Last year, at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin got to show the whole world what he is capable of. An incredible performance alongside Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber put him in the spotlight. Already considered by hardcore fans to be among the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, Slavin got to show a more casual audience just what he is capable of. Now, we’ve reached the Milano Cortina Olympics in 2026, and the minds of the casual fan have forgotten Slavin’s heroics in the 4 Nations.
Why is this important? Well, halfway through the season, the NHL has been adjourned for the time being to accommodate the Olympics. With the players in Milan, fans have had time to run wild with speculation and opinions. Some have questioned the roster decisions Team USA made, leaving out the likes of Jason Robertson, and that is a fair discussion. However, some of the debate around Slavin has been interesting.
Slavin’s Unique Attributes
Slavin isn’t like most elite defensemen. He’s not a point producer. Slavin’s career high point total is just 42. He’s a 35-point producer in most seasons, which is not bad, but it isn’t what we expect from some of the elites of the game. He has 40 points in 86 playoff games, so he can produce under pressure, but that’s not what he’s known for. He’s never going to run away with the league lead in point production among defensemen.
Even if we turn to his underlying numbers, Slavin’s expected goals for per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time (xGF/60) according to Natural Stat Trick, is 2.91. In an admittedly small sample size due to the sheer amount of time he’s missed with injuries, that’s an incredible number. He’s being deployed primarily to shut down the best the opponents have to offer. Let’s give it some context. Zach Werenski’s xGF/60 is 3.05, only just above Slavin. Werenski also doesn’t play in the same linchpin defensive role Slavin does. It’s incredibly impressive.
What’s most ridiculous is Slavin’s goals for percentage (GF%) and expected goals for percentage (xGF%). If you’re not an analytical mind, or you’re still learning, GF% and xGF% may be new. To put it simply, if you play a shift and give up a goal, you have a GF% of 50. It’s your percentage of all goals scored when you’re on the ice. xGF% is the same thing, but it uses expected goals instead. Slavin’s ninth in both categories among all defensemen to play at least 270 minutes at 5-on-5. None of the players above him in either category is given the shutdown role Slavin is, which shows you how effective he is.
Slavin’s Defensive Brilliance
The offensive stuff is fun, but that’s not what Slavin does to bring in his paycheck. He is one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL, so how do his defensive numbers stack up against the rest of the league? Well, he averages 1.77 goals against per 60 minutes played (GA/60). That’s 16th-best in the league among all defensemen who’ve played 270 minutes or more, and microscopically just short of eighth. He’s right there where he always is.
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Carolina has had one of the stories of the season in goal in Brandon Bussi, so that’s not a certainty of performance. It could just be good goaltending. What about his expected goals against per 60 minutes played (xGA/60)? That’s ninth in the NHL at 2.12. Considering he’s dealt with injuries all season and has rarely, if ever, been at 100%, those numbers are ridiculous for Carolina’s linchpin. I’ve already mentioned he plays against the best of the best for Carolina. But it’s not just his quality of competition (QoC) that makes it so impressive.
His quality of teammate (QoT) has been impressive. In years past, Slavin has played with the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Brent Burns, and Tony DeAngelo. They’re all strong offensive defensemen who need help defensively, and they’ve fit together like hand in glove. Slavin hasn’t had that this season. He’s played the bulk of his icetime with the struggling Jalen Chatfield, according to FrozenTools. 230 minutes, those two have played together this season in all situations, and Slavin has begun to help Chatfield turn his season around.
While the Olympics remain ongoing, fans will continue to debate the hockey world. Some may think players like Slavin are not truly number one defensemen because they are not elite offensively. Some may think the defensive side of the game has become underrated and elevate him more for his defensive skills. All that is objectively true is that Slavin is a great defenseman, and he’s having a great season analytically. Despite the chaos, injuries, and mayhem around him, he is enjoying a sensational season in Carolina.
