Brandon Carlo or Bowen Byram? The NHL Stat Breakdown

This is as close as it gets. Brandon Carlo and Bowen Byram 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.

Brandon Carlo's Plus/Minus of 135 compared to Bowen Byram's 34 represents a 297.1% 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 Brandon Carlo's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Assists, where Brandon Carlo posts 91 against Bowen Byram's 109 — a gap of just 19.8%. Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram 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. Brandon Carlo claims the tiebreaker through Plus/Minus advantage — a 297.1% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NHL debate.