In Defense of Offense

Is perception reality in judging NHL defensemen, and what’s plus/minus worth, anyway? The common perception that plus/minus is an indicator of defensive strength, or two-way play in general, has always been based on faulty logic.  In a team sport as fast and chaotic as ice hockey, offensive output by a team plays a role in how defensemen are measured, though most are unaware. Two examples of how we perceive defensemen are on display in Calgary and St. Louis.