PuckSleuthNew Jersey Devils · Defense · Shoots L
Brenden Dillon
Age 35 · 6'4" · 225 lb · Born in New Westminster, CAN
Cap hit
$4M
3.8% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
NTC
Surplus value
+$232K
vs. $4.232M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
14:48
PP 0:00 · PK 0:45
xGF%
67.1
5v5, +18.1 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.21
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 1
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14:48 | 0:00 | 0:45 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.21 |
| Apr 14 @ BOS · L 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 19:37 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 71 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.14 |
| Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 20:58 | 0:00 | 3:09 | — | 60 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.22 |
| Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20:52 | 0:00 | 1:12 | — | 33 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.12 |
| Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21:24 | 0:00 | 1:28 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.14 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,237 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
46th percentile
55th percentile
43rd percentile
63rd percentile
40th percentile
64th percentile
11th percentile
63rd percentile
56th percentile
5th percentile
70th percentile
43rd percentile
6th percentile
42nd percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play stylePhysical shutdown defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Dillon is a bruising, stay-at-home defender who plays a physical brand of hockey and limits chances against at even strength. He rarely shoots or pushes pace up ice, instead focusing his limited offensive contributions on solid puck management and defensive positioning.
- Shooting volume
- 3
- Playmaking
- 20
- Zone entries(est.)
- 10
- Forechecking
- 62
- Physicality
- 94
- Defensive impact
- 63
- Puck management
- 74
- Speed
- 63
Where he shoots from
Slot 2% · Mid-range 21% · Perimeter 76%(84 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Exceptional physicality (94th percentile) sets the tone defensively
- Strong puck management (74th percentile) keeps play simple
- Solid defensive impact (63rd percentile) limits scoring chances
Watch-outs
- Minimal shot volume (3rd percentile) means no goal threat
- Very low rush chances generated (10th percentile) limits offensive creation
- Modest playmaking ability (20th percentile) restricts setup opportunities
Similar style: Lian Bichsel (DAL), Erik Cernak (TBL)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total -6.1 goals, or -0.07 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.4
- Penalty kill
- -0.4
- Finishing
- +1.1
- Playmaking
- -2.9
- Penalties
- -3.4
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NJD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14:48 | — | +0.21 |
| 2025-26 | NJD | 82 | 3 | 12 | 15 | -13 | 55 | 18:00 | — | -0.07 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 82 | 2 | 14 | 16 | +8 | 48 | 18:35 | — | -0.09 |
| 2023-24 | WPG | 77 | 8 | 12 | 20 | +20 | 79 | 18:44 | — | -0.00 |
| 2022-23 | WPG | 82 | 2 | 21 | 23 | +2 | 83 | 19:35 | — | -0.03 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 35, defensemen typically produce 67% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.7 mph
- 86th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 32
- Hardest shot
- 90.7 mph
- 51st pct
- Distance
- 203.4 mi
- OZ time
- 39.7%
- 21st pct
- DZ time
- 43.0%