Aaron Ekblad or Darnell Nurse? The NHL Stat Breakdown

The career statistics tell a clear story in this D comparison. Aaron Ekblad holds the advantage in 5 of 6 key categories, with Plus/Minus representing the most decisive gap — a 45% difference that separates these two NHL players. This is not a close debate on the numbers.

Aaron Ekblad's Plus/Minus of 87 compared to Darnell Nurse's 60 represents a 45% advantage — significantly better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Aaron Ekblad's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Games Played, where Aaron Ekblad posts 821 against Darnell Nurse's 817 — virtually identical figures. Darnell Nurse can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 5-1 tally suggests. In any debate, Games Played is the statistical ammunition for the Darnell Nurse side.

Defensive play in the NHL is measured through a combination of offensive contribution and plus/minus rating. Elite defensemen contribute points while anchoring their team's defensive structure — a balance that defines the position's greatest players.

Aaron Ekblad wins this head to head comparison decisively — 5 categories to 1. The 45% gap in Plus/Minus alone makes a compelling case, but the consistency across multiple categories confirms Aaron Ekblad's statistical superiority in this NHL career comparison.