Plus/Minus +/-

+/- stands for plus/minus in hockey. Goals the player’s team scored minus goals it allowed while he was on the ice, at even strength or short-handed.

How +/- is calculated

+/- = even-strength and short-handed goals for − even-strength and short-handed goals against, with the player on the ice. Power-play goals for are not counted, nor are goals against while killing a penalty.

A strong team lifts everyone’s number and a weak one sinks it, which is why analysts read +/- next to the team’s own goal difference rather than on its own.

What counts as a good +/-?

Half of the 642 qualified NHL players in 2025-26 were at or below -2. Clearing 16 put a season in the top tenth of the league.

Median
-2
Top 10%
16
Leader
57

By position, the median was 2 for D, -2 for RW, -2.5 for C and -4 for LW.

Qualified: 20+ games, non-zero, 2025-26 regular season.

Plus/Minus questions