman-LarssonDTOR | TOR | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 43%▲32 |
| 75 | Chris TanevDTOR | TOR | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 6.0%▲5 |
| 76 | Nick SeelerDPHI | PHI | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 8.1%▲7.6 |
| 77 | Jamie OleksiakDVAN | VAN | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 3 | 1 | 7.1%▲6.9 |
| 78 | Jake McCabeDTOR | TOR | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 34%▼15 |
| 79 | Rasmus RistolainenDPHI | PHI | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 1 | 1 | 8.3%▲7.7 |
| 80 | Nikita ZadorovDBOS | BOS | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 39%▲21 |
| 81 | Troy StecherDTOR | TOR | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.2% |
| 82 | Sean DurziDNYR | NYR | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 1 | 1 | 38%▲36 |
| 83 | Alex VlasicDCHI | CHI | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 2 | 0 | 9.0%▲7.7 |
| 84 | Tom WillanderDVAN | VAN | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 3 | 0 | 25%▲24 |
| 85 | Tyler MyersDDAL | DAL | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 4.1%▲3.7 |
| 86 | Roman JosiDNSH | NSH | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 2 | 1 | 98%▼0.5 |
| 87 | Joel EdmundsonDLAK | LAK | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 4.0%▲3.9 |
| 88 | Adam LarssonDSEA | SEA | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 23%▼19 |
| 89 | Jonas BrodinDMIN | MIN | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 5.0%▲4.3 |
| 90 | Olli MaattaDMIN | MIN | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 0.2% |
| 91 | Ryan PulockDNYI | NYI | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 10%▼1.4 |
| 92 | Trevor van RiemsdykDPIT | PIT | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.8% |
| 93 | Tony DeAngeloDNYI | NYI | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 24%▲18 |
| 94 | Vince DunnDSEA | SEA | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 3 | 1 | 89%▲12 |
| 95 | Erik CernakDTBL | TBL | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 4.1%▲3.7 |
| 96 | Brandon CarloDSTL | STL | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
| 97 | Niko MikkolaDFLA | FLA | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 4.9%▲4.4 |
| 98 | Matt RoyDWSH | WSH | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 9.0%▲8.3 |
| 99 | Jakob ChychrunDWSH | WSH | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 3 | 1 | 99% |
| 100 | Samuel GirardDPIT | PIT | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 3 | 1 | 9.0%▲8.6 |
How to read it
Goals for minus goals against while on the ice (power-play goals for excluded).
How reliable is it?
Plus/minus is noisy and team-driven; on-ice goal and expected-goal shares at 5-on-5 tell you more about the player.
About our data sources →Projected next
Our fantasy projections for plus/minus: who should lead the coming games.
Related leaderboards
- Plus/MinusGoals for minus goals against while on the ice (power-play goals for excluded).
- Plus/Minus: forwardsGoals for minus goals against while on the ice (power-play goals for excluded).
- Plus/Minus per 60Plus/Minus per 60 minutes of ice time, all situations.
- 5v5 xGF%50% is break-even. 55% means the skater's team took 55% of the expected goals while he was on the ice.