Although he missed part of the season with injury, McAvoy had 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) and led the Bruins in ice time per game (23:40). McAvoy, 27, had at least 47 points in each of the three seasons from 2021-24 and has had a plus-20 or better rating in five of his eight NHL seasons. McAvoy also led Boston in blocked shots for six straight seasons from 2018-24.
Bouchard had 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists), including 26 on the power play in 82 games last season in a career-high 23:28 of ice time per game. This came after he set career highs in goals (18), assists (64), plus-minus (plus-35), power-play goals (eight), power-play points (35) and game-winning goals (seven) in 2023-24. Bouchard also ranked 5th in the NHL in SAT percentage during the regular season, with the Oilers controlling 58.8 percent of shot attempts at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice. The 25-year-old had 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 22 playoff games and his 1.08 points per game in the playoffs (81 points in 75 games) are tied for second in NHL history behind Orr (1.24).
9. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
In his 14 NHL seasons, Josi has been as consistent as they come. He was limited to 53 games last season (nine goals, 29 assists), but has had more than 50 points eight times and at least 20 power-play points six times. Since the 2014-15 season, he’s tied with Victor Hedman of the Lightning for the most points among defensemen (650). The 35-year-old won the Norris Trophy in 2019-20 and was a finalist in 2021-22 when he led the position with 96 points.
Slavin had 27 points (six goals, 21 assists) in 80 games last season while averaging 21:34 of ice time per game. He led the Hurricanes in blocked shots (136) and takeaways (61) while finishing eighth in the NHL with a 57.0 SAT percentage. The 31-year-old had eight penalty minutes for the third straight season and won the Lady Byng Award for gentlemanly play in 2020-21 and 2023-24.
The 25-year-old captain of the Sabres had 68 points (17 goals, 51 assists) in 73 games last season along with 21 power-play points while averaging 24:14 of ice time per game. Dahlin has had at least 50 points and 20 power-play points in four straight seasons. He had 101 hits and 98 blocked shots last season and tied his career high with a shooting percentage of 8.5
Over the past three seasons, Morrissey has been an offensive force with 76, 69 and 62 points, finishing in the top five in Norris voting twice. He had 14 goals, 48 assists, a plus-17 rating and 22 power-play points in 80 games last season, leading Winnipeg in ice time per game (24:23). His 113 blocked shots were second on the team behind defenseman Dylan Samberg. The 30-year-old helped the Jets allow an NHL-low 191 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) during the regular season in 2024-25 and has also been durable, missing only 10 games over the past four seasons.
In his first season as captain, Hedman had 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) and 26 power-play points in 79 games. His 23:05 of ice time per game led the team and his 133 blocked shots were second. Hedman, 34, won the Norris Trophy in 2017-18 and was a finalist six straight seasons from 2016-22. During that stretch, he was named to the NHL First All-Star team once and the Second All-Star team five times. He is the Lightning’s all-time leader among defensemen in games (1,131), goals (171), assists (623) and points (794), and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP in 2020 when he helped them win the Stanley Cup for the first of two straight seasons.
Heiskanen led the Stars in ice time per game (25:10) although his season was limited due to an injury; he did not play in the regular season after Jan. 28 and did not return until the second round of the playoffs. The 26-year-old had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 50 regular-season games and is two seasons removed from a career-best 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) in 79 games. He has helped Dallas advance to the conference final each of the past three seasons and had 26 points in 27 games in the 2020 playoffs, the sixth-highest total by a defenseman in a single postseason.
A first-time finalist for the Norris last season, Werenski was second among defensemen behind Makar with 82 points (23 goals, 59 assists) in 81 games. The 29-year-old set Blue Jackets single-season records at the position in all three categories, and average ice time, an NHL-best 26:45. Werenski also was third among all skaters with 298 shots on goal and was the ninth different defensemen since 1997 to finish a season with at least 80 points.