Is Bowen Byram Better Than Connor Bedard? NHL Stats Decide

This is as close as it gets. Bowen Byram and Connor Bedard 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.

Bowen Byram's Plus/Minus of 34 compared to Connor Bedard's -98 represents a 188.2% 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 Bowen Byram's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Assists, where Bowen Byram posts 109 against Connor Bedard's 130 — a gap of just 19.3%. Connor Bedard can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 3-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Assists is the statistical ammunition for the Connor Bedard 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. Bowen Byram claims the tiebreaker through Plus/Minus advantage — a 188.2% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NHL debate.