Which NHL top defense pairs have been the best and worst in the 2025-26 season?
In the world of ice hockey, where every player's performance matters, the top defense pairs play a pivotal role in a team's success. These pairs are the backbone of the defense, providing stability and often setting the tone for the entire team. In this article, I'll be analyzing the top defense pairs from the 2025-26 NHL season, focusing on their performance and providing insights into their strengths and weaknesses.
The Top Defense Pairs
Colorado Avalanche: Cale Makar and Devon Toews
The Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar and Devon Toews are a well-oiled machine, transitioning play up the ice and generating offense while shutting down the opposition. Makar, in particular, has been a standout performer, driving elite results with Toews. Their partnership has been a key factor in the Avalanche's success, and their ability to control the game's flow is a testament to their skill and chemistry.
Montreal Canadiens: Lane Hutson
Lane Hutson has emerged as a bona fide superstar in his second year with the Montreal Canadiens. His quickness and agility make him an effective defender, and his ability to defend the rush is particularly impressive. Hutson's defensive game has evolved, and he's now ranked second among all defensemen in five-on-five points. His performance has been a bright spot for the Canadiens, and he's a player to watch in the future.
Tampa Bay Lightning: J.J. Moser
J.J. Moser has been a quiet force on the Tampa Bay Lightning's blue line. His emergence as an elite shutdown defenseman has been a key factor in the team's success. Moser's IQ is off the charts, and he's been exceptional at breaking up plays. His partnership with Darren Raddysh has added offensive spice to the team, and their combination has been a source of lightning in a bottle for the Lightning.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Erik Karlsson and Parker Wotherspoon
Erik Karlsson has looked like a completely different player under Dan Muse this year. His play-driving numbers are the best they've ever been in Pittsburgh, and Parker Wotherspoon has been an outstanding defensive safety net for the pair. Wotherspoon, a journeyman defender, has been a steady and mistake-free presence, providing invaluable support to Karlsson.
Winnipeg Jets: Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo
Josh Morrissey's pair hasn't been driving play as decisively as last year, but they've still been winning their minutes. Morrissey should get more credit for driving these kinds of results without a true top-pair caliber partner. Dylan DeMelo is a solid player, but he'd probably be a No. 4/5 on most good teams. The pair's offensive impact is still impressive, and they've been handily winning their minutes.
The Bottom Defense Pairs
Boston Bruins: Charlie McAvoy and Jonathan Aspirot
Charlie McAvoy has put together a strong bounce-back campaign, but his pair with Jonathan Aspirot has struggled. Aspirot, an undrafted first-year NHLer, hasn't played big minutes, but he's been McAvoy's most frequent partner this season. The pair's defensive metrics are sturdy, but they struggle to generate offense, and their goaltending has been a source of concern.
Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson
Rasmus Dahlin will draw most of the headlines when we think about the success of Buffalo's top pair, but Mattias Samuelsson's shocking turnaround is the bigger story. Samuelsson was a promising, up-and-coming defensive stopper, but injuries and inconsistent play hurt his reputation. His performance next to Dahlin has been a turning point, and he's the unsung hero behind Buffalo's rise this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Zach Werenski and Damon Severson
Zach Werenski's pair is scoring 3.25 goals per 60 minutes, which is the sixth-best mark among all top pairs. Werenski has been the best solo offensive driver of all defensemen this season, and his pair takes care of their own zone pretty well. Columbus' top-four has also generally hit a higher level this year because of Denton Mateychuk's breakout and Damon Severson's bounce back.
The Bottom of the Pack
Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson
L.A.'s top pair of Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson is a microcosm of the team as a whole. They're lackluster offensively, but they're still competitive because of how well they defend. Doughty, who's only on pace to hit 27 points, isn't as dynamic as he once was. However, they shine as shutdown options, and their expected and actual goals against rates both rank in the top 10.
Seattle Kraken: Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson
Seattle has two balanced top-four pairs, one run by Vince Dunn and the other by Brandon Montour. The Dunn/Adam Larsson pair is holding up OK on the scoreboard, but their underlying process is very concerning and has been masked to some degree by strong goaltending. Seattle has been outshot and outchanced by wide margins with its top pair on the ice, earning an ugly 43.3 percent expected goal share that ranks second-worst among all NHL first pairs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the top defense pairs in the 2025-26 NHL season have been a mix of established stars and emerging talents. The Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar and Devon Toews, Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson, Tampa Bay Lightning's J.J. Moser, and Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson and Parker Wotherspoon have all been standout performers. Meanwhile, the bottom defense pairs, such as the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson, and Seattle Kraken's Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson, have struggled to generate offense and have been outshot and outchanced by their opponents.
As the season progresses, these pairs will continue to shape the fortunes of their respective teams. The top pairs will look to maintain their dominance, while the bottom pairs will look to turn their fortunes around. The NHL is a competitive league, and every player's performance matters. The top defense pairs will be key to their teams' success, while the bottom pairs will need to find their footing to turn their seasons around.
