Although spreading the wealth is sometimes a good idea, Stanley Cup chances often have an elite top combination, able to control the pace of the game on both ends of the ice. In the 2025–26 season, which are the 10 best defensive duos of the competition?
10. Josh Morrissey, Dylan Demelo (Winnipeg Jets)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 58.62% target share, 54.01% expected target share in 1,225: 27
In 10one Place, we have the top couple of the reigning trophy winners of the competition: Josh Morrissey and Dylan Demelo of the Winnipeg Jets. In the past three seasons, Morrissey has an average of 71 points per 82 games on average and ends himself as one of the best offensive producers of the competition from the back. But he has also lifted earlier defensive misery -He is an elite two -way roadsBest mating defender.
Related: Hockey Advanced Analytics: what are they and why are they important?
Demelo, on the other hand, is effective in an additional role. Offensive supporting and able to play in his zone, he is a capable best defensive partner. In the past two seasons, the jets have surpassed their opponents 114-71 with this combination on the ice on 5-on-5.
9. Zach Werenski, Dante Fabbro (Columbus Blue Jackets)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 57.14% target share, 53.81% expected target share in 1,005: 58
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski finishes second in Norris Trophy who voted last season and makes a lot of hard lifting for this combination. He is a ruthless Puck-Carrier and effectively in all three zones and comes from an 82-point campaign. Dominating the opposition with a ruthless 26:45 average ice age, he deserves the recognition he received in 2024–25.
However, that does not mean that Werenski did it all alone. Although he was a distance story in November 2024, Dante Fabbro founded a solid chemistry with the Blue Jackets star. If necessary, he can handle big minutes, blocking shots and picking up pucks en route. Just like Demelo, he is a good complementary partner.
8. Simon Edvinsson, Moritz Sider (Detroit Red Wings)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 62.50% target share, 51.89% expected target share in 500: 58
This newly formed combination can make a name for itself in 2025–26. In his previous two seasons, Moritz Sider took some of the most difficult minutes of the competition, but had no competent partner to spend them. The results were 46.09% real and 45.37% expected target shares in 5-on-5-game-which was his role difficulty on the surface, was too much to handle. But really, everything he needed was a spark.
Related: The top candidate of each team for 2025-26: Atlantic Division
Simon Edvinsson, 22 years old, spent just over 500 minutes with Sider on 5-on-5 game. Together they decimated the opposition with a target share of 62.50%. Although it is expected that percentage will fall at least light, the Detroit Red Wings can end their nine-season playoff-dried if these young couples can replicate his play.
7. Cam Fowler, Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 63.27% target share, 54.07% expected target share in 483: 52
The only thing needed was a second round pick (and a fourth rounder in exchange before) for the St. Louis Blues to form one of the best defensive couples in the NHL last season. The acquisition of Cam Fowler In the above-mentioned movement, Colton Parayko gave a puck-moving threat with high-end offensive capacities, Instead of depending on Nick Leddy To be that kind of players. From the moment the deal was closed (December 14) until the end of the 2024–25 campaign, St. Louis had the best 5-on-5 goal difference of the competition on Plus-39.
This link is on the older side, where Fowler and Parayko are 33 and 32 respectively. But the blues have something special. Just like the red wings with Sider, there was no capable top partner for Parayko on the Roster. The skills, although always intriguing, was not enough for flashy results in incriminating minutes. Fowler changed that and added a point-producing presence (36 in 51 games; 58-point pace) to Parayko’s mobile shutdown game.
6. Quinn Hughes, Filip Honek (Vancouver Canucks)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 50.00% target share, 55.40% expected target share in 605: 10
Although they had an even differential on 5-on-5 last season, the top combination of Vancouver Canucks is nevertheless very dangerous. After winning the Norris trophy two seasons ago, Quinn Hughes was demonstrably just as impressive in his follow-up campaign-de Canucks had a goal of 53.28% with him on the ice and a terrible 45.03% without him.
