Counting stats
NHL Points Leaders: Defensemen
2026-27All situationsThrough 11 team games
Evan Bouchard (EDM) leads NHL defensemen with 18 points in 2026-27, ahead of 
Quinn Hughes (MIN) (13).
Leaders: Points: defense, 2026-27
- 1stEvan BouchardEDM · 9 GP18Share
- 2ndQuinn HughesMIN · 10 GP13Share
3rdErik KarlssonPIT · 10 GP11Share
4thMikhail SergachevUTA · 10 GP11Share
5thCale MakarCOL · 9 GP11Share
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Points: defense measures
This board ranks defensemen only by points. Total points this season, all situations.
Totals reward games played and ice time as much as skill; see the per-60 version for the rate view. Read the number next to its sample: a rate built on a few games moves a lot from week to week, while a total mostly tracks games played and ice time.
Points are goals plus assists, the classic scoring race. Top-line centres and power-play quarterbacks lead it most years. In leagues that split positions, use it to fill your defense slots, and check the per-60 board for defensemen getting more out of fewer minutes. In 2026-27, 247 defensemen qualify for this board; the median is 2 and Evan Bouchard leads at 18.
Points: defense leaderboard
| # | Player | Team | PTS | GP | Per game | G | A | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evan BouchardDEDM | EDM | 18 | 9 | 2.00 | 7 | 11 | 100 | 100% |
| 2 | Quinn HughesDMIN | MIN | 13 | 10 | 1.30 | 2 | 11 | 100 | 100% |
| 3 | Erik KarlssonDPIT | PIT | 11 | 10 | 1.10 | 1 | 10 | 99 | 95% |
| 4 | Mikhail SergachevDUTA | UTA | 11 | 10 | 1.10 | 3 | 8 | 99 | 100%▲1.4 |
| 5 | Cale MakarDCOL | COL | 11 | 9 | 1.22 | 3 | 8 | 99 | 100% |
| 6 |  Adam FoxDNYR | NYR | 10 | 11 | 0.91 | 0 | 10 | 98 | 99% |
| 7 |  Seth JonesDFLA | FLA | 10 | 9 | 1.11 | 1 | 9 | 98 | 90%▲15 |
| 8 |  Lane HutsonDMTL | MTL | 9 | 9 | 1.00 | 2 | 7 | 97 | 100%▲0.6 |
| 9 |  Roman JosiDNSH | NSH | 9 | 8 | 1.13 | 1 | 8 | 97 | 98% |
| 10 |  Owen PowerDBUF | BUF | 8 | 9 | 0.89 | 2 | 6 | 96 | 75%▲5 |
| 11 |  Matthew SchaeferDNYI | NYI | 8 | 9 | 0.89 | 0 | 8 | 96 | 100% |
| 12 |  Morgan RiellyDTOR | TOR | 7 | 11 | 0.64 | 0 | 7 | 94 | 73%▼2.9 |
| 13 |  Shayne GostisbehereDCAR | CAR | 7 | 11 | 0.64 | 2 | 5 | 94 | 96%▲0.6 |
| 14 |  Devon ToewsDCOL | COL | 7 | 10 | 0.70 | 2 | 5 | 94 | 82%▲8.8 |
| 15 |  Vince DunnDSEA | SEA | 7 | 10 | 0.70 | 2 | 5 | 94 | 93%▲1.5 |
| 16 |  Samuel GirardDPIT | PIT | 7 | 9 | 0.78 | 1 | 6 | 94 | 28%▲5 |
| 17 |  Miro HeiskanenDDAL | DAL | 7 | 9 | 0.78 | 3 | 4 | 94 | 100%▲1.5 |
| 18 |  Mattias SamuelssonDBUF | BUF | 7 | 9 | 0.78 | 2 | 5 | 94 | 81%▲4.9 |
| 19 |  Jackson LaCombeDANA | ANA | 7 | 9 | 0.78 | 1 | 6 | 94 | 97% |
| 20 |  Brayden McNabbDVGK | VGK | 6 | 11 | 0.55 | 0 | 6 | 91 | 42%▲2.8 |
| 21 |  Filip HronekDVAN | VAN | 6 | 11 | 0.55 | 0 | 6 | 91 | 94% |
| 22 |  Sean WalkerDCAR | CAR | 6 | 11 | 0.55 | 0 | 6 | 91 | 71%▲7.7 |
| 23 |  Brandon MontourDSEA | SEA | 6 | 9 | 0.67 | 1 | 5 | 91 | 85% |
| 24 |  Neal PionkDWPG | WPG | 6 | 9 | 0.67 | 1 | 5 | 91 | 61%▲31 |
| 25 |  Philip BrobergDSTL | STL | 6 | 9 | 0.67 | 2 | 4 | 91 | 60% |
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Points: defense in 2026-27?
Evan Bouchard leads with 18. The median of the 247 qualified defensemen is 2.
How is Points: defense calculated?
Total points this season, all situations. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Points: defense?
Totals reward games played and ice time as much as skill; see the per-60 version for the rate view.