Is Brandon Carlo Better Than Dylan DeMelo? NHL Stats Decide

This is as close as it gets. Brandon Carlo and Dylan DeMelo 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.

Dylan DeMelo's Assists of 159 compared to Brandon Carlo's 90 represents a 76.7% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Brandon Carlo falls 67.9% below the career average of 280 in this category while Dylan DeMelo exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Dylan DeMelo's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Games Played, where Brandon Carlo posts 692 against Dylan DeMelo's 718 — a gap of just 3.8%. Dylan DeMelo 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 Dylan DeMelo 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. Dylan DeMelo claims the tiebreaker through Assists advantage — a 76.7% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NHL debate.