Of course it demonstrably makes the best defender in the NHL a good one on this unit. But Filip Honek, signed at an eight -year contract of $ 58 million, can keep his own last season. Without one of the two on the ice, the target share of Vancouver fell to 41.61%. United, they have shown that they can cause some damage. When goal congregation is on their side this time (.872 Save percentage in 2024-25), great things expects.
5. Bowen Byram, Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 70.00% target share, 54.61% expected target share in 626: 24
Bowen Byram and Rasmus Dahlin defeated their enemies 35-15 When they are accompanied together, were a huge light point in a Buffalo Sabres team that expanded its play -off drought to 14 seasons. Those results are probably untenable and have a .940 savings percentage in their minutes, but there is some optimism in store.
Dahlin has settled as one of the best defenders of the competition. With off-the-charts skills and elite two-way results, the captain of Buffalo will excel, regardless of who he was accompanied. Byram kept his end of the bargain, but he has room for growth. If that happens, this device can challenge a top three place.
4. Gustav Forsling, Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 58.57% target share, 54.72% expected target share in 866: 43
An exemption claim And a first pick-de ultimate juxtaposition. While back-to-back Stanley Cups certainly helps the matter of this link, the Florida Panthers depend on the services of Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad. They eat tough minutes and excel at both ends of the ice.
Forsling is the highlight of this combination. After being picked up by the Panthers in January 2021, he became one of the best defenders in the NHL, and objectively the best in Florida. He is an elite coincidence with an underrated offensive impact. The results of Ekblad are not that strong, but he is an essential player for the Panthers -Signing him again was a no-brainer. This link is contractually intact for the next seven seasons.
3. Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 53.01% target share, 59.08% expected target share in 987: 34
Although a championship has avoided them, reaching the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back seasons is a serious performance for the Edmonton Oilers. Undoubtedly this would not have been possible without Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard, who have maximized the output of superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Although there is always the knock on Ekholm and Bouchard that they are the beneficiaries of two generation talents, it is a two -way street. In the past three seasons at Five-a-Side Hockey, McDavid has a target share of 65.16% when this link is accompanied. Without both defenders he is at 50.57%, or actually even. In the meantime, Draisaitl has a target share of 71.00% with Ekholm and Bouchard versus a much more modest 51.67% when they are on the couch.
It is no coincidence that Edmonton went from wrestling to deep runs to doing this regularly, because this link was formed. The two-way bravery of Ekholm and Bouchard’s unparalleled puck-moving skills do wonders for the oilers.
2. Vladislav Gavrikov, Adam Fox (New York Ranges)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): N / A
If the New York Rangers free-agent pick-up Vladislav Gavrikov insert on the pair of Adam Fox, the results can be enormous. For the first time in his career, Fox can have a full -time partner who can elevate his game.
In recent seasons, Fox has usually been linked to Ryan Lindgren. Despite signing a four -year contract of $ 18 million with De Kraken in Seattle in free agency, that was a task that was too long for Lindgren. When Fox played in addition to a defender in addition to the 27-year-old last season, he had a target share of 66.13% and a 60.90% expected goals share in 653: 45 in 5-to-5 ice age.
Although K’andre Miller was a strong part -time defending partner for Fox, Gavrikov is probably the better player at the moment. Blooming in a shutdown role with the Los Angeles Kings at 23:05 of Ice Age per game, he would be the perfect fit on the top pair of the Rangers.
1. Devon Tools, Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
2024–25 Statistics (5-on-5): 61.11% target share, 55.53% expected target share in 1,104: 31
The Colorado Avalanche has had the best defensive combination of the NHL for a while. In perhaps the most crooked trade in recent memory, the acquisition of Devon to the New York Islanders for two measly picks in the second round gave the avalanche an unstoppable duo on the blue line.
Cale Makar won the Norris trophy last season and further confirmed himself as a generation of defender. TOWS, demonstrably a top-15 defender in itself, played a key role. Until further notification, no few has this beat.
Do you agree or disagree with these choices? Feel free to leave your thoughts below!
Statistics with thanks Natural Stat Trick
#NHLs #Top #Defensive #Combinations #Hockey #Writers #Season #Previews #Latest #News #Analysis