Ranking the NHL's Top Defense Pairings for the 2024-25 Season

Having an outstanding No. 1 defenseman is a key part of any Stanley Cup contender. It gets even better when they have a reliable partner who can be counted on for big minutes and big production.

With that in mind, we're going to take a look at the top-eight defense pairings in the NHL right now.

When it comes to criteria, we are sticking with defensive duos that have spent considerable time together in recent years. We want to see at least 500 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time together from the 2023-24 season, while also opening this season as partners.

We are also looking for objective production, specifically whether their team outchances and outscores its opponents when they are on the ice together.

Here are the pairings that stand out most.

8. Roman Josi and Dante Fabbro, Nashville Predators

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NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 12: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59), of Switzerland, and defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) are shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets, held on February 12, 2022, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Roman Josi is one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL and already has a Norris Trophy on his resume. He has also had some really good partners in Nashville over the years, and now his primary one is Dante Fabbro.

Fabbro was a first-round pick by the Predators in 2016, and while he does not provide a ton of offense on his own, he and Josi have complemented each other well since they became a regular duo.

They were Nashville's second-most used pairing in 2023-24 (Fabbro missed 25 games, leaving Josi paired with Ryan McDonagh for an extended period), and they significantly outscored and outchanced their opponents.

In their 600-plus minutes together, the Predators outscored teams 32-22 with a 56 percent expected goals share.

While it's only been two games this season entering play on Monday, their expected goals share is creeping up close to 70 percent, while the Predators have allowed just four total shots on goal with this duo on the ice in over 20 minutes of play together.

Josi brings the offense and all-around play, Fabbro is a steady, sure-handed player who just gets the job done. They are outstanding together.

7. Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo, Winnipeg Jets

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WINNIPEG, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Cole Perfetti #91, Dylan DeMelo #2, Blake Wheeler #26 and Josh Morrissey #44 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a second period goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Canada Life Centre on November 29, 2022 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Jets leaned heavily on the Dylan DeMelo-Josh Morrissey pairing during the 2023-24 season, playing them more than 1,000 minutes together during 5-on-5 situations.

They were sensational together in those minutes, though.

Winnipeg outscored opponents by a 63-35 margin during those minutes while also having a better than 51 percent expected goal share.

The expected goal share being down closer to 50 percent is the one thing that dropped this duo down a bit, because like the rest of the Jets team, they do rely quite a bit on goaltending when it comes to preventing goals.

But the offensive potential from this duo—thanks to Morrissey—is legit, and it's not only the Jets' best defense pairing, but it's also one of the most productive tandems in the NHL.

6. Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars

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DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 27: Thomas Harley #55 of the Dallas Stars is congratulated by Miro Heiskanen #4 after Harley's first period goal against the Washington Capitals at American Airlines Center on January 27, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Miro Heiskanen has been one of the best all-around defenseman in the NHL from the moment he arrived and does everything well.

The 25-year-old can score, defend, lead or join the rush, pass and help control the tempo and pace of the game. Across the board, he is a star.

Dallas has also recently had another young defenseman, Thomas Harley, climb through the NHL as part of its sensational pipeline of young talent that keeps reaching the league.

Heiskanen and 23-year-old Harley played more minutes together than any other Stars defense pairing a year ago, and they posted dominant numbers, outscoring teams by a near-2:1 margin (39-23) with a 61 percent expected goal share.

In terms of production, they are as good as it gets when they are together. The only thing that has kept them a little lower in our rankings is they have a smaller sampling of minutes together than some of the other pairings ahead of them.

5. Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns, Carolina Hurricanes

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RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 19: Brent Burns #8 and Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes talk during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at PNC Arena on February 19, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

I love this pairing because you have Brent Burns whose game is primarily about offense, while Jaccob Slavin is one of the steadiest, most well-rounded players in the league.

Put them together, and they have been ridiculously productive for the Hurricanes.

They have been primary partners since Burns arrived prior to the 2022-23 season, and since then, their numbers are among the best of any pairing in the league.

Just for perspective: There have been 35 defense pairings that have played more than 1,000 minutes together during that time period, and the Burns-Slavin tandem is one of only two that has a better than 58 percent goal share and expected goals share.

The only other pairing to accomplish that is Edmonton's Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm.

4. Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek, Vancouver Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 10: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks talks to teammate Filip Hronek #17 in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena on May 10, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

When the Vancouver Canucks traded for Filip Hronek at the 2023 trade deadline despite not being a playoff team, it raised some eyebrows.

However, the Czech was still young and in his prime years, had term remaining on his contract and eventually ended up giving Hughes—one of the Canucks' best players and now their captain—a perfect defense partner he has developed instant chemistry with.

The Hughes-Hronek is one of the best offensive and puck-moving pairings in the league, and they were dominant together during the 2023-24 season. They played over 1,200 minutes together at 5-on-5, outscored teams by a 73-46 margin and consistently set the tone for the Canucks' style of play.

3. Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers

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SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 10: Aaron Ekblad #5 talks to Gustav Forsling #42 and Eetu Luostarinen #27 of the Florida Panthers prior to a face-off against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Two of the Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 10, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling joined the Panthers in vastly different ways.

The former was a No. 1 overall draft pick and expected to be a franchise cornerstone. He mostly has been when healthy.

The latter was a waiver claim the Panthers were just hoping could be a useful NHL player. He has wildly exceeded those expectations.

Put them together and you have one of the best and most productive defensive pairings in the NHL.

They outscored teams 29-15 during 5-on-5 play a year ago with a 58 percent expected goals share, and they did that while getting some of lowest offensive-zone starts on the team (just around 50 percent, the lowest among the Panthers' most-used defense pairings).

Ekblad's big issue is staying on the ice, but he can be a dynamic offensive player when healthy, while Forsling has developed into one of the better defensive players in the NHL.

2. Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton Oilers

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EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 5: Evan Bouchard #2 and Mattias Ekholm #14 of the Edmonton Oilers discuss the play during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Place on April 5, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Oilers' defensive depth might be a big question mark—perhaps even a big problem—but they do have at least one outstanding pairing who is easily among the best in the NHL.

Mattias Ekholm has always been a tremendous all-around player, and getting him in a trade was, arguably, the best move Ken Holland made as Edmonton general manager.

Bouchard is a top-draft pick who has emerged as one of the most prolific offensive defenseman in the league and been a great fit on an Oilers team that is loaded with superstar talent offensively.

When this pairing has been on the ice since the start of the 2023-24 season, Edmonton has outscored teams by a 79-47 margin with a 61.2 percent expected goals share,

When neither is on the ice, it has been outscored 89-97 with only a 53 percent expected goals share.

The Oilers use them a ton, and they need to because the rest of the defense stinks. These guys are so good that they help cover for that.

1. Cale Makar and Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche

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DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 20: Devon Toews #7 and Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche look on during a pause in play against the Seattle Kraken in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 20, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

This duo getting the top spot is a combination of strong production and the fact that each of them is among the top-25 defensemen in the NHL.

Makar is, arguably, the best defenseman in the league. He scores at the same rate as a top-line forward and does so while playing Norris-caliber defense.

Toews, meanwhile, could be a legitimate No. 1 defender on a lot of NHL teams and is not only great in transition and starting the rush, but he's also a consistent 50-point player who can also handle business in his own end of the rink.

As a duo, they have outscored teams 99-73 since the start of the 2022-23 season, have had a 55 percent expected goal share and are incredible at controlling the game.

Individually, they are both outstanding players; as a duo, they are the best defensive pairing in the NHL.

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All data via Natural Stat Trick.