Alex Vlasic or Joel Hanley? The NHL Stat Breakdown

This is as close as it gets. Alex Vlasic and Joel Hanley split the statistical categories evenly — 3 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested D comparisons in NHL history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.

Joel Hanley's Plus/Minus of 3 compared to Alex Vlasic's -46 represents a 1433.3% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Joel Hanley's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Games Played, where Alex Vlasic posts 269 against Joel Hanley's 315 — a gap of just 17.1%. Joel Hanley can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Games Played is the statistical ammunition for the Joel Hanley 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.

With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Joel Hanley claims the tiebreaker through Plus/Minus advantage — a 1433.3% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NHL debate